1. THE WORLD OF BOARDING
SCHOOLS: A SECONDARY
SCHOOL OPTION
Chip Law
Educational Avenues
www.eduave.com

2. © Educational Avenues 2016
What we’ll cover
 Boarding school overview
 Myths
 Reasons to attend
 Selection process-best fit
 Other boarding alternatives
 Trends and results
 Q & A

3. © Educational Avenues 2016
Definition
A boarding school is a school where
some or all pupils study and live
during the school year with their
fellow students and possibly
teachers or administrators. The
word 'boarding' is used in the sense
of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and
meals.
 wikipedia

4. © Educational Avenues 2016
Traditional Boarding Schools
 Traditional private boarding schools (averages)
Number of schools: 330 (100K+ students)
Gross revenue: around $3 Billion
Year founded: 1908
Religious affiliation: non-denominational
College prep: grades 9-12
Campus size: 125 acres

5. © Educational Avenues 2016
Traditional Boarding Schools
Students: 300+
Offer 15 AP courses and 10 or more
honors classes
Faculty: 2/3 with an advanced degree
Class size:12
Teacher/student ratio:1to 7
Students of color:18%
International: 20%
Boarding: 67%

6. © Educational Avenues 2016
Traditional Boarding Schools
 Types of traditional boarding schools*
All boys: 44
All girls: 28
Military: 22
Junior (grades 7-9):14
Arts: 4
Remainder are traditional co-ed
One third of traditional schools offer LD services
* A number of states have special boarding schools funded by the
public to serve the gifted and talented.

7. © Educational Avenues 2016
Traditional Boarding Schools
 Tuition: $48,000 and rising
annually
 Students on FA: 35% (SSS/PFS)
Similar to CSS profile
 Endowment-$15 Million
Fund raising key to survival and
affordability for families

8. © Educational Avenues 2016
“Other” Boarding Schools
 LD schools
ADHD
Dyslexia
NLD/Spectrum
 Emotional growth schools
Failure to thrive
Structure
 Therapeutic schools
Mental health
Therapy first priority

9. © Educational Avenues 2016
Boarding school myths
 Only bad kids are “sent away”
Traditional schools do NOT want bad
kids
“Bad” kids are sent to wilderness
programs and/or therapeutic schools
 Only snobs or the rich attend those
schools
MOST schools recruit and retain student
bodies that reflect traditional socio-
economic norms and balance

10. © Educational Avenues 2016
Boarding school myths
 They cost too much
 Net cost comparable to local private schools
 Extensive use of endowments to retain families
 Family connections are threatened
 86% of students: satisfied with family life.
 Boarding is family-community 24/7
 They are hotbeds for alcohol and drugs
 High degree of supervision:1 or 2 strike rules
 Exposure potential 18% private, 5% boarding

11. © Educational Avenues 2016
Boarding School-why?
Special Talents
Athletics
Music
Dance
Theater
Fine arts

12. © Educational Avenues 2016
Boarding School-why?
Teacher and Adult Access
Enough time with teachers,
coaches and advisors?
See teachers as intimidating or
unresponsive?
Know learning style/best way to
learn?

13. © Educational Avenues 2016
Boarding School-why or when?
Self Advocacy
What works?
What doesn’t?
Getting what’s needed?
Confident?
Healthy sense of self?

14. © Educational Avenues 2016
Boarding School-why?
Maturity
Ready for the transition to college?
Life skills?
Social skills and competence?
Critical thinking and written
expression?
Self-regulation/time management?
Dealing with temptations?

15. © Educational Avenues 2016
Boarding school-why?
Poor grades or motivation
Sudden changes?
Work seems too hard or too
easy?
Work is boring?
School is a distraction?
Learning issues?

16. © Educational Avenues 2016
Boarding School-why or when
Peer issues or social
acceptance
Change in grades + change in
peers?
Cannot find a social fit?
Peers seek risky dangerous or
antisocial activity?
Shy or awkward?

17. © Educational Avenues 2016
Boarding School-why or when?
Family issues
Household move?
Divorce?
Death of parent or sibling?
Parents do not get along?
Hostile or unsafe environment?
Unrealistic expectations?

18. © Educational Avenues 2016
Boarding School-why or when?
Learning differences
Learning style?
Psycho-ed evaluation?
Can’t read at grade level?
Labeled as “dumb”?
Remediation?
IEP?

19. © Educational Avenues 2016
EA School Selection Process
 An organized structured family
process
 Family student expectations/goals
Size
Geography
Academically suitable
Extracurricular and special offerings
Focus on specific talent or skill
development

20. © Educational Avenues 2016
EA School Selection Process
Student assessment
In-depth interviews
Academic and readiness review
MMTIC©-personality/learning style
Personal goals
SSAT

21. © Educational Avenues 2016
EA School Selection Process
 Assimilate school list fitting family
expectations and student assessments
(previous slides)
 Develop in-depth student profile
 Present profile to each school on the list
 Advocate on behalf of student with key school
personnel in addition to admissions
 Coaches, academic deans, heads of school,
learning specialists etc.

22. © Educational Avenues 2016
EA School Selection Process
Get congruence from schools on student
fit
Present list to family
Prep for school visits and interviews
Guide application process for January 15
submission
Decision from school by March 10
Assist family with final decision
Deposit due April 1

23. © Educational Avenues 2016
Trends: traditional boarding
 Its cool to be smart
 New affordability strategies
 Authentic 1st gen and minority recruiting
 Investing in serving the LD population
 Strict limits on international admissions
 Recruiting and admitting more girls
 Interdisciplinary instruction
 Curricula addressing societal/civic issues
 Strong policies: behavior and safety

24. © Educational Avenues 2016
The results are in!
Source:
www.boardingschools.com/discover/bigpicture.aspx
Key point Public Private Boarding
My school is challenging 50% 70% 91%
Around motivated students 49% 71% 75%
Opportunity for leadership 52% 60% 77%
Very prepared for college 23% 36% 78%
Top management mid career 27% 33% 44%
Top management late career 27% 39% 52%
Advanced degree 21% 36% 50%
Great teachers 51% 62% 90%
Social safety (drugs/alcohol) 60% 82% 95%
Not exposed to cheating 25% 31% 70%
College couseling help 13% 23% 41%

25. © Educational Avenues 2016
Resources
 For additional information:
www.boardingschools.com TABS
sss.nais.org/parents SSS/PFS
www.ssat.org SSAT
www.smallboardingschools.org SBSA
www.boardingschoolreview.com
www.boardingschools.us
www.eduave.com/services/boarding-gap-
year