Boarding Schools
Our boarding schools in the USA
We find the right boarding school for you
What’s special about our boarding schools in the US
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The special academic training
Our boarding schools offer optimal teaching conditions. The classes are very small and the teachers are highly trained and motivated. Thus, the teachers can respond to the needs of our exchange students in particular. At the beginning, the English can still be a bit bumpy and the intensive care helps to come along linguistically soon.
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The schools are academically on a particularly high level. After all, this is where many students are prepared to study at prestigious universities. The schools’ excellent facilities are another point that makes the experience at a boarding school very exclusive and unique.
The special extracurricular opportunities
At our boarding schools there are unlimited opportunities to pursue one’s passion. Whether it’s sports, art, music or theater, we have schools with fantastic opportunities for our students in all of these areas.
That’s why it’s so important for us to get to know our students intimately and know what’s important to them and what they excel at. At some schools, acting is particularly encouraged in a drama club. Elsewhere, the focus is then more on music and the marching band is particularly good or the school orchestra plays at a high level.
Sports occupy a very special place in society in the United States. Through it, important values such as teamwork, fairness and discipline are taught. It focuses on character development, fun, health and camaraderie, and contributes to a balanced school education.
Our boarding schools all share fantastic sports facilities and dedicated and passionate coaches. They differ in terms of level of competition. We get to know our students intensively before they are accepted into the program. This allows us to ensure we find the right school for their level of performance, even in terms of sports. Through our own experience in sports, we know what is important for athletes.
The special social life
Internats in the USA offer students a very special experience. The focus is on the idea of community, and students receive very intensive support all around. The students live together with counselors and many teachers and their families. You are in contact with your fellow students 24/7. Through this intensive contact, you make friends even faster and soon make many new friends. The close cohesion in the community is something very special.
Very many activities are carried out together, both in everyday life during the week and in the comprehensive weekend program.
The boarding schools are attended by many international students from different cultural backgrounds. In addition to American culture, students are thus exposed to their cultures. This promotes tolerance among our students and contributes to international understanding.
Quick Facts Boarding schools
- Flight: plus
- Tuition: plus
- Accommodation: On Campus Dormitory Accommodation, with adult supervision
- Min. stay: 1 Semester
- Max. stay: 4 academic years
- Age: 14-18 years
- Geographic coverage: USA & Canada
- IB: International Baccalaureate Diploma
- AP: Advanced Placement Diploma
- OSSD: Ontario Secondary School Diploma
10 questions you should ask yourself when choosing a boarding school
While all college prep boarding schools offer a curriculum for college preparation and placement, it’s also important to recognize what your child’s makeup is, how he or she connects, and where he or she is happiest in order to set the table for what you should look for in a boarding school.
While the following areas may overlap and are certainly interrelated, they represent a number of areas to consider when narrowing the field for your child’s best fit.
- Learning profile. Does your child have a learning profile that indicates he or she would benefit from specific academic coaching or additional support? Executive function needs, processing, access to additional or untargeted testing, social/emotional support. If you know these factors are important components to your child’s learning success, finding a school with learning support and/or social/emotional support could be the first guidepost in your school search.
Find the right school for your child:
- The right environment. In what environment is your child happiest? Are open spaces and fresh air important? Is geography something that is important to them and your family? Is “familiar” better (staying within a few hours)? Or is freshness key – a place where they can thrive on their own?
- Culture. What kind of cultural space is important for your child to feel “away from home” and comfortable? What culture is best for focused learning and personal growth for your child? Does your child feel most comfortable in a uniform without worrying about what to wear? Is gender education or a religious base a priority? Is it important for your student to have a personal expression in the way they dress? Is a military tradition or an arts-based education in your child’s best interest?
- Structure. Is your child comfortable with a predictable routine where most of his time is managed for him, or is he willing to manage limited free time? What level of supervision does he need to be productive? Is it a student who asks for help when it’s needed? Or is integrated support best? Most schools have study halls – but how they present themselves can vary widely, from supervised to independent to in-class to dorm.
- Activities. Does your child have one or more activities that he or she is passionate about, that are a “must” for his or her happiness and career? Music lessons, a particular sport or art, an academic field? This can sometimes be a guiding factor. Similarly, what is the activity level at school for leisure, entertainment and relaxation? Does your child need a guided activity or does free time and freedom to choose correspond more to how he or she interacts best?
- Academic rigor and style. Does your student feel comfortable in an environment with students? Is it up to the challenge in a competitive class? Do they tend to benefit more from cooperative, hands-on, or discussion-based instruction? Sometimes a look at the college placement list can shed light on what types of students are likely to make up the comparison group. There are schools that lean one way or the other, or have a combination of both.
- Size of the school – age and grade levels at the school? Average class size and faculty-to-student ratios can vary widely. The size of the community can be important for socializing and providing a sense of belonging.
- Diversity and inclusion. There are schools with a high percentage of boarding students or schools with a high percentage of day students. There are schools with 5-day boarding programs and schools with rich weekend life. Where do the students come from? Do they all come from the same background…? and is that the same as your children or do they all come from different backgrounds that include your child?
- Security. What is the safety climate at the school…? both in terms of health issues (e.g. Covid protocols) and general access to the city/location. What are the school’s policies regarding technology, cars on school grounds, visitor?
- Values. Every school has a mission statement. Each school practices and represents certain values and qualities that embody the type of experience offered at that school. If you follow a school’s social media channels and have the opportunity to speak with administrators, faculty, and currently parents, you can find out the values that are practiced at a school.
There are a wide variety of schools to choose from, and one that is a perfect fit for your child. Starting as a family with some of the questions above will help you figure out what elements you are looking for in your child’s immediate area. Admissions offices also want to admit students who will be comfortable and successful at their school. A frank conversation about your child’s needs and interests is welcome.
Author: Julie Middleton