Boarding school

As an alumnus of Phillips Academy at Andover I've wrestled with this question for decades. I believe life at any old school prep instititue  affords  one more opportunities socially and professionally. However, those opportunities must be capitalized on.

I dont believe it guarantees a better education. I do believe it offers a diiferent path.

This year I sent my 15 year old son to be a day student at a school that has borders as well. I have a daughter that attended our local public schools successfully and has a 4.0 average in college now. This is my first experience with any type of private education and we sacrificed a lot so that he could attend this school.  He is an average student that was completely overlooked in middle school.  He was unmotivated and lacked confidence.  The change has been truly remarkable.  Private school may not be for everyone but sometimes it can change a life.  Gifted students can do well in good public schools but often average students are left behind and land up with the worst teachers and with other students that are not interested in learning.  You need to surround your children with the best peers and the best educational environment that you can afford. Wonderful things can happen.  Public schools have no motivation to make sure students attain their true potential.  Many children get left behind forever.  He is also playing varsity sports which would have been impossible in our public school since it is so competitive in athletics.  This has been a truly fantastic experience!

Look at the stat's ...yes, they do offer a much higher quality educational experience and graduates have a much, much better chance of getting into top-tier colleges/universities.....if your child is academically qualified, and you can afford it....it's a good option.....many foreign nationals send their kids to these schools precisely so they can have an advantage in admissions to U.S. elite colleges/universities...it's no secret. I have a child in a great boarding/prep school who was heavily recruited by many Ivies and now has received nomination to two of our military service academies (West Point and Naval Academy)....and no, we are not a "trust-fund family"....we are working parents who sacrificed for our kids education.

I think that there are boarding schools with amazing education, and usually they offer better extracurricular activities, which is definitely a plus.  I wish sometimes that my parents sent me to boarding school.  Also, kids have a much healthier social life and learn how to be away from their parents.  Of course there are boarding schools with problems, and they cost a ton of money.  There are plusses and minuses. 

I agree that boarding schools are an amazing education because of the personal attention that the school can give a student.  You don't have as many reluctant students as you would in public schools.  Most students want to be there and are serious about their studies and that is key.

Yes, I think the education is better at most boarding schools, but the "snobbery" is more prominent also.  This school obviously affords a person a jump on their future and improves their chances of success.  I definitely would not send my child there for that price!  I am not sure I would send my child to any boarding school because of the negatives that I feel outweigh the positives.

Perfect for those who can afford such schooling and think that their child can better groom there....Most of the Boarding school offers a sound career development, extra-care & attention, healthy social activities etc. Some of the benefits of enrolling to a boarding school, I am quoting/listing here from a source site. 1. Daily coexistence leads to friendships, not just among students, but also with faculty members. 2. Low student-teacher ratio. The median class size is 12 students per teacher, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 6 to 1 3. Boarding school reduces compartmentalization, because academic studies are blended with other activities, such as sports. This natural juxtaposition increases the appeal of both pursuits. 4. Provides stability not available in families where one or both parents travel or are virtually never home due to work schedules. 5. Safety of individuals residing in boarding school is typically higher than non boarding school age students in general. 6. Special help programs are often available. 7. Students enjoy more challenge and face fewer harmful distractions. If the student's public school options are rife with bad influences or lack diversity, boarding school may be the answer. 8. Students learn to govern their own behavior. And parents no longer have to seem like ogres or nags. In many cases students appreciation for parents greatly increases. 9. Where earlier generations have attended the institution, a family tradition is sustained -- becoming an additional source of motivation. 10. Some schools have summer sessions, possibly also open to students of other schools. These sessions often feature special concentrations such as academic or computer instruction and/or the fine arts. Some offer sports and/or rigorous outdoor training during the summer. 11. Some Boarding schools offer a post-high school graduation development program, which can provide additional opportunity to mature, perfect academic polish and further develop themselves becoming better prepared to be an adult in today’s world.

Source: Boarding School Pros and Cons

I think it is upto the individual student, their efforts, and dedication and motivation. the boarding schools like Miss Porter proabably is a ticket to ivy league colleges an dif one has money, why not? Otherwise, those who do not have money, the door to professional medical schools, law schools, engineering schools is not closed. In fact, it is wide open with hard work and determination. In this country, education is still something available to all. I cam from a foriegn nation 38 years ago with only a high school diploma. I managed to obtain MS in engineering from University of Illinois, and I manged to make both my children medical doctors, with good cmoral values.

So my views are if one has money they should make use of prestigious school name etc. and if one does not have money, they must still continue to aspire education for their children. That is a must tool for all if we want to stay competitive in this age.