Most right-thinking parents or guardians will want the best for their children or wards with respect to education. They might have to choose between day school and boarding school; a day school is a school where students receive instructions during the day, after which they return home to their parents or guardians.
A boarding school is simply a school where pupils or students live on premises while being given formal instruction. Boarding school dates back to 1665, though it is still argued in some quotas that boarding schools have existed for millennia historically speaking. The term “boarding” is used to depict “room and board,” that is, lodging and meals.
Now if you are looking for the best boarding school in the world for your child or ward, look no further, you are in the right place. In this post, I’m going to be presenting the list of the 20 best boarding schools globally.
REASONS WHY BOARDING SCHOOL IS BETTER
Here are some of the reasons why boarding school is better than day school:
- a serene learning environment that fosters a deeper understanding of the subjects.
- Boarding schools offer various extracurricular opportunities because students have a longer duration of stay.
- In boarding schools, students are provided with a well-defined schedule that helps to instill discipline, time management, organisation, focus, and productive habits in students.
- Your child’s academic excellence can be guaranteed in boarding school due to little or no destruction in the learning environment.
- It also prepares students to be self-reliant, self-sufficient, responsible, and committed to pursuing their goals, which are essential in navigating through life.
- Offers greater support and mentorship that gives students a better sense of belonging.
- Boarding school remains a fertile ground for the cultivation of social skills. These skills allow students to build solid and long-lasting connections.
- It is still one of the places to learn about other people’s cultures in an interconnected and multicultural world.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT BOARDING SCHOOL
Though this post is about the 20 best boarding schools in the world, I feel it is appropriate to present how to go about choosing the right boarding school for your child. The ten most important things to consider in choosing a boarding school for your child are: cost, academic strength, ease of communication between students and staff, enrollments, culture and values, safety of students, teachers and staff competency, teacher-to-student ratio, sports activities, and finally location.
20 BEST BOARDING SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD
The best investment is in human capacity development. Invest in your child’s future; choose from the list of the best boarding schools in the world, and give your child or ward the best he or she deserves:
ETON COLLEGE
Website: https://www.etoncollege.com/
Country: Berkshire, England.
Tuition per year: $60,980.
Year Founded: 1440
No. of Students: 1300
Student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1
Popular Alumni: George Orwell, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge ,Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
ETON COLLEGE is a modern, progressive school that embraces innovation and new opportunities to provide an outstanding result-oriented education. The college is one of the best boarding schools in Europe, and it’s regarded as one of the most famous schools in the world. They offer scholarships and financial assistance to indigent students. Eton College is reputable for various charitable works.
CARDIFF SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
Website: ccoex.com
Country: United Kingdom
Tuition per year: $61,055-$67,060
Year Founded: 2004
No. of Students: 380
Student-to-teacher ratio: 7:1
Popular Alumni: N/A
Founded in 2004 as the Cardiff Centre of Excellence, Cardiff Sixth Form is the very top school in the UK for A-level results and has enjoyed this spot for the past 12 years, according to the Independent School League table ranking.
The college caters to students studying their A levels, providing them with the relevant experiences and skills to enter the university of their choice.
HURTWOOD HOUSE SCHOOL
Website: hurtwoodhouse.com
Country: Surrey, England
Tuition per year: $63,647
Year Founded: 1970
No. of Students: 343
Student-to-teacher ratio: 6:1
Popular Alumni: Emma Barnett, Hans Zimmer.
From a social point of view, all the students that joined the school find it particularly easy to do so; that is, the school is very welcoming. Hurtwood School comes up with a unique educational system that combines the traditional ways of boarding with the modern system of boarding.
It is a school driven by a passion for creativity and a respect for academic rigor. Till date, Hurtwood House remains one of England’s most successful and exciting schools.
PHILIPS EXETER ACADEMY
Website: exeter.edu/
Country: New Hampshire, United States
Tuition per year: $64,789
Year Founded: 1781
No. of Students: 1073
Student-to-teacher ratio: 7:1
Popular Alumni: Robert Lincoln, Mark Zuckerberg, and Francis Pierce
Philip Exeter Academy is dedicated to empowering the next generation through inclusive, excellent education. The school is highly accessible to very talented youths, regardless of financial status.
The school is a coeducational university preparatory private school for boarding and day students in grades 9 through 12 and offers a secondary postgraduate program. Notable on the list of her Alumni is Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook)
THE WEB SCHOOL
Website: thewebschool.com
Country: Tennessee, United States
Tuition per year: $63,900
Year Founded: 1870
No. of Students: 405
Student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1
Popular Alumni: Bob Davies.
Since its inception in 1870, the Webb School has provided a rigorous academic programme tailored to enhance personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.
Standing on 150 acres of land, the Webb School commits to diversity and inclusivity as students from Tennessee and all over the world come to the citadel of learning for it’s academic excellence and strong sense of community.
PHILLIPS ACADEMY ANDOVER
Website: andover.edu/
Country: United States
Tuition per year: $69,600
Year Founded: 1778
No. of Students: 1,131
Student-to-teacher ratio: 5:1
Popular alumni: Bill Belichick, Olivia Wilde, George W. Bush, and George H. W. Bush.
Philips Academy, also known as Andover, is an independent, coeducational secondary school sitting on 200 hectares of land in Massachusetts. Offering 300 courses and 150+ electives, plus independent study and study abroad, the opportunities for growth are enormous.
The “need-blind” admission policy of the school is one of the most comprehensive and generous among secondary schools which has helped to foster an excellent learning culture with mutual respect as students from various backgrounds are welcomed and treated equally.
AIGLON COLLEGE
Website: aiglon.ch/
Country: Switzerland
Tuition per year: $79,000
Year Founded: 1949
No. of Students: 400
Student-to-teacher ratio: 5:1
Popular Alumni: Shashi Batra, Pietro Dova.
The Swiss boarding school is a famous grooming centre known for training self-reliant, determined, team-spirited, and goal-oriented leaders. Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark and Pietro Dova, former Google CFO are some of the excellent products of this school.
Located in Alpine surroundings, Aiglon College offers students the opportunity to meditate for 20 minutes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday morning, which they believe is vital for mental health and community building.
THE MASTERS SCHOOL
Website: mastersny.org
Country: United States
Tuition per year: $74,000
Year Founded: 1877
No. of Students: 700
Student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1
Popular Alumni: Marin Alsop, Michelle Roberts, Sam Coffey’s
The Master School initially started as a girls-only school until 1996, when it became coeducational. The school focuses on meaningful connections, deep understanding, and active learning. Students from diverse backgrounds are welcomed, thus offering a culturally diverse and inclusive learning experience that can help them grow and build an environment of mutual respect for everyone.
THE LAWRENCEVILLE SCHOOL
Website: lawrenceville.org
Country: New Jersey, United States
Tuition per year: $76,080
Year Founded: 1810
No. of Students: 818
Student-to-teacher ratio: 7:1
Popular Alumni: Ricardo Maduro, Patrick Murphy, and Lowell Weicker Jr.
Lawrenceville School has a beautiful campus with great facilities that provide an amazing academic experience.
Lawrenceville is a great preparatory school with a diverse campus and rigorous curriculum which enables students to make a positive impact on the global stage.
ST. ALBANS SCHOOL
Website: stalbanscollege.com
Country: United States
Tuition per year:$78,196
Year Founded: 1909
No. of Students: 592
Student-to-teacher ratio: 9:1
Popular Alumni: Malcolm Baker, Ralph Becker.
St. Albans School is a private, all-boys day and boarding school located in Washington, D.C. The great citadel of learning for more than a century has offered a distinctive educational experience for young men in grades 4 through 12. In addition to ensuring that students are excellent academically and athletically, St. Albans School places equal emphasis on moral and spiritual education.
Though a Christian school, her door is open to students of all faiths from intentionally diverse communities. It is a school that values respect, compassion, and excellence.
THINK GLOBAL SCHOOL
Website: thinkglobalschool.org
Country: United States
Tuition per year: $94,050
Year Founded: 2010
No. of Students: 60
Student-to-teacher ratio: 4:1
Popular Alumni: N/A
Think Global School is a very unique independent, non-profit, and non-denominational school that travels the world with students studying in 10 countries over the course of three years.
The school combines project-base and place-based learning in their curriculum to engage students with the community and cultures they visited.
THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN SWITZERLAND
Website: tasis.ch
Country: Switzerland
Tuition per year: $104,044
Year Founded: 1956
No. of Students: 765
Student-to-teacher ratio: 6:1
Popular Alumni: Laura Wasser, Francis Arsentiev, Ferit Sahenk.
Now known as TASIS Switzerland, is a private American international boarding and day school in Switzerland. The school is ranked as the number one American boarding school in Europe and is also the oldest American college preparatory boarding school in Europe.
TASIS offers an academic travel program. This programme gives students the opportunity to travel to different countries throughout the world.
REGENT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Website: regentschool.ch
Country: Switzerland
Tuition per year: $104,700
Year Founded: 2015
No. of Students: 130
Student-to-teacher ratio: 3:1
Popular Alumni: N/A
The school started operations since 2015 and it’s one of the top schools in Switzerland. Le Regent International School, also known as REGENT was established to meet the needs of international boarding students from around the world. The school also embark on expeditions and strips designed to help learners appreciate sports, arts and outdoors activities aimed at deepening cultural diversity.
Located in one of the sunniest and safest areas of the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana; The REGENT describe herself as “the most modern and recent of Swiss international boarding schools.”
SHORTRIDGE ACADEMY
Website: shortridgeacademy.com
Country: United States
Tuition per year: $110,000
Year Founded: 2002
No. of Students: 40
Student-to-teacher ratio: 6:1
Popular Alumni: N/A
The therapeutic School, is a product of Adam Rainer’s vision based on his adolescent experience while attending an emotional growth boarding school which was founded in 2002 to harmonize philosophies of positive youth development and authoritative parenting.
Their curriculum stresses more on depth over breadth with key focus on creativity, critical thinking, analytic approach, problem solving skills and innovations. At Shortridge, students emotional and mental well-being is as important as their academic achievement, so they have therapeutics program that is designed to help students.
COLLÈGE DU LÉMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Website: nordangliaeducation.com/college-du-leman
Country: Switzerland
Tuition per year: $112,476
Year Founded: 1960
No. of Students: 1900
Student-to-teacher ratio: 9:1
Popular Alumni: Tucker Carlson, Paul Biya Jr, Marina Rollman.
Collège du Léman is a Swiss boarding and day school for students from all over the world. Symbols of European cultural heritage are used in decorating the walls to portray the school intentional step towards cultural diversity and inclusivity. Their students receive training to become global citizens.
A little extract of what the school said about their selves in their own word “While many schools educate students to have excellent academic results, boarding schools allow students to develop other important characteristics as well; these include greater confidence, community spirit, independence, responsibility and self motivation. In addition to these are truly international community and social skills cultural awareness and respect for others. We believe that these characteristics are essential for our children to step confidently into the world and make their mark, Each one equipped with the tools and the values to make a difference.”
LEYSIN AMERICAN SCHOOL
Website: las.ch
Country: Switzerland
Tuition per year: $119,375
Year Founded: 1961
No. of Students: 340
Student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1
Popular Alumni: Charles Odell, Jordan Whitaker, William Carney.
Leysin American School(LAS) is known to have a unique leadership program tailored to create future world leaders. They also offer weekend trips to other European countries, as well as ski and mountaineering trips in the Alps. About 80% of their graduates get admitted to the world’s top 100 universities yearly.
Located in alpine surrounding, the founders of LAS aimed to use the School as a platform to unite Students from different countries in the postwar era. That aim today is not defeated, as LAS has international alumni network of over 7000.
ST. GEORGE’S INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Website: stgeorges.ch
Country: Switzerland
Tuition per year: $126,516
Year Founded: 1927
No. of Students: 480
Student-to-teacher ratio: 6:1
Popular Alumni: Angie Bowie, Glenn Close, Jill Hyen
The school was initially established as a girls-only school; they started admitting boys in 1993. Their 2022 International Baccalaureate results were spectacular, with a 100% pass rate.
Bounded by lakes and mountains, the St. George International School offers exciting learning experience to students. Personalized teaching, students’ well-being, academic excellence, and a conducive natural learning environment are some of the indices that makes St. George International School to be very unique. The School is ranked among the top 5IB schools in Switzerland.
INSTITUT AUF DEM ROSENBERG
Website: instrosenberg.ch
Country: Switzerland
Tuition per year: $142,274
Year Founded: 1889
No. of Students: 230
Student-to-teacher ratio: 2:1
Popular Alumni: Mario Molina, Bernhard Gadermann
Institut Auf Dem Rosenberg established by Elrich Schmidt in 1889, is a Swiss boarding school offering a unique learning atmosphere for the 21st century leaders. They deploy individual approach to education that engenders academic excellence. To broaden young learners mind and nurture their creativity, the Rosenberg features array of Talent and Enrichment courses.
The School passionately describe their team of teachers and professionals as “Artisans of Education”.
COLLÈGE ALPIN INTERNATIONAL BEAU SOLEIL
Website: beausoleil.ch
Country: Switzerland
Tuition per year: $143,000
Year Founded:1910
No. of Students: 300
Student-to-teacher ratio: 4:1
Popular Alumni: Jacques Villeneuve, Princess Marie of Denmark, Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Beau Soleil is located in a beautiful and safe alpine location and offering a genuinely international education experience. The School is regarded as one of Switzerland most prestigious and finest boarding schools.
They also offers exciting experiences that goes beyond the walls of the classroom aimed at cultivating team work, collaboration and resilience which are important for students futures. They achieve this by embarking on educational trips across the world, full school challenges and winter ski programmes.
INSTITUT LE ROSEY
Website: rosey.ch
Country: Switzerland
Tuition per year: $158,580
Year Founded: 1880
No. of Students: 430
Student-to-teacher ratio: 5:1
Popular Alumni: Princess Zahra Aga, King Albert II,
Le Rosey, is among Switzerland oldest boarding schools and one of the most expensive and prestigious schools in the world. The school is famously known as the “School of Kings”.
Roseans are given bilingual education leading to International Baccalaureates(IB) or French Baccalaureate.
The School has two campuses, the main campus located on a magnificent manorial estate in Rolle and the winter campus located in the beautiful village of Chalets in the charming ski resort of Gstaad. Sited on 28h hectares(69acres( of land, the School offers a wide range of spots including football(soccer), basketball and volleyball. They also offer cross country running, sailing, rowing, swimming, and water skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, curling and snowshoeing.