Our Family’s Take on "Is Boarding School Worth It?"

[IndySceptic]

@vwlizard

I’ll point out that not every kid at boarding school is coming from a place where their local public school can compare to what is offered at boarding school and might not have nearby privates that fit their needs. Be it course offerings, the mindset of the majority of students, or how they viewed gifted students with learning differences, our public school just wasn’t an option. Of the nearby options, we had boarding schools or religious schools. And once it was clear that boarding schools were the best option, it opened up boarding schools outside of our daily commuting radius (most of the boarding schools were just too far to be able to balance a packed high school schedule and a commute and still feel part of the community).

We were very focused about “fit” for both our son and our family. We were not seeking name recognition or matriculation boosts. We were seeking an experiential education with courses that would both challenge S23 and keep his love of learning and insatiable curiosity intact. What we found were mentors and exposure to academic fields that he never would have had access to in other settings.

Our question wasn’t what college our kid would attend, but what he would do once he got there. For that, there is no doubt that boarding school was worth it for our student. When I see him on campus now, I know what I’m seeing is a very different outcome than if he had stayed in our local public school.

Can’t have said it any better.

I chose the handle “Indysceptic” because I too questioned the logic of sending my kid to a boarding school that will effectively lower the odds of them getting into a “top” college. We also live in a great school district and are fortunate to have many top day schools in our area. As we went through the process, looked at schools and spoke to kids and families, our focus shifted from transactional to holistic. And now I’m completely turned around on the topic. I’m less focused on where my kid goes to college than who they are going in.

Early days, but the growth we’ve already seen in our kid simply wouldn’t have happened if they went to our great LPS or one of the Independent Day Schools, and I project that they will do great no matter where they go to school after. Expensive way for them to learn these important life skills, but I feel like a more permanent one. And she loves it there. Couldn’t be happier, and wouldn’t have been as happy at our LPS, I’m convinced. She says over and over that she’s really glad she chose the place.

I will also say that we applied to a lot of fancy schools and not one of them said “Come here so your kid can go to an Ivy.” The school we ultimately chose in fact cautioned against that kind of thinking. I can’t speak to the poisonous competitive environment you unfortunately experienced, but the kids at our school seem very supportive. I will say that they are highly motivated and put a lot of pressure on themselves to do well; too much pressure in my opinion. But that is the case with the top kids at our public and certainly the case at the Independent Days.

Very sorry you experienced this. As others have said, sounds like it was a bad fit.