Research Data

The Truth About Boarding Schools: A Comparative Study of Secondary School Education | Retrieved from: The Association of Boarding Schools

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Boarding School students and alumni are overwhelmingly satisfied with their academic experiences. Of those surveyed:

  • 95% say they are satisfied or very satisfied with their academic experience, compared to 86% of private day or public school students

  • 91% report that their schools are academically challenging, compared to 70% of private day and 50% of public school students

  • 90% report having high-quality teachers, compared to 62% of private day and 51% of public school students

  • Boarding school students spend about 17 hours per week on homework, compared to approximately 9 hours by private day students and 8 hours by public school students

  • 75% of boarding school students report being surrounded by motivated peers, compared to 71% of private day and 49% of public school students

  • 90% of mid-career and 80% of late-career boarding school graduates say they would repeat the boarding experience

Boarding schools place as much importance on character development and growth as they do on academic success.

  • 77% of boarding school students say that their schools provide opportunities for leadership, compared to 60% of private day and 52% of public school students

  • About 75% of boarding school students say that their schools provide a supportive environment, compared to about 70% of private day students and 50% of public school students

  • Boarding school students enjoy more time with teachers, coaches, and staff members outside class than private day and public school students-about 9 hours per week compared to 4 hours

  • About 26% of boarding school students say there is “some” cheating at school, compared to 60% of private day and 54% of public school students

Boarding school students are better prepared for college.

  • 87% of boarding school graduates report being very well prepared academically for college, compared to 71% of private day and 39% of public school alumni

  • 78% of boarding school graduates say that they were very well prepared for the non-academic aspects of college life, such as independence, social life, and time management, compared to 36% of private day and 23% of public school students

  • 41% of boarding school students say that their college or university guidance counselor was very helpful in exploring college options, compared to 23% of private school students and 13% of public school students

  • 50% of boarding school graduates earn advanced degrees, compared to 36% of private day and 21% of public school alumni

Students who graduate from boarding schools achieve greater career advancement and are more actively involved in philanthropic causes.

  • By mid-career, 44% of former boarding school students achieve positions in top management, compared to 27% of private day and 33% of public school graduates

  • By late-career, 52% of former boarding school students achieve positions in top management, compared to 39% of private day and 27% of public school graduates

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