3 US boarding schools for children to live and learn well

Research consistently shows a strong link between where a child lives, plays, grows, and learns, and their development. Their environment shapes the experiences they get. For example, being close to nature is therapeutic and spurs more physical activity. This, in turn, profoundly influences their academic achievement, as well as cognitive, social and emotional growth.

This is what the best boarding school experience is all about – an all-encompassing experience where all of this matters. Where true learning isn’t confined to desks and textbooks or solely about getting good grades, but engages with the people and the world around them. A journey where children become the best versions of themselves, confident and competent for their next steps, be it university, work, or beyond.

For more than 160 years, Saint Stanislaus High School has welcomed resident students from Gulf Coast states and from abroad. Source: Saint Stanislaus High School

Saint Stanislaus

An education that starts by letting boys be boys – that is the mission of Saint Stanislaus High School, a Catholic boarding and day school for young men in Mississippi’s Bay St. Louis, nestled on the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1854 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, the school excels in helping its boys succeed academically in college while simultaneously developing the faith and character needed to lead a good life.

For over a century, the school has welcomed students from all over the world to Aurelian Hall. This 24/7 boarding house is a place where students work and live with peers and staff. Living here means thriving in a disciplined and orderly environment; this allows every student to work to his potential academically, physically, and spiritually.

Such holistic growth requires personalised attention. Think small-sized classes and formal, supervised study periods, and assistance with college preparation. State-of-the-art facilities enhance this experience; the school is well-equipped with modern classrooms, extensive science and computer labs, and a vast library.

Opportunities to explore personal interests are abundant, too. With over 30 clubs, organisations, and sports, the students have ample opportunities to explore their interests and develop new talents in its beach-front campus. The school is ranked second in the state for athletics by Stacker Media, an achievement which showcases its athletic calibre. Boys get to choose from traditional options such as football or basketball, or try out more unique endeavours like esports and sailing. All avenues build essential skills such as confidence, teamwork, and discipline.

Regardless of interests, all boys flourish – graduates have gone on to join prestigious universities such as Brown University, Columbia University, Stanford University, and military academies within the US Air Force, US Coast Guard, and the US Navy.

Learn more about Saint Stanislaus and its offerings today.

Culver Academies nurtures its students into young professionals by taking their learning in and out of the classroom. Source: Culver Academies

Culver Academies

Culver Academies provides a robust, whole-person education for students between grades nine and 12. Founded in 1894, the co-educational boarding school sits on 1,800 acres of land by Lake Maxinkuckee in Northern Indiana. This is the home of 830 students representing 40 US states and 24 countries, where each day, they wake up to views of rolling green hills, pristine woodlands and the glistening lake.

The beautiful scenery doesn’t distract from Culver’s intensive focus on its curriculum. Students take on three or four subjects in a term, allowing deep learning and broad exploration of topics. Subjects are varied — 194 courses, 57 art courses and 24 advanced placement (AP) classes and a dedicated entrepreneurship programme are offered. A seven-point academic support system ensures students have academic advising, peer coaches, block scheduling, tutorials, college advising, the writing centre, and the mentor/mentee programme.

What further sets Culver apart is its Character, Citizenship, and Leadership education. The most comprehensive among US secondary schools, it is unique in how it fuses academic rigour with its student-life structure. After students explore answers to the 21st century’s most complex problems in classrooms, they practise leadership concepts among their peers through two distinct systems: military-based for the boys and prefect-based for the girls.

Students test their mettle through athletic programmes that hone fellowship and sportsmanship on the field, the ice, the court and the track as well. The result? Well-rounded graduates. Alumni include business luminaries, public servants, professional and Olympic athletes, and award-winning artists, among others.

Preparation for college begins the moment a student steps foot on The Frederick Gunn School’s campus. Source: The Frederick Gunn School

The Frederick Gunn School

A Frederick Gunn School student or graduate is always learning. After building their foundation at this coeducational college-preparatory boarding and day school in Washington, Connecticut — surrounded by Steep Rock’s natural beauty — they are able to think for themselves, express their beliefs confidently and persuasively, and stand up both for themselves and others.

Several programmes make this possible. The Innovation Track is a multi-year learning journey that lets students explore the sciences, engineering, technology and entrepreneurship as a path toward pursuing these passions in college and beyond. Over at the Centre for Citizenship and  Just Democracy, they have a space modelled on state-of-the-art co-working spaces in urban centres, such as Workbar in Boston and NeueHouse in New York; a hub for local community leaders to meet with students about their projects; and a newsroom, where students will learn news literacy and digital citizenship skills.

There are more features that nurture students into forces for good here. The Citizenship Curriculum does more than just ensure freshmen adjust seamlessly to the school — students also have conversations about healthy choices, responsible behaviours, and executive functioning skills that make them more intentional in their approach to learning.

During the summer between Junior and Senior year, students take part in the Civic Changemakers Project where they create, identify and bring to life a policy through action in the community. Beyond its distinct campus located in an idyllic town, students also learn to take risks, solve problems, collaborate and navigate a world that doesn’t conform to their every desire through the Gunn Outdoors Programme.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International