These are the most prestigious boarding schools in the world

Sprawling campuses with the most modern facilities and equipment. A backdrop of a stunning landscape, perhaps snow-capped mountains or verdant fields. Skiing trips as part of the curriculum, and frequent school trips to the best universities in the world, just so students can visualise – not imagine – themselves going there.  

If anyone asked you to picture what it’s like to attend the most prestigious boarding schools in the world, those thoughts might come to mind.

At these schools, success feels like a natural part of the process. 

Britain’s Prince William and Prince Harry attended Eton College, one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the world. Source: AFP

The rise of boarding schools

Boarding schools have always been an option for parents worldwide. From the royals to the working class, sometimes the best thing for both a child and their parents is for the former to be sent away for their studies.

It’s a chance for kids to learn independence, experience life outside the books, and if they’re attending the right school – like the most prestigious boarding schools in the world – get the boost to get into even better colleges or universities later on in life.

Take Aldenham School graduate Shaun, for example, who received offers from Edinburgh University and King’s College London.

“Aldenham School has been an incredibly supportive and welcoming environment for me as an international boarder,” he says. “From the warmth of the boarding community to the dedication of the staff, the school has provided me with an excellent education and a nurturing second home.”

Across the pond, Fay School, the first junior boarding school in the US, states on its website that its students “go on to enrol in some of the most competitive secondary schools in the world,” which, in turn, also leads to placements in top universities such as the Ivy League and the University of Oxford.

So, clearly, these schools know what they’re doing. But what sets the most prestigious boarding schools in the world apart from your average boarding schools?

Some of the most prestigious boarding schools in the world also offer pre-kindergarten programmes. Source: AFP

What we mean when we say a school is ‘prestigious’

Academic performance

As there are no QS World University Rankings or equivalents for boarding schools, one way to determine how good and prestigious a school can be is exam results.

The better the entire student body’s academic performance compared to other boarding schools worldwide, the better – and therefore, more prestigious – the school is in the eyes of universities, employers, and the general public.

Low acceptance rates

To ensure and maintain excellent academic performance, the most prestigious boarding schools in the world often have lower acceptance rates than the average school.

Given that those with the necessary grades are vying to secure their spot in the school, it’s no surprise that the school’s options are plenty and allow them to have their pick from the cream of the crop, creating this exclusive loop of high-achieving students in their halls. 

Graduating from the most prestigious boarding schools in the world means you’re well prepared to join some of the best-ranked universities around. Source: AFP

Graduate outcomes

Think of it this way: good scores don’t necessarily get you into great universities. Some top-ranked universities, like Stanford, consider more than just the grades you’ve earned.

“It isn’t just about the courses or the grades. It’s about the human being behind all of it,” says Richard Shaw, Dean of Stanford’s undergraduate admissions. “The cornerstones of resilience — learning, seeking advice, getting perspective and finding community — offer a way for young people to grow as they embark on the next major step in their lives.”

Outstanding alumni

In the case of the most prestigious boarding schools in the world, graduate outcomes refer to where the students ultimately attend university. But when we think about alumni, it goes much further beyond that. 

The most famous example here is that the UK’s Eton College is famously known for its great graduates — to date, they’ve produced 20 UK prime ministers, actors Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston, and was the school of choice for Britain’s Prince William and Prince Harry.

Modern facilities and an unequalled curriculum

The most prestigious boarding schools in the world will offer their students near-unparalleled access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, as well as an enhanced curriculum.

Think science labs and art studios with pristine tools, immaculate sports fields and courts for every need, and a teaching syllabus that goes beyond helping students score well in standardised testing.

The most prestigious boarding schools in the world

Based on academic achievements

St. George’s International School in Switzerland is recognised for having the best International Baccalaureate (IB) results in the country. In 2023, the school boasted a 37 IB average, 43 highest point, and 100% pass rate.

Nestled by the foothills of the Himalayas, India’s Woodstock School is Asia’s oldest international boarding school, and its commitment to academic excellence earned it an IB accreditation in 2020. In their report, IB commended the school’s embedding of international mindedness, the wide variety of subjects offered at the Diploma Programme level and the importance of language learning, including mother tongue.

A little to the East, China’s Dulwich College Suzhou reported its students securing an impressive IB average score of 37.6, far surpassing the global average of 30.32 in 2024.

 

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Based on acceptance rates

Many of the most prestigious boarding schools in the world are hard to get into due to their high entry requirements. For example, at Phillips Academy Andover, most applicants who are successfully admitted score at least (or above) 100 on the TOEFL iBT, 7.5 on the IELTS, or 135 on the Duolingo English Test.

Another reason for low acceptance rates is also the school’s (oftentimes intentional) limited capacity: 

• Phillips Academy Andover, US (applicants must submit one of the following: SSAT (Upper Level), ISEE (Upper Level), PSAT, SAT, or ACT, have the necessary English language proficiency scores, and undergo an interview) 
• Eton College, UK (applicants must take a standardised test of English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning in Year 6 and will undergo an individual interview and an online predictive test of academic potential) 
• Institut Le Rosey, Switzerland (no more than 10% of the student body can come from a single country) 
• American International School – Salzburg, Austria (only accepts 100 students a year)
• St. Stephen’s School, Italy (only accepts approximately 300 students a year) 

 

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Based on graduate outcomes

For this category, we’ll base our list of schools on Prep Review, which curates its list based on the estimated percentage of graduates matriculating to the Ivy League, the University of Oxford, and the University of Cambridge.

However, as Prep Review only covers schools in the UK, the US, and Canada, we’ll also consider other sources to ensure we’ve got a more international list. 

• Groton School, US (Prep Review, #1-5) 
• Westminster School London, UK (Prep Review, #1-5) 
• Upper Canada College, Canada (Prep Review, #20-30) 
• Institut Le Rosey, Switzerland 
• St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Australia (Australian Education Awards 2024)
  

Based on outstanding alumni

UK’s Harrow School is known for its fierce rivalry with fellow boarding school Eton College. They’ve produced seven UK prime ministers, Jawaharlal Nehru (the first Prime Minister of India), numerous Jordan royalty, and of course, Benedict Cumberbatch.

Over in the Land Down Under, Geelong Grammar School has seen its halls graced by the likes of the UK’s King Charles, media juggernaut Rupert Murdoch, and Baron Alec Broers, an international member of the National Academy of Engineering who contributed to electronic beam lithography and microscopy.

Last but not least, Malaysia’s Malay College Kuala Kangsar has welcomed numerous Malaysian kings and prime ministers, and Halim Saad, the founder of Kolej Yayasan Saad and Kolej Yayasan UEM — school is popularly known for achieving outstanding outcomes within the nation.

Based on facilities and curriculum

In the Middle East, Repton School Dubai boasts the Repton Performing Arts Centre, a 600-seat auditorium, the Early Years Centre with its Wonder Library and Imaginarium Theatre, and the Repton Sports Village, which features facilities such as two full-sized rugby fields, a multi-sport astro-turf area for cricket, shaded courts, and more.

Germany’s Schule Schloss Salem has a three-year compulsory engagement of all students in social services (fire brigade, Red Cross, technical relief organisation, sea rescue, social services, etc) and comprehensive health education over eight school years.

Accredited by UNICEF as a Rights Respecting School, where the articles of the Declaration of Rights of the Child underpin the school’s overall approach, Spain’s International School of Catalunya (ISCAT) might be lesser known, but no less impressive than the others on our list of most prestigious boarding schools in the world.