You might have heard the biggest misconception students and parents tend to have about boarding schools: by attending one, you “miss out” on school in the traditional sense. In reality, students who attend boarding schools have just as many — if not more — opportunities to form meaningful relationships inside and outside of the classroom. There are still proms and homecomings, and there’s an abundance of extracurricular activities to choose from. Athletics, arts, and community service are a crucial part of student life. At a boarding school, students have the wider world at their fingertips.

According to Forbes, “boarding schools are twenty-four hour, intentional communities created with the student’s growth and development at the center.” The atmosphere is invigorating and immersive, and students come to call a globally diverse community home. Here are a few reasons why you might want to consider a boarding school, even if you’ve never considered the option before.

Reason #1: Academics

At the heart of every boarding school is a rigorous academic program. By nature, boarding schools allow for expanded or enhanced curriculums compared to public schools. And because class sizes are typically smaller, teachers are able to provide more individualized attention. This combination translates into a high caliber classroom experience that is difficult for traditional schools to match.

According to Study International, studies reveal that 78% of boarding school students feel they were prepared for college versus only 28% of public school students. An overwhelming majority of students who choose boarding schools leave feeling well equipped for the next step in their educational journey.

Reason #2: Beyond a Bachelor’s Degree

From the day they step foot on campus, boarding school students are encouraged and trained to meet high educational standards. But the benefits aren’t strictly academic: students are also prepared for influential roles in society. Character and leadership are integral to a boarding school’s atmosphere, education, and programs. Many of tomorrow’s leaders are not born, but made in boarding schools.

Students also develop crucial skills like time management and independence earlier than they might have without an on-campus environment. “Our school day mimics a college schedule where students will take either two or three classes per day,” explains Kelli Hinton, IMG Academy College Counselor & NCAA Initial Eligibility Specialist. “Students learn responsibility at an early age and are exposed to various cultures from our diverse international community. Our school environment allows students develop skills they will take with them in the next stages of higher education.”

Reason #3: College Planning

There are more factors than academic preparedness that go into a student’s success in college. To further prepare students for the next level of their academic journey, boarding schools offer advanced college preparatory departments that not only advise on academics, but also extracurricular activities and other opportunities students can take advantage of outside of the classroom. With a tight-knit web of residential mentors, coaches, teachers, and administrators, boarding school students have a strong support system to help them succeed and grow as they pursue a higher education.

Reason #4: Athletics & Extracurriculars

Clubs and advanced athletic programs are a major draw for boarding schools. In addition to providing regular physical activity, athletic programs provide multiple benefits that will serve students well into college and adulthood. Student-athletes at boarding schools are driven and disciplined, traits that carry over into the classroom. And a recent study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that sports participation results in significant mental and physical health benefits in adolescents. Even for students who do not want to play sports on a professional level, athletics are a vital and stimulating part of the boarding school experience.

In Conclusion

Boarding schools prepare students for future success all while offering the pleasures of traditional student life. Furthermore, students at boarding schools receive a jump start when it comes to college life and adulthood. The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) conducted a study that showed 78% of boarding school grads felt 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. Contrary to what many people believe, students at boarding school are not “missing out” — they are getting ahead.