Boarding Schools in the US: How to Choose and Apply

Last updated: November 7, 2026

Boarding schools in the US are private schools where students live on campus, usually from 9th through 12th grade, with teachers who often live in the dormitories too. Most families apply in the fall and winter of 8th grade, through a shared online application, with deadlines in mid-January to early February and decisions in March. Tuition at the best-known schools is about $80,000 a year, but many of them admit students without regard to need and give large grants: Phillips Exeter says families earning less than $150,000 pay no tuition. Below you will find how to choose a school for your child, the application step by step, tests, costs and aid, and the honest trade-offs.

The families who get the most from boarding school arrive knowing what their child loves to learn. That clarity starts long before the application. Show me how to find it →

What is a boarding school?

A boarding school is a school where most students live on campus during the school year. Students take classes, eat, play sports and study together, with adults on campus day and night. Many boarding schools also enroll day students who live nearby.

The main types:

College-preparatory boarding schools, usually grades 9 to 12, sometimes with a postgraduate year. These are the schools most families mean.
Junior boarding schools, which take younger students, often from about 5th or 6th grade through 9th grade.
Specialized schools, such as schools for the arts, military academies, schools built around a particular faith, and schools for students with learning differences.

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) is the main membership group for boarding schools. Its directory at boardingschools.com lets you search member schools by location, grade and size.

Why families choose boarding school

Parents usually name four reasons:

Academic depth. Small classes and advanced courses that many local schools cannot offer. At Exeter, the student-to-teacher ratio is 6 to 1.
Independence. Your child learns to manage time, work and friendships in a supported setting, before college.
Community. Students come from many places. At Andover, 18% of students are international.
Access. Generous aid means a strong boarding school can cost less than you expect.

Small classes help most when your child has a question worth pursuing. Picture them arriving at a new school with research already under way. Send me the insider guide for parents →

How to choose a boarding school

Start with your child. What does your child love to learn, and how do they learn best? A child who thrives in discussion may love Exeter's Harkness method, where about a dozen students sit around one oval table.
Decide on distance and size. Some families want a school within a few hours' drive. Schools range from a few hundred students to more than a thousand.
Look at the academic program. Check the advanced math and science, the research and independent study options, and how many students take courses beyond the standard track.
Look at daily life. Ask about dormitory structure, weekend activities, how many students stay on weekends, and who your child would turn to at 10 p.m.
Ask about aid first, not last. Many top schools are "need-blind," which means they decide admission without looking at your ability to pay.
Visit, in person or online. Tours and interviews tell you more than any brochure. Watch how students talk to each other and to teachers.

Is there a #1 boarding school in America?

There is no official ranking. Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and Phillips Academy Andover in Massachusetts are among the oldest and best known, both founded in the late 1700s. Other schools are strong in particular areas, such as science, the arts or a specific region. The best school for your child is the one where they will grow most, not the one at the top of a list.

How to apply to boarding school: step by step

Most US boarding schools use a shared online system called Gateway to Prep Schools. Here is how the process works at two well-known schools.

Phillips Exeter (for entry in fall 2027)

Submit the Candidate Profile in Gateway to Prep Schools. You can begin as early as July.
Schedule a tour and an interview. "Each applicant is eligible for one interview appointment, which must be completed by January 15."
Complete the required test.
Submit the student essay and the parent statement.
Request recommendations from a principal or counselor, your child's current English and math teachers, and "a personal recommendation highlighting your character and community impact from an adult who knows you well."
The application deadline is January 15. Decisions are released March 10. The fee is $60.

Phillips Academy Andover (for entry in fall 2027)

Submit the Candidate Profile in Gateway to Prep Schools.
Schedule an interview: on campus, virtual, or a recorded interview. "Interviews are conducted through the month of January."
Submit one required test.
Submit a graded writing sample, an essay, a short video response and a parent or guardian statement.
The admission and financial aid deadline is February 1, 2027. The fee is $60, or $125 for international students.

Andover also notes that students can now choose to apply as a day student or a boarding student "without geographic restriction."

Other schools follow a similar pattern. Some use the Standard Application Online (SAO) instead of Gateway, or accept both. Check each school's admissions page.

Exeter asks for a recommendation about your child's "character and community impact." A mentor who watched them work for months can write that letter. Show me how that works →

Boarding school admission tests

Most schools require a test, and the options depend on the grade:

Exeter: for 9th grade applicants, "Upper Level of the SSAT or ISEE is required." For 10th and 11th grade, one of the SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT, PreACT or ACT.
Andover: one of the SSAT (Upper Level), ISEE (Upper Level), PSAT, SAT or ACT.

The SSAT and ISEE are the most common. Both test verbal skills, reading and math. Students usually take one in the fall of 8th grade, with time to retake before the deadline. Exeter requires results from tests taken "no earlier than one year prior to the application deadline."

Boarding school timeline for 8th grade families

When	What to do
Spring of 7th grade	Research schools. Talk with your child about what they want.
Summer before 8th grade	Visit campuses if you can. Applications open in July or August.
September to November	Start the Candidate Profile. Schedule interviews. Register for the SSAT or ISEE.
November to January	Take the test. Complete essays, the parent statement and recommendation requests.
Mid-January to early February	Application and financial aid deadlines.
March	Decisions, often on one shared date.
April	Revisit days, then reply to the school you choose.

How much does boarding school cost?

At the most selective schools, tuition is near $80,000 a year. Andover's 2026-27 tuition is $79,800 for boarding students and $63,840 for day students.

The aid can change the picture completely:

Exeter is need-blind and meets "100% of the demonstrated need for every admitted student with grants that you do not pay back." It says "families making less than $150,000 pay no tuition." Its average annual grant for boarding students is $60,000, and 49% of students receive aid.
Andover is need-blind and meets "100 percent of each student's demonstrated financial need" with grants, not loans. 47% of students receive aid.

Apply for aid at the same time as admission. At both schools, the aid deadline is the same as the application deadline. Exeter's advice to unsure families is simple: "If you feel that you'll need assistance to attend Exeter, we encourage you to apply."

The downsides of boarding school

Boarding school is not right for every child. The real trade-offs:

Distance. Your child leaves home at 14. Some children love it, and some miss their family deeply.
Pace. The work is demanding, and every classmate is strong. A child used to being the best may need time to adjust.
Less daily parenting. You will hear about many things after the fact. Adults on campus take on part of your role.
Cost, for families who do not qualify for aid.

The best way to judge is to listen to your child. Children who choose boarding school themselves usually adapt fastest.

How to know whether your child is ready

Signs a child may thrive at boarding school:

They want more challenge than their school can offer.
They manage their own homework and time without reminders.
They are curious about new people and places.
They have an interest they pursue on their own, in science, art, sport or anything else.

That last sign matters in admissions too. A child who has followed a real question, built something or explored a field in depth has a story to tell in the interview and the essay. See how to challenge a gifted child and programs for gifted middle school students.

A 13-year-old who can explain their own research stands out in any boarding school interview. Picture your child doing it. Send me how to start →

Frequently asked questions

What is the youngest age to start boarding school? Most college-preparatory boarding schools start in 9th grade, at about age 14. Junior boarding schools accept younger students, often from about 5th or 6th grade.

Is boarding school only for wealthy families? No. Exeter says families earning less than $150,000 pay no tuition, and about half of students at Exeter and Andover receive aid.

When should we apply to boarding school? In the fall and winter of the year before entry, usually 8th grade. Deadlines at Exeter and Andover are January 15 and February 1.

Do boarding schools require the SSAT? Most require a test. For 9th grade, Exeter requires the SSAT or ISEE Upper Level, and Andover accepts the SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT or ACT.

Are boarding schools good for college admissions? They offer strong academics and close counseling. But colleges read every applicant in the context of their school, so the student's own work matters most.

Sources

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