17 best boarding schools in New York 2025

Boarding Schools in New York. Guide for foreign students

New York presents an extensive array of boarding schools for students and their parents to choose from, with variations in areas of focus and educational programs. Beyond traditional co-ed boarding schools, you'll find institutions emphasizing:

• Military Preparation: These are military boarding schools, offering initial training in military discipline.
• Therapeutic Support: Some schools specialize in providing therapy and psychological assistance to teenagers facing challenges or those with specific health conditions.
• Specialized Sciences and Disciplines: Boarding schools specializing in Fine Arts, Mathematics, and Science cater to students with a keen interest in these fields.

Additionally, some schools exclusively admit and educate teenagers within specific age groups. For instance, only students from the seventh grade or those in the tenth to twelfth grades, among others. On the other hand, some schools offer the complete secondary school curriculum, spanning from the first to the twelfth grade.

Key Features of Boarding Schools in New York for foreign students

Several factors should be considered when choosing a boarding school in New York:

• Average SAT Scores: Assess the average SAT scores of graduates, as this provides insights into academic performance.
• Total Student Population: Examine the size of the student body to understand the school's community and class sizes.
• Acceptance Rate: The percentage of students admitted to the school out of all applicants can indicate the level of competitiveness.
• Cost of Education: Understanding the tuition fees and additional expenses is essential.

These factors contribute to the school's ranking, with higher rankings signifying greater prestige.

Important Considerations

Before making a decision, it's crucial to ascertain whether the chosen boarding school is accredited by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and whether it is authorized to admit foreign students.

Accommodation at Top Boarding Schools in New York

Foreign students studying in New York have two accommodation options: residing within the school's premises or with a host family. Host families typically have extensive experience in hosting international students, ensuring a comfortable and secure environment for their guests. On-campus accommodation guarantees around-the-clock security, with staff readily available to assist students with domestic matters. Whether living on campus or with a host family, students have the opportunity to enhance their English language skills.

Activities at Boarding Schools in New York, USA

Education at the best boarding schools in New York goes beyond classroom learning, emphasizing a combination of theory and practical experience. Through the Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) program, students engage in hands-on activities that foster problem-solving, project-building, and collaboration skills.

• Clubs: Students can immerse themselves in their interests and discover new passions through various clubs, with over 65 options to choose from. Extracurricular activities keep students active and additionally provide possibilities to increase new skills. Students even have the chance to form their very own clubs with the assistance of coordinators.
• Sports: Boarding schools in New York offer sports activities programs to enhance physical fitness and teamwork. These programs consist of high school and junior high school sports teams, and a number of them have gained top popularity within the state. Additionally, students can take part in various on-campus sports clubs to maintain an energetic and healthful lifestyle.
• Activities and Excursions: Extracurricular coordinators assure that students can stay up for attractive trips and activities within their schedules. Enrolling in boarding schools reimagines New York as an expansive educational playground. Students enhance their educational and cultural insights through visits to museums, exhibitions, outdoor adventures, and hands-on learning experiences.

How to Apply to Boarding Schools in New York

The application process for boarding schools in New York can be a fulfilling and transformative journey for students looking for a first rate education in a difficult and culturally rich setting. Below is a general guide to the application procedure:

• Explore and Choose Schools. Start by examining the various boarding schools in New York that align with your educational and personal aspirations. Evaluate factors include location, size, academic programs, extracurricular activities, and the school's mission.
• Collect Application Documents. Most boarding schools will ask for an entire application package, commonly inclusive of your academic performance, standardized test scores (for instance, the SSAT or ISEE), teacher recommendations, a personal essay, and any additional requirements set by the school.
• Complete the Application Process. Accurately fill out the application forms from your chosen schools while adhering to their deadlines, which can differ significantly. Providing accurate and complete information plays a crucial role for admissions.
• Financial Aid (if needed). If you need financial aid, make sure that you complete and submit the specified forms together with your application. Many institutions offer need-based aid, so meeting their submission deadlines is critical.
• Interviews and Campus Tours: Certain institutions can also require an interview during the application procedure. If possible, visit the campuses of your selected schools to feel the environment firsthand.
• Admissions Decisions: After submitting your application, you'll wait for the school's admissions to make a decision. Admissions committees consider various factors, such as academic achievements, extracurricular participation, recommendations from teachers, and your compatibility with the school's community.

Simon Kizhner

Regional Admissions representative, EMEA

What are the most important questions parents ask when choosing a school in the USA?

The main thing to consider is how the chosen school suits your child, his habits, ambitions, interests. In principle, the criteria that are taken into account in the rankings will become good determinants: class size, names of universities that graduates choose, composition of the student community, location, etc.