In a recent New York Times article, The Boarding School-Boom, Ronda Kaysen noted an increase in attendance among boarding schools compared to declining enrollment in public schools. Many public schools are not offering in-person learning, athletics, or annual social events like prom and graduation. Screen-fatigued parents and students that desire collegiate recognition, social interactions, and face-to-face learning; have started to consider alternative learning environments.
The transition to a boarding school does not come without sacrifice. Parents must uproot children from their comfort zone of friends and familiarity. Furthermore, boarding schools often come with a hefty price tag. According to the Boarding School Review, the average boarding school tuition for a U.S. citizen is roughly $56,000 per year (A student can attend Hargrave for significantly less). Families now face questions of, “can we afford boarding school?”, “is this investment worth the money?”, “will my child succeed?”. With this in mind, parents must weigh the pros and cons of such a significant change. While the list of cons can be lengthy, the pros of boarding school can be incredible. Like most boarding schools, Hargrave offers a college-bound curriculum, competitive athletics, and a consistent routine while focusing specifically on life skills and character development, rarely pursued in public schools today.
We here at Hargrave could not agree more with Ronda Kaysen. We understand that the transition to a new learning environment can be challenging for first-time boarding school families. We have and will continue to provide face-to-face learning, competitive athletics, structure, and character development. A Hargrave education goes beyond the classroom; we stand on our mission statement, “Hargrave builds young men into leaders of character prepared for lifelong success.”
To learn more about Hargrave and see if it’s the right fit for your son Inquire Now, or call our admissions team at 800-432-2480.
