How To Choose Between Day Or Boarding School: We’re all familiar with the question “What kind of school should I send my child to?” But a more important question to ask is: “What kind of school would be best for me and my child?” Deciding between day or boarding schools isn’t easy, but here are some tips to help you make an informed choice.
Consider your budget
One of the toughest parts about choosing between day and boarding schools is how much it will cost. You’ll want to make sure you can afford whatever schooling you choose. It’s important to consider all aspects of your budget, including:
- Room and board costs
- Transportation costs (if applicable)
- Extra activities (classes, athletics, etc.)
- School supplies (books and uniforms)
The school you choose should be able to provide you with a breakdown of the costs associated with attending.
Decide where you want your child to go to school.
Once you’ve established a budget and have narrowed down your list of schools, it’s time to start thinking about the logistics.
- Location of school: Where is the school located? How far away will it be from your home and other family members? Will it be too far out for friends and family to visit when they want to see their kids? What are some things that are close by that might help enrich your child’s experience while they’re there (stores, restaurants, museums)? Does that location work well with how much time it takes each day for your kids to commute there or back home after class ends?
- Commute time: How long does it take each day for them to get up early enough in the morning so they can leave by carpooling with other students’ families at 6 am on weekdays. On weekends — when most schools offer enrichment activities like sports teams or music lessons — does commuting add significantly more time onto what was already an arduous schedule consisting solely of classes all day every day.
Talk to other parents about their own experiences with day or boarding schools.
You can also talk to parents whose children are attending the school. Ask them about their own experiences, and be sure to ask them how they feel about the school as a whole. Talk to parents whose children are currently enrolled in the school and those who have recently graduated. See if they recommend this type of education for your child, and ask if it was worth it for their family in the long run.
If you are considering homeschooling, it’s important to know how your state regulates the practice. Many states require parents to register their homeschool with the local school district and meet certain requirements in order for their children to receive an education.
How far apart do you live from the school?
The next thing to consider is how far away the school is from home. If you live in a big city, it may be difficult to find a good boarding school that’s close by since most of them are located in rural areas or suburbs. You also want to think about how much time you can spend with your child and what length of commute would be acceptable.
If you want your child at home as much as possible, then maybe a day school might be better for your family. On the other hand, if being away from home all day every day (and being exposed to different types of people) sounds like something that would benefit them academically and socially, then perhaps boarding school is more appropriate.
Decide what kind of education you want for your child.
Before you begin researching boarding schools and facilities, it’s important to ask yourself what kind of education you want for your child. Do they need an academically rigorous program that will prepare them for college?
If so, then a day school might not be the right fit. Or maybe your child isn’t interested in going to college at all and just wants to take some classes at a trade school—if so, then it would make sense for them to go with a boarding school or facility where they can learn about various trades on-site.
You should also decide whether your child needs socialization with other people their age or if they’ll be fine being around adults most of the time. If this is something that concerns or worries you about sending them away from home, then perhaps looking into sending them somewhere where there are other kids who can provide them with some formative friendships during their stay there would be best suited for everyone involved (including parents).
Talk to the school about the programs that are offered.
You’ll want to get a good idea of what kind of programs your child will be exposed to at the school. In addition, how much time will they spend on them? Schools vary significantly in their curriculum and so it’s important that you understand what opportunities your child will have through these programs.
The other thing is, if your child has any special interests or talents, ask the school how they can help him/her pursue them while enrolled there. For example, are there sports teams or clubs where he/she could participate in activities geared toward their interest level? Or maybe they are academically gifted—do the schools offer advanced classes for students who excel in certain subjects?
Make sure that any programs offered by boarding schools fit into the overall structure of their education rather than becoming an afterthought—these extracurricular experiences are important components as well!
Research the location of the school.
The location of your child’s new school is an important factor to consider when deciding on which school is good for your child. Some parents find that they really like the idea of sending their children to a boarding school, but then are unable to get the distance from home that they want because the school is very nearby.
If you don’t want your child to be anywhere near the home environment them you may need to send him/her to the boarding school that is away your home so that he/she can focus on the study with no many home thoughts.
Ask about who will take care of your child when he or she is at school
Ask about who will take care of your child when he or she is at school. Will teachers and other staff members be available to help? Will students be supervised? Will parents have access to their children’s schedules, and will they be able to communicate with them throughout the day? Other people who live on campus may also need to be considered.
Final Word
Many parents find that boarding school is the best option for their children especially if you want your child to study to his/her full potential. When you talk to other parents about their experiences with day or boarding schools, you can get a better idea of what type of school would be best for your child.
This article has outlined some things to consider when choosing between the two types of schools so that you have an easier time deciding what’s right for your family. We hope this information helps guide you through this process!
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