When the Road Leads to Boarding School

By Jean P. Hague, M.A.

Boarding school is not the best choice for every family, but for some students with learning differences boarding school can provide the academic and social resources necessary for success.

When your child is struggling, you just want to find whatever will help him succeed. You may look high and low, however, and not find what works close to home. Many students challenged by learning differences have found the resources they need by attending a boarding school. While this might seem like a drastic choice, the fact is that local public and private schools may not have the appropriate tools and expertise needed to help a student succeed.

Many boarding schools specialize in learning differences. At these schools, the teachers and administrators are very experienced at working with and accommodating the unique and varied needs of students with learning differences. Other boarding schools are more mainstream in their approach, but have specialized learning centers and programs that offer adapted teaching resources and learning tools. There are also boarding schools for younger students (middle school). One success story is the example of a student who was struggling at a competitive high school. He and his family decided a junior boarding school was a better choice and he attended such a school for two years. His skills and confidence significantly improved and now he will return to a local high school for his sophomore year. His boarding school experience taught him the work and time-management skills he needed to be a successful student.

Exploring your options
The first step in looking toward boarding school is to make sure the proper testing and medical evaluations have been done, and that local educational options are not the right fit. Testing can offer specific information regarding the student’s strengths and weaknesses. A complete psychoeducational evaluation by a licensed clinical psychologist offers a true academic profile, which outlines strengths and weaknesses and specifies the areas where the student needs special attention. In addition, many students with learning differences are also taking medication, and this will require the family to consult with a psychiatrist regarding the appropriate medication for the child after they are able to see results of the psychoeducational evaluation.

Once testing is complete and the family feels that local schools are not a good match, then considering boarding school may be the next logical step. Sometimes an educational consultant can help guide the family through the process of looking at schools, reviewing academic and medical records, gathering the necessary application materials, offering information regarding financial aid and offering first-hand knowledge about each school. A good Web site for parents to begin their boarding school search is www.boardingschoolsinfo.com. This Web site has information on funding and financial aid, types of boarding schools and different specialized programs.

Asking the questions
As in any search for the best school options, the key to success is matching the needs and interests of the student with what the school offers. Below are some questions to get you and your student talking about what you want in a boarding school.

• Where does my child struggle the most academically?
• What are his extra-curricular interests?
• What type of environment does he thrive in?
• What are his social and academic goals?
• As a parent, what are my goals for my child?

By discussing and pinpointing your student’s unique needs and interests, the task of finding the most appropriate boarding school will be easier. Also, if feasible, discuss with your student his test results. This increases everyone’s understanding of strengths and weaknesses and how a particular school can addresses certain skill deficiencies.

Wrestling with guilt

Families often feel that they cannot part with their youngsters and that is totally understandable. Of course, families like to keep their children as close to home as possible, but in some cases the best option may be a boarding school. Some parents feel guilty about sending a child to boarding school. Some worry that the child will feel abandoned, perhaps at a time when he needs parental support and involvement the most. But a decision for boarding school isn’t a decision for abandonment. In fact, it’s just the opposite; it’s a decision to give your child the best possible education in the best possible environment.

It helps to remember that the purpose of all education is to develop lifetime skills, build self-confidence and learn independence. Though parents may be reluctant, students who have experienced defeat over and over again in an academic setting will be thrilled to be where they can experience success.

Finding community at boarding school
In addition to academic opportunities, boarding schools also offer opportunities for significant improvements in social skills. When considering boarding schools, families need to focus on activities and extra-curricular needs as well as the academic offerings. In a boarding school, it is important that the student be able to pursue interests in addition to the educational program.

The community aspect of boarding schools is also supportive to students. This community includes the faculty, staff, and administrators who are close by or living in the dorms with students. Many dorm parents have young families and pets, and this contributes to the “homey” atmosphere of the school. Students are often able to go to faculty apartments for a question or just to talk to an adult. If a student needs counseling, there is usually someone on staff or in the area as a resource. In addition, a nurse is on campus or on-call 24 hours a day.

Choosing the summer option
If boarding school is too expensive, or the idea of a child being away from home for a whole school year is too daunting, families can consider summer boarding programs at some of the specialized schools. Even a four- to six-week program that targets a student’s specific needs can be productive and increase skills. Children grow socially and emotionally as well from a boarding experience. For example, Brandon Hall School (in Atlanta) has two-, four- and six-week boarding sessions in the summer (boys only). Another good summer option is one of the short-term wilderness programs for kids with learning differences. Although some of these programs aren’t focused on academics, they are excellent opportunities to build confidence and social skills – traits that always pay off in the classroom. For more information about summer programs, look at the short-term wilderness programs highlighted at www.boardingschoolsinfo.com.

Considering the option
While the idea of sending your child with learning differences off to boarding school may seem farfetched, don’t write it completely off as a possibility. There are many more boarding schools now that work with children’s special and unique learning needs, are more creative and generous in the ways they help with financial needs, and can be found closer to home. Helping a struggling student to succeed requires creativity and thinking outside the box. As parents, no option should be left unexplored! Your children just might surprise you!

Jean P. Hague is a certified educational planner and a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, the American Counseling Association, the International Dyslexia Association and several other professional associations specializing in counseling and learning differences. She has been in private practice in Atlanta for 30 years. She is a former teacher, counselor, school administrator, and the mother of three children. Jean is a Trustee Emeritus of the IECA Foundation, which provides funds for groups assisting young people with educational options. She can be reached at 404-872-9128 or jeanhague@aol.com.

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