Many residential boarding schools focus on academics because they are preparing students for college. Students live on campus and have meal and lodging provisions, much the same as college residents. Teachers realize that academics are a priority, so they present material and challenge students in ways that prepare them for college. Admission to residential boarding schools is often highly competitive, so students often need letters of recommendation and exemplary standardized test scores to gain admittance. Residential boarding schools also foster independence because students must learn to budget their time and resources, without a parent's constant supervision. Even though residential boarding schools encourage character development and positive social skills, specialized emotional growth treatments and therapeutic classes aren't usually available.
"Therapeutic boarding schools are generally middle schools and high schools that have comprehensive therapies for students and offer programs to help with self-esteem and problem behaviors," according to the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation. Even though academics are still important at therapeutic schools, behavioral therapies trump academic coursework. Teachers and therapists often focus on coping strategies and life skills that help students work through stress disorders and behavioral concerns, such as bipolar disorder, attention deficiency, self-esteem issues, substance abuse or traumatic childhood experiences. Students live on campus, so they can interact with instructors, therapists and other students struggling with similar difficulties, on a daily basis.
Most residential boarding schools and many therapeutic schools aren't equipped to handle severe clinical, emotional or mental illnesses. Even though therapeutic boarding schools have staff who specialize in behavior modification and emotional growth therapies, students need to be stable enough to attend school, while maintaining a relationship with a psychiatrist outside of school, according to the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation. Many residential boarding schools and some therapeutic schools won't administer psychotropic medications, according to the site.
Residential and therapeutic boarding schools have the same goal -- helping students live healthy, productive lives. Therapeutic schools often stress the importance of making lifestyle and behavioral changes first, before pursuing other goals. Once internal changes occur, students are free to focus on other pursuits, such as academic goals and extracurricular interests. Most residential boarding schools, that don't offer therapeutic treatments, bypass behavioral changes and move right into teaching responsibility, study skills, time management, leadership traits, college success tips, long-term career objectives and advanced academic content.