Boarding schools usually offer a more diverse selection of courses and specializations than do other private and public schools. Such academic offerings allow students to specialize in topics that interest them, while most public schools typically offer mandatory courses primarily.
Boarding schools often have many extracurricular activities, providing students an opportunity to excel in fields beyond traditional academics.
Boarding schools typically have smaller student populations than other schools, so greater individual attention is given to students. This helps keep students on track academically while attempting to prepare them to be a responsible adult.
Students in boarding schools are away from their families and face a competitive environment. In a positive sense, such environments provide room for improvement and development that leads to greater responsibility. With the help of guidance from faculty and peers, students learn to make their own choices and take responsibility. Through these experiences, students undergo personal growth that builds self-confidence.
Boarding schools may deprive students of day-to-day bonding with their families, especially with their parents. Communication with family members is curtailed and a parent's role is reduced.
Daily interaction between a parent and a child strengthens many relationships. When the child is at a boarding school, parent-child communication becomes impersonal, with meaningful and encouraging words typically delivered through phone calls, texts or emails.
Attending boarding school may be expensive. As of 2010, most boarding schools cost more $35,000 to attend, according to Boarding School Review, which lists the costs of many boarding schools. Much like private universities, boarding schools charge fees as they see fit, and that may require a significant portion of the family's income.