Girls Boarding School: All Girl and All Female Boarding Schools

The transition from adolescence to womanhood can be challenging, and a girls boarding school can offer several advantages for young girls and teenagers during this critical time. Girls boarding schools are designed to challenge students academically and socially, but also provide them with an encouraging and nurturing environment so that they can develop into strong, mature, and responsible women. All female boarding schools are heavily focused on academic growth and empowerment; they can give young women the skills and resources to grow without conforming to societal pressures that can have an impact on self-esteem at an early age.

Girls boarding schools are structured with both study and socializing time, enabling students to take part in a variety or academic and extracurricular activities each day. Girls who attend all female boarding schools may have a stronger chance of career success and a higher level of self-esteem as they grow and mature and responsible adults.

What is a Girls Boarding School?

A girls boarding school offers a single-sex environment in the classroom and throughout the campus, and enrollment options may include a day school environment where they live in an independent dorm-like setting, or a boarding school where students share living quarters and accommodations with a group. Students take part in skill-building, leadership, and extra-curricular activities on a daily basis, and maintaining a steady schedule is part of the academic requirement.

A boarding school for girls offers students a chance to take part in many healthy activities, and excursions off-campus often take place with a chaperone. Students are encouraged to pursue a variety of challenging academic endeavors so that they can participate in class discussions and enhance their learning with ease.

Why Choose an All Female Boarding School?

All female boarding schools enable students to focus on building confidence and individual talents rather than an over-emphasis on personal appearance and engaging in risky behaviors.

Girls boarding schools are designed to encourage self-discipline and provide valuable lifestyle skills such as making healthy choices, engaging in empowering activities, and building confidence through their individual hard work. Many young girls are vulnerable throughout their teen years, falling into dangerous cycles of depression, eating disorders, poor interpersonal relationships, or engaging in unhealthy activities. An all female boarding school can discourage these behaviors and choices, offering a variety of life-enhancing and positive activities, relationships, and options instead.

Advantages of a Girl Boarding School vs. Co-Ed Education

Each student at a girls boarding school can enjoy several advantages over a ‘traditional’ co-ed education. Girls boarding schools are structured for learning essential life management skills, building self-confidence, and enhancing self-esteem. Girls have a chance to socialize with their peers in a safe and healthy setting, and can learn from each other’s strengths. Mentors and counselors are usually assigned to each student, and can serve as powerful role models during the course of their stay. Other advantages of a girls boarding school over traditional educational settings include:

·         Highly trained faculty, counselors, mentors, and teachers readily available

·         Ability to work and socialize with peers who have similar goals

·         Higher chance of success in the ‘real world’ as a result of a healthy self-esteem

·         An opportunity to compete and excel in athletics, academics, and other activities to develop a healthy competitive spirit

·         Access to intellectual resources that can help them through college and beyond

·         Ability to work and play in a safe, encouraging, and nurturing environment

·         Access to emotional and social support throughout the term of study

Life At An All Girl Boarding School

Lift at an all girl boarding school is filled with activities and opportunities to grow. Students follow a daily schedule that includes scheduled meal and break times, along with study and homework time. The typical day starts early in the morning with an inspirational reading or prayer; academic classes are then structured throughout the day, and may include physical education, general education, and even group therapy depending on the type of school and program. Sports and other activities typically take place immediately after the academic segment of the day, and both intramural and interscholastic sports are offered throughout each semester. Church or other religious services may be included as part of the weekend schedule, and visitors or trips off campus may also be arranged.

How to Choose a Boarding School for Girls

Choosing the right boarding school for girls requires understanding what type of environment the prospective student can thrive in. Girls boarding schools can range from basic academic and education-oriented schools designed for college preparation, or religion-based schools that help young women become more spiritual and religious.

Specialized all girl boarding schools can address emotional needs and personal development issues for troubled students. Some of these girl boarding school programs include:

·         Learning difference schools: these all female boarding schools specialize in addressing learning problems such as ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia. attention deficit disorder, and other learning disabilities. These schools provide one-on-one attention for each student, making it easier for them to adapt a healthy learning style that works for them in the long-term.

·         Behavioral issues schools: these all girl boarding schools can help young women who may be exhibiting anger or poor social behavior that requires intervention. This is often a result of problems at home and school, and behavioral issues schools can help these students get onto a healthy track. Counselors are usually assigned to each student, and can help them with growth and development issues to provide them with adequate resources to tackle tough issues.

·         Emotional or social issues: these schools are designed to address issues of depression, poor social skills, or those that have been victimized. Counselors and mentors can help these students overcome their difficulties and lead them towards healthy ways of coping and managing their situation.

A few considerations when choosing an all girl boarding school include:

• Costs and term of study
• Type of all female boarding school the student would best fit into
• Teacher to student ratio
• Any learning or behavioral issues that may need to be addressed

Girls Boarding School Costs and Enrollment Procedures

Most girls boarding schools range from under $2,000 to over $6,000 per month, depending on location, curriculum, course of study, and length of stay. The majority of schools are eligible for educational loans and even scholarships. Contacting the school’s admissions office can provide valuable information on funding, scholarships, and grant opportunities.

Enrollment procedures at an all girl boarding school vary depending on the type of school and academic standards. Some all girl boarding schools are open to middle school students who can then transition into a high school setting with ease. Others are offered as a pre-college prep school, serving as an alternative to a public high school or other educational institution. Enrollment is generally offered on a per-semester or monthly basis.

Girl Boarding School Accreditation

Each girls boarding school can be accredited by a number of national and local organizations, and most are registered with at least two or three different accrediting bodies. The most common accrediting institutions include a regional Association of Accredited Schools, the State Department of Education, and the State Department of Human Services. The Independent Consultants Association, along with coalitions for girls’ education may also serve as accrediting agencies in each district.