US Boarding Schools

US BOARDING SCHOOLS A GULF NEWS SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

Rising to the challenge A look at issues that are being actively followed up on and tackled at American boarding schools

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ike any industry in the US, and the world, the education sector is influenced by national and global trends, economic and otherwise and the same stands true for American boarding schools. Most boarding schools in the US comprise of between 10 to 20 per cent of international students, therefore it’s important to understand that a recession or an economic downturn or civil strife could deter parents from considering sending their children to American schools to pursue their education.

However, American institutions are quick learners. Here are five steps US boarding schools are undertaking to stay relevant and profitable.

COUNTER RISING OPERATING COSTS The cost of education is not something that parents bear alone, conducting the daily and annual affairs of an education institution is big business with checks and balances that need effective management. A skilled business manager is an asset

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instruments are many, from a professionally designed website to excellent social media campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, a multipronged marketing campaign that provides timely information on school application procedures and admissions, in-school services and more. Parents are equally concerned about the safety of their children in a boarding environment. Addressing this and ensuring that the child is safe and secure within the school’s walls goes a long way.

EARMARK FINANCIAL AID

Aspiring to have a diverse student pool also requires having an adequate financial pool to attract applicants from across a diverse socioeconomic background. Planning for and developing financial support to meet these needs is important. Hiring a professional development staffer is a good idea.

for any organization and the same applies to boarding schools too, one who can formulate, initiate and drive short- and long-term business plans, which consider appropriate development strategies that effectively counter anticipatory rising operating costs.

Arranging regular catch-up sessions and reviewing progress is also a healthy habit that boarding schools need to adhere to.

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MARKET RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS RIGHT

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STAY COMPETITIVE

Boarding schools are subject to certain changes in the long term that lead to the risk of these institutions losing market share. This means not just figuring out filling the available quote of seats at school for the next academic year but also attracting applicants in excess of the quota to pick and choose the best wards, much like how a corporate business would fill vacancies for a top job.

It’s important to get the parent to realise that your school is a meritori-

Weaving a marketing campaign around all the positives of enrolling into residential school goes a long way in mitigating the apprehensions that most parents have about sending their children off to boarding. The

ous institution and that an admission here is for the select few. To build that value for the brand, connect with private school marketing and coaching companies such as Enrollment Catalyst that provide marketing strategies to increase and improve private school enrollment. Staying competitive helps you remain ahead of the curve in the long term.

ANTICIPATE UNCERTAINTIES, FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL

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While markets in the US are generally stable, an impending trade war with China can have global ramifications, not to mention for the local US economy. The face-off could have a knockdown effect, encompassing just about every sector including education. In such cases it pays to be aware and ready.

The same holds true for the political scenario within the US and it helps as a responsible educational professional running a boarding school to be in the know by staying in touch with local and state political and administration bodies.

Support the National Association of Independent Schools so that it has the resources necessary to lobby on your behalf.

There truly is strength in numbers.

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Offering best possible options for a successful future

Helping build a talented workforce for a future-perfect world

Setting the benchmark among US education institutions

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US BOARDING SCHOOLS

May 30, 2019 ADVERTISER’S CONTENT

[ ST MARY’S SCHOOL ]

Providing students an immersive experience across the education spectrum A

t Saint Mary’s School, students don’t just skim the surface.

They dive in. Saint Mary’s School provides girls with immersive experiences that encourage them to step outside of their comfort zones and take risks without fear of failure. By immersing themselves in these experiences, students build confidence, gain independence and transform into the individuals they want to become.

With an innovative programme designed to help girls develop key competencies like critical thinking, collaboration, cross-cultural intelligence, and new media literacy, Saint Mary’s academic curriculum includes APs, elective courses like coding, writing with art, economics, and quarterly seminars focused on communication, health and wellness, innovation, and social impact. The programme is academic

rounded out by a rich arts programme offering performing and visual arts, 11 sports, real-world experiences like internships, myriad clubs, leadership opportunities, a dedicated college counseling

programme, and access to new and emerging technologies. An Honor Code and the school’s Episcopal tradition inform values and calls the community to respect the worth and dignity of all.

Situated in downtown Raleigh, N.C., and within close proximity to the Research Triangle, Saint Mary’s students enjoy a unique and thriving urban location with easy access to universities, muse-

ums, cultural organisations and businesses. The school’s community partnerships, designed to engage students in experiential learning with experts in technology, science, entrepreneurship and others, encourage girls to take an active role in their learning and apply their knowledge in relevant, real-world contexts.

As a boarding and day school, Saint Mary’s welcomes girls from across the state, the country and the world. Each girl is known, valued and respected for her unique perspectives and interests. Saint Mary’s dedicated faculty guide girls both in and out of the classroom and create a safe environment where girls are inspired to take risks, use their voices, and grow as young women of intelligence, integrity and purpose — ready to serve and shape their world.

To learn more about St. Mary’s, visit www.sms.edu

US BOARDING SCHOOLS

May 30, 2019

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ADVERTISER’S CONTENT

[ BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL ]

Offering its students the best possible options for a successful future B

lue Ridge School is an all-boys, all-boarding college preparatory school in Virginia for grades 9-12. We are near the Shenandoah National Park and the city of Charlottesville, the home of the University of Virginia. We have 188 students from 23 US states, two US territories, and 21 foreign countries. More than 80 per cent of our faculty live on campus, and our classes are small, so teachers have many opportunities to get to know their students well. The student/faculty ratio is 6/1 with an average class size of eight.

Our curriculum is designed to engage boys while offering our students the best possible options to ensure their preparedness for and success in college. As a college prep school, Blue Ridge is proud of its 100 per cent college acceptance rate. Our graduates attend a wide variety of colleges and universities across the United

States, from large research universities to highly ranked liberal arts colleges.

Our 750-acre campus is home to a renowned Outdoor Program that fosters a respect for nature and leadership

skills that last a lifetime. We offer 15 different sports—from football, basketball, and lacrosse to mountain biking, tennis, and wrestling. Our cocurricular programs include programs such as drama, cho-

rus, and robotics.

Blue Ridge School also has a strong Honor Code and a Character Education curriculum that provides boys with the foundation for making good decisions in a

complex world.

Getting to Blue Ridge School is easy. We are less than three hours from Washington, D.C., and less than 20 minutes from the nearest airport.

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US BOARDING SCHOOLS

May 30, 2019 ADVERTISER’S CONTENT

[ IDYLLWILD ]

A co-educational New England junior boarding school for grades K-9 F

nis courts, and a newly constructed Dining Hall/Campus Center and Health Center. The School is 80 miles north of New York City and less than 90 minutes away from Bradley In-

ternational Airport in Windsor Locks. Rumsey Hall is committed to a whole-child approach of education and believes that teaching academics and teaching an attitude of mind are of

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ADVERTISER’S CONTENT

[ RUMSEY HALL SCHOOL ]

ounded in 1900, Rumsey Hall School is a leading New England independent, coed junior boarding and day school.

While our overall student population consists mainly of day students from more than 25 local communities, we welcome boys and girls from 12 states and more than 10 countries to our private campus. For the 2018-19 academic year, Rumsey enrolled 84 day students and three boarding students in the Lower School (Grades K–5) and 102 day and 144 boarding students in the Upper School (Grades 6–9).

Located in Washington, in the Litchfield Hills of Northwest Connecticut, Rumsey’s physical plant offers 32 buildings on 231 acres along the scenic Bantam River. It includes a Fine Arts Building, a Performing Arts Center, nine dormitories, seven athletic fields, two gymnasiums and a hockey rink, as well as three indoor and three outdoor ten-

US BOARDING SCHOOLS

May 30, 2019

equal importance.

Our average class size is 12 students with a faculty to student ratio of 1:5. The School emphasises effort as a criterion for success and is dedicated to

helping each child develop toward his or her maximum stature as an educated person, a successful member of a family and a contributing member of a community.

Helping create a talented workforce W

hat do a vascular surgeon with offices in four cities (Idyllwild Arts Academy Class of 1989), an award-winning environmental scientist-activist (Class of ‘92), a prolific inventor (Class of ‘94), and a Silicon Valley high-tech executive (Class of ‘03) have in common? Like many successful professional artists, all four graduated from Idyllwild Arts Academy, the unique residential high school set upon 205 forested acres in California’s breathtaking San Jacinto Mountains.

Idyllwild Arts Academy provides intensive arts training and challenging college-prep academics to young people from dozens of different countries.

By striking the ideal balance between academics and the arts, the Academy prepares students for the workplaces of the future.

The Academy’s graduation requirements prepare students for any institution of higher learning. Honours levels are offered in all subjects to offer

a competitive college preparatory curriculum and challenge students to push beyond minimal academic expectations. grades nine Teaching through 12 and postgraduates, individual programmes range from one to four years in length, tailored to suit each student’s needs. Study commonly consists of academic classes that satisfy the University of California’s admission requirements, as well as the arts classes needed for the individual student’s chosen discipline: classical music, jazz, contemporary songwriting, visual arts, theatre, dance, fashion design, film and digital media, interdisciplinary arts, or creative writing.

Understanding that grade nine represents a crucial stage in every student’s academic

and artistic development, the Academy ensures that learners have a variety of disciplines to discover and aren’t pressured into an unsuited professional pathway.

Having the time, space, and support to explore what they love prepares them to pursue their next academic endeavours.

On the artistic front, graduates of Idyllwild Arts Academy currently excel in every professional field of the arts, including Broadway theatre, prime time television, classical and jazz music, motion pictures, graphic design, photography, and more.

Inspiring every student to grow artistically, intellectually, and personally, the Academy has been known to transform lives through the power of the arts.

Carrying deep knowledge, strong work ethics, and innovative spirit, the alumni of Idyllwild Arts Academy are among the most talented individuals to be entering the workforce.

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US BOARDING SCHOOLS

May 30, 2019 ADVERTISER’S CONTENT

[ IDYLLWILD ]

A co-educational New England junior boarding school for grades K-9 F

nis courts, and a newly constructed Dining Hall/Campus Center and Health Center. The School is 80 miles north of New York City and less than 90 minutes away from Bradley In-

ternational Airport in Windsor Locks. Rumsey Hall is committed to a whole-child approach of education and believes that teaching academics and teaching an attitude of mind are of

5

ADVERTISER’S CONTENT

[ RUMSEY HALL SCHOOL ]

ounded in 1900, Rumsey Hall School is a leading New England independent, coed junior boarding and day school.

While our overall student population consists mainly of day students from more than 25 local communities, we welcome boys and girls from 12 states and more than 10 countries to our private campus. For the 2018-19 academic year, Rumsey enrolled 84 day students and three boarding students in the Lower School (Grades K–5) and 102 day and 144 boarding students in the Upper School (Grades 6–9).

Located in Washington, in the Litchfield Hills of Northwest Connecticut, Rumsey’s physical plant offers 32 buildings on 231 acres along the scenic Bantam River. It includes a Fine Arts Building, a Performing Arts Center, nine dormitories, seven athletic fields, two gymnasiums and a hockey rink, as well as three indoor and three outdoor ten-

US BOARDING SCHOOLS

May 30, 2019

equal importance.

Our average class size is 12 students with a faculty to student ratio of 1:5. The School emphasises effort as a criterion for success and is dedicated to

helping each child develop toward his or her maximum stature as an educated person, a successful member of a family and a contributing member of a community.

Helping create a talented workforce W

hat do a vascular surgeon with offices in four cities (Idyllwild Arts Academy Class of 1989), an award-winning environmental scientist-activist (Class of ‘92), a prolific inventor (Class of ‘94), and a Silicon Valley high-tech executive (Class of ‘03) have in common? Like many successful professional artists, all four graduated from Idyllwild Arts Academy, the unique residential high school set upon 205 forested acres in California’s breathtaking San Jacinto Mountains.

Idyllwild Arts Academy provides intensive arts training and challenging college-prep academics to young people from dozens of different countries.

By striking the ideal balance between academics and the arts, the Academy prepares students for the workplaces of the future.

The Academy’s graduation requirements prepare students for any institution of higher learning. Honours levels are offered in all subjects to offer

a competitive college preparatory curriculum and challenge students to push beyond minimal academic expectations. grades nine Teaching through 12 and postgraduates, individual programmes range from one to four years in length, tailored to suit each student’s needs. Study commonly consists of academic classes that satisfy the University of California’s admission requirements, as well as the arts classes needed for the individual student’s chosen discipline: classical music, jazz, contemporary songwriting, visual arts, theatre, dance, fashion design, film and digital media, interdisciplinary arts, or creative writing.

Understanding that grade nine represents a crucial stage in every student’s academic

and artistic development, the Academy ensures that learners have a variety of disciplines to discover and aren’t pressured into an unsuited professional pathway.

Having the time, space, and support to explore what they love prepares them to pursue their next academic endeavours.

On the artistic front, graduates of Idyllwild Arts Academy currently excel in every professional field of the arts, including Broadway theatre, prime time television, classical and jazz music, motion pictures, graphic design, photography, and more.

Inspiring every student to grow artistically, intellectually, and personally, the Academy has been known to transform lives through the power of the arts.

Carrying deep knowledge, strong work ethics, and innovative spirit, the alumni of Idyllwild Arts Academy are among the most talented individuals to be entering the workforce.

6

US BOARDING SCHOOLS

May 30, 2019 ADVERTISER’S CONTENT

[ STONELEIGH-BURNHAM SCHOOL ]

Inspiring focused study and leadership for college and beyond

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toneleigh-Burnham School, founded in 1869, is a girls’ boarding and day school nestled in the beautiful Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. Educating girls grades 7-12 and post-graduate on its 100-acre campus, the school inspires its students to value intellectual curiosity, to embrace diversity, and to act with integrity. Stoneleigh-Burnham is the only girls’ school in New England to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.

Stoneleigh-Burnham offers an array of challenging academic courses that launch students into focused study and leadership to prepare them for college and beyond. With small class sizes and a research-based curriculum, Stoneleigh-Burnham School provides its students with a safe and inclusive environment that encourages adventurousness, self-discovery, and strong academic pursuit. Passionately committed to its multicultural environment, StoneleighBurnham School is proud of its rich diversity of students hailing from countries all over the world.

Stoneleigh-Burnham offers dynamic opportunities outside the classroom for a well-rounded educational experience, challenging each student to develop confidence and to discover her best self. These

Learning to speak with confidence and clarity lies at the heart of the Stoneleigh-Burnham experience and is the mark of a StoneleighBurnham girl

include nationally recognised equestrian, debate, and performing arts programmes, in addition to athletics, international travel opportunities, community service, and numerous clubs and afterschool activities.

Learning to speak with confidence and clarity lies at the heart of the Stoneleigh-Burnham experience and is the mark of a Stoneleigh-Burnham girl. From our world-class debate and public speaking programme to our weekly house meetings, to our student government organisation, and our tenth grade rhetoric course, our students have unlimited opportunities to explore their opinions, engage their voices, develop resiliency, and practice self-advocacy.

US BOARDING SCHOOLS

May 30, 2019

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ADVERTISER’S CONTENT

[ GEORGE SCHOOL ]

Setting the benchmark in education among US schools

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ocated on the east coast of the USA, George School is fewer than 75 miles from New York City and less than 25 miles from Philadelphia. George School offers major metropolitan convenience on a picturesque, expansive campus of open lawns and beautiful woods.

Founded in 1893, George School is a Quaker, co-ed boarding and day school for students in grades 9 to 12.

George School is an experienced leader in education, offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme for more than 30 years and boasting a diploma success rate of nearly 100 per cent. In addition to the extraordinary and challenging International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, George School offers nearly 20 advanced placement (AP) courses. With strength in all disciplines, George School immerses students in learning across science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. Whether through robotics, artificial intelligence, stagecraft, ceramics, or philosophy,

students are challenged through a rigorous, yet personalised curriculum.

Students participate in 25 different team sports or take physical wellness classes in state‑of‑the‑art facilities. We also offer a threeseason equestrian programme that

combines athleticism and horsemanship for everyone from novice through to competitive advanced riders. Our goal is to inspire our students to seek their authentic selves and provide them with a well‑rounded preparation for life. George School graduates enter the world as confident and capable leaders,

rooted in self-awareness, self‑sufficiency, and the ability to listen deeply to others.

Our comprehensive college counselling programme ensures George School graduates go on to attend the most selective colleges and universities worldwide.