A Guide to Prep Schools
Prep schools, also known as preparatory schools, serve to prepare students for their university education; they typically span middle or high school years. In the U.K., the term prep schools may also refer to elementary schools intended to prepare students to enter British public schools. (A British public school is comparable to an American private school, an independent institution run without government funds.)
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Day Schools
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While many associate prep schools with boarding institutions, the terms are not entirely synonymous. If your child would benefit from a challenging education but would prefer to live at home, you may consider a private preparatory day school, also known as an independent school. You may select from schools specializing in certain subjects, such as schools for the arts or sciences. If your family is religious, there are many religious independent day schools to select from, particularly Catholic schools.
Boarding Schools
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At a boarding school, your child will experience an immersion in the school environment. Socially and academically, this experience can offer students both the best and the worst of such an extreme lifestyle change. Students attending boarding school over several years will lose the opportunity to live at home with their families during their formative years. However, they will have the opportunity to form a close-knit community with fellow classmates. Extracurricular activities are naturally woven into the students' days, as they remain on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One intended result of the boarding school style is an intensified focus on academics and extracurricular activities. For students wishing to immerse themselves in competitive studies, a boarding school can provide a fertile environment.
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International Schools
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International schools are typically designed for children living abroad away from their parents' homeland. These schools combine college-preparatory academics with an international approach. For example, students may receive classes in multiple languages besides the native language wherever the school is located. With the dominance of English in international affairs, many international schools use English as one of their primary languages of instruction. International schools may also coordinate their studies to accommodate students who frequently move from one place to another.
Specialized Prep Schools
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For students with specific needs, many preparatory schools offer specialized instruction in certain settings or using certain methods of instruction. Though their numbers have dropped considerably in the last century, there remain all-boys or all-girls schools in the United States and abroad. For example, some parents who wish their daughters to improve their confidence may send them to all-girls schools. Preparatory schools with highly specialized academics may serve to prepare their students for success in highly competitive fields, such as art, dance or music. Therapeutic schools may tailor their programs to help prepare troubled teens for further academics or for adult life and employment.
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