Junior Boarding Schools

Junior Boarding Schools - A Historical Perspective

A  junior boarding school is any school that enrolls students in the middle or elementary grades, ending at 9th grade. These schools often offer a day school program for even younger students. There are currently only 124 junior boarding schools operating in the United States and Canada.

The first junior boarding school established in the United States was begun by Eliza Burnett Fay and her sister, Harriet Burnett, in 1866. Seeking to provide a more supportive, nurturing environment than the average boarding school, the two sisters opened their home to seven young male students—five day students and two boarders—and created a curriculum to fit their needs. Other junior boarding schools established during the 19th century were often attached to orphanages, where, it was presumed, the parentless children who lived there could at least be given the benefits of a good education.

Most of the junior boarding schools still in operation in the United States were founded during the first half of the 20th century. During this time, there was a drastic increase in urbanization around the country, and many well-off families felt strongly that their offspring should be educated in a rural setting, so they could learn the skills of hunting, archery, and horsemanship. Thus, many junior boarding schools promoted themselves as places where young men (and sometimes women)  could improve their minds and bodies away from the distractions of city life.

Similar to regular boarding schools, these junior boarding schools often have long and strong sporting traditions. Sports participation—sometimes in all three athletic seasons—may even be required of all students. The Fay School, which I mentioned at the beginning of this article, has grown to offer a total of 20 different sports to its 120 boarders, including wrestling, lacrosse, track, and squash. Most of these schools organize their athletes into intramural teams which compete against each other.
Owing to the younger age range of junior boarding school residents and students, the curriculum and atmosphere often places more emphasis on academic guidance and development. A boarding school for older students is more likely to adhere to a strict grading policy, with competitive, high-stakes assignments and academic honors. For younger students who may still be learning good study skills and what techniques work for them, a junior boarding school’s programs will often offer different educational strategies, learning partners, and academic counseling sessions. This way, students at junior boarding schools can learn the study skills they may need if they go on to more competitive boarding schools or prep schools for older students.

To complement this more nurturing approach to academics, junior boarding schools will often include programs focused on healthy eating, wellness strategies, and guidance for learning important life skills. Mealtimes are often served family-style, and monitored by table staff to ensure students have access to an adult at all times. Extracurricular clubs run the gamut from ordinary dramatic arts or science club to more unique offerings such as martial arts, sculpture, or even music instruction.