Boarding schools in Florida
Florida is among the top study destinations for international students in the US, who prefer to study in the best Boarding schools in Florida. Every year, over 40,000 students from around the world decide to pursue education in the state, and this number continues to grow. Moreover, one-third of them choose to study at boarding schools in Florida since those schools offer to live on campus and learn in a safe environment.
Boarding schools in Florida have rigorous educational programs and pay attention to the comprehensive development of students through extracurricular activities, athletics, and arts. Before discovering the best boarding schools in Florida, it may be interesting to learn more about the state.
State Overview
Florida, also known as Sunshine State, is the southeast region of the US. It borders Alabama, Georgia, Cuba, and the Bahamas. Its total area is 170,312 km2, and its total population is 22,244,823 citizens, making Florida the third-most populated state in the US. Florida also has access to the Gulf of Mexico, the Straits of Florida, and the Atlantic Ocean. It has the longest coastline in the contiguous US, spanning 2,170 km. By the way, the state comprises 4,510 islands, the second highest number in the country after Alaska.
The capital of Florida is Tallahassee, but the most populous city is Jacksonville. The other most populated urban areas in the state are Miami, Tampa Bay, and Orlando. The largest ancestry groups are American, German, Irish, English, Italian, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Polish, and French. Though English is the official language in the state, one-fifth of the population speaks Spanish as their first language.
Florida’s climate ranges from subtropical to tropical climate. Hence, Florida has several unique ecosystems, including Everglades National Park, which protects the habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the American crocodile, manatee, the Florida panther, and American flamingo. The next unique ecosystem is Florida Reef, which is home to above 40 species of reef-building corals.
Florida has the fourth-biggest economy in the country. Hospitality, agriculture, real estate, transportation, and tourism are the main sectors of the state. Attractions such as Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, Art Deco Historic District, the Kennedy Space Center, and Daytona 500 International Speedway draw tens of millions of tourists every year. Hence, international students who decide to study at boarding schools in Florida will have a chance to explore the most populous sites during school trips.
Types of Boarding Schools in Florida
Now, it is time to discover the types of boarding schools in Florida. Most international students prefer to study at college preparatory schools. They focus on students’ future admission to high-rated colleges by offering Advanced Placement (AP) courses, an International Baccalaureate (IB), and various extracurricular activities. Moreover, there are junior boarding schools in Florida that accept students for Grades 7-9.
The next type is a Fine Arts boarding schools in Florida, which prepares international and local students for higher education in art colleges. These schools pay attention to the artistic development of the students, and their study programs are less rigorous than in college preparatory schools. The same situation is within sports boarding schools, which prepare elite athletes for a career in sports.
Moreover, boarding schools in Florida can be coeducational or gender specific. Some schools may admit only girls, only boys, or students of all genders. There are also non-denominational and religious boarding schools, such as Baptist, Anglican, Christian, Catholic, and Episcopalian. Though boarding schools in Florida have freedom of religion, some schools may focus on a certain faith.
The Best Boarding Schools in Florida
Once types of boarding schools in Florida are overviewed, it is worth discussing the best schools in the state. Often schools fit more than one type, and it is important to know their main peculiarities.
North Broward School is among the high-ranked boarding schools in Florida. It is a private, coeducational college preparatory day and boarding PK–12 school in Coconut Creek. Every year, North Broward School welcomes students from the US and 30 other countries. International students of Grades 6–12 live in a 500-student residential village. Each dorm has a study area, common area, kitchen, and access to the Internet.
As one of the top boarding schools in Florida, North Broward School offers over 180 courses, 34 Honors courses, 14 AP courses, and 25 IB courses for international students. The school also has the rigorous STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) program in collaboration with MIT. During the last year of study, college advisors assist students with admission applications to the top universities in the US, such as Columbia University, Cornell University, and MIT.
The collaboration of North Broward School with the Juilliard School provides international students with an award-winning Fine and Performing Arts program. It includes classes in Theatre, Visual Arts, Media Arts, Dance, Music, and Interdisciplinary Arts. To support the achievements of international students in athletics, the school has tennis courts, a baseball field, a fitness center, a softball field, a volleyball gymnasium, a multipurpose turf field, and three swimming pools.
One of the best boarding schools in Florida is the Windermere School. Sometimes called an educational paradise, this private, coeducational college preparatory day and boarding PK–12 school is located in Orlando Metropolitan Area. Today, the school is home to 1,800 students of over 55 nationalities. International students of Grades 7-12 can live in comfortable townhouses. The dorms have three bedrooms and two bathrooms, providing students with the comfort and feel of a real home.
In collaboration with MIT, Windermere School offers international students an introduction to the STEAM program. Moreover, it is the only private school in Central Florida with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. The rigorous curriculum also includes a variety of Honors and AP courses with a combination of core classes and electives. To help high school international students to get accepted to the top colleges and universities, including Ivy League schools, college counselors assist them in developing their four-year high school course plan.
Academic achievements are the highest priority of Windermere School, but it is complemented and enriched by extracurricular activities. The state-of-the-art Cypress Center for the Arts is a place where international students pursue a Performing Arts Program in collaboration with The Juilliard School. The athletic facilities include an indoor gymnasium, a multifunctional field, a swimming pool, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, baseball fields, and softball fields.
Montverde Academy is also among the high-ranked boarding schools in Florida. It is a private, coeducational college preparatory PK–12 school in Montverde. The school is home to over 1,000 students of 90 nationalities. Still, the boarding option is available for international students who apply to Grades 7-12. Dorms have common rooms with couches, TVs, and gaming tables, creating a place where students can relax after school.
Highly motivated international students are attracted to one of the best boarding schools in Florida for its rigorous academic programs. Montverde Academy offers over 20 Honors courses and 31 AP courses. The school also partners with the University of Florida, providing students with access to university-level courses. Thus, 100% of Montverde Academy graduates are accepted to high-ranked schools, including Boston College, Cornell University, and Georgetown University.
In addition to developing students academically, the school focuses on athletics and arts programs. The athletics facilities include basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, a softball field, a fitness center, an equestrian center, and an aquatic center. The arts facilities of the Montverde Academy are the Center for Media and Performing Arts, Montverde Academy Piano Laboratory, and Sandra O. Stephens Fine Arts Center, where international students can get a flexible program tailored to their specific needs and interests.
Average Tuition Fees for International & Local Students in Boarding schools in Florid
The tuition fees in boarding schools in Florida vary from $55,980 to $76,800 per year. For instance, the total cost of tuition and 7-day boarding in the Montverde Academy is $55,980 per year. Five-day international student boarding in the Windermere School costs $66,750 per year, while seven-day boarding costs $83,670 per year. The total cost of 7-day tuition and boarding in the North Broward School is $76,800 per year.
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