Boarding schools in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is among the most popular study destinations in the US due to its top-ranked educational institutions. Over 60,000 international students choose to study in the state every year. However, many parents and students get overwhelmed by the study opportunities and what type of boarding schools to choose in Pennsylvania.
The best choice for minor students can be boarding schools in Pennsylvania. They specialize in comprehensive study programs and focus on students’ development through after-school activities, arts, and athletics. Moreover, secondary schools in Pennsylvania offer on-campus accommodation and learning in a safe environment for international students.
State Overview
Before discussing boarding schools in Pennsylvania, it might be interesting to learn more about the state. Pennsylvania is the northeastern region of the US. Its total area is 119,283 km2, and its total population is 13,011,844 citizens. The most populous cities are the state’s capital, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Eerie, Pittsburgh, and Allentown. The main ancestry groups living in Pennsylvania are English, African Americans, German, Puerto Rican, Irish, Italian, Polish, and French. Though English is the most spoken language, the other common languages are Spanish, German, Chinese, and Italian.
The main industries of the state’s economy are banking, gambling, film production, and agriculture. The leading agricultural products of Pennsylvania are apples, mushrooms, layer chickens, Christmas trees, nursery, milk, corn, grapes, and horse production. By the way, the state hosts 50 Fortune 500 companies, including US Steel, PPG Industries, the Hershey Company, H. J. Heinz, and GE Transportation.
International students who decide to study at boarding schools in Pennsylvania enjoy all four seasons and a humid continental climate. They also can visit over 150 historic landmarks. Among the key tourist destinations is Philadelphia, a place where American political leaders wrote the Declaration of Independence. Those who want to explore more quiet and peaceful regions can visit the 48-acres Cherry Springs State Park. It is the best place in the world to view the stars in the night sky. Boarding schools in Pennsylvania usually organize trips to these attractions for international students.
Types of Boarding Schools in Pennsylvania
Considering boarding schools in Pennsylvania, parents and international students need to find out their main types. It is vital to know their peculiarities since most schools fit more than one type.
One of the most popular types is the college preparatory schools. These boarding schools in Pennsylvania specialize in the preparation of international students for admission to top-rated colleges and universities in the US and across the world. Their programs include Advanced Placement (AP) classes, Honors classes, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, and various extracurricular activities. While most boarding schools in Pennsylvania accept high school students, some of them can admit international boarding students from Grade 7.
There are also Fine Arts boarding schools, which focus on the preparation of international students for careers in the arts. Usually, their study programs are less rigorous since they pay attention to the artistic development of the students. Sports boarding schools have the same situation with the academic program because they train elite athletes from all over the world.
Boarding schools in Pennsylvania may be non-denominational or religious, such as Christian, Anglican, Catholic, Quaker, Baptist, or Episcopalian. Still, all boarding schools in the US have freedom of religion. Moreover, boarding schools in Pennsylvania can be coeducational or gender specific. It means that some schools admit only boys, only girls, or students of all genders.
Main Features of Boarding Schools in Pennsylvania
One of the reasons why parents and international students choose boarding schools in Pennsylvania is their unique features. Indeed, they provide everything in one package: academics, the arts, athletics, after-school activities, accommodation, and supervision.
The first feature of boarding schools is the Code of Conduct. It includes the rights and responsibilities of both the students and the school. The Code of Conduct also lists different violations and prescribed appropriate disciplinary measures. Parents and students must read and sign it at the time of admission to the school. Overall, the Code of Conduct guarantees that international students behave well and study hard at boarding schools in Pennsylvania.
The next feature is on-campus accommodation. International students live in dormitories with teachers, who act as their supervisors. Resident faculty members also plan social events and field trips for international students who study at boarding schools in Pennsylvania.
The third feature is the rare sports offerings and modern athletic amenities. Except for popular sports, such as soccer, some boarding schools offer horse riding, surfing, mountain skiing, or mountain biking.
The fourth feature is individualized education. Boarding schools in Pennsylvania have small-sized classes, and teachers can give more attention to each student. Moreover, individualized education correlates with higher grades, self-development, and self-esteem.
The fifth feature of boarding schools in Pennsylvania is the advanced curriculum and available electives. Schools offer advanced classes in many subjects like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), foreign languages, and the arts, while public schools are limited to a narrower selection. Boarding schools also have numerous elective classes in addition to the core curriculum and study programs.
The last but not least feature is the college counseling program. Boarding schools in Pennsylvania have excellent admissions counselors. School graduates are admitted to the top colleges and universities in the US and worldwide.
The Best Boarding Schools in Pennsylvania
Now, it is worth discussing the boarding schools in more detail. Among the best boarding schools in Pennsylvania is Wyoming Seminary. It is a private, coeducational college preparatory day and boarding PK–12 Methodist school. It includes the lower and upper schools. The lower school is in Forty Fort and welcomes students from preschool to Grade 8, while the upper school is in Kingston and accepts students from Grade 9 to Grade 12.
Each year, Wyoming Seminary welcomes 100 students from 30 countries and five continents. However, the school admits international students only to the upper school as boarding students. They ought to live on campus because Wyoming Seminary does not offer a homestay program.
Sometimes referred to as Sem, the school focuses on students’ success in academics, athletics, and arts. The Art curriculum has obligatory music history and art history courses. It also offers courses in art, drawing, music, a chorale, orchestra, jazz band, smaller ensembles, and drama. Wyoming Seminary has two art studios, a ceramics studio, a theater, and a darkroom. Every year, students host a theatrical production at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. During the summer holidays, international students can visit the Performing Arts Institute (PAI) on campus. Wyoming Seminary also offers various opportunities for sports athletes in football, soccer, basketball, baseball, swimming, cross country, hockey, golf, tennis, wrestling, lacrosse, rowing, and softball.
The medium class size is 14 students, which allows teachers to interact with each student. At Wyoming Seminary, teachers are more than tutors. They are also personal advisors and trusted mentors who are always ready to help international students with any issue or question.
The Upper School has over 160 courses, including 22 AP classes. During study at one of the top boarding schools in Pennsylvania, international students can discover their talents through Academic Concentration. It includes three programs: Climate Science and Sustainability, STEM/STEAM, and Humanities and Global Studies. Key components of the Academic Concentration are portfolio development and a Capstone Project.
Since the mission of Wyoming Seminary is college preparation, its comprehensive counseling program helps international students find the most suitable college or university. College counselors begin meeting with students in Grade 10 to discuss their interests and achievements. Thus, graduates of Wyoming Seminary are accepted to high-ranked universities across the country, such as the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Columbia University, New York University, and Boston University.
Average Tuition Fees for International Students
The average tuition fee in boarding schools in Pennsylvania is $58,000 per year. For instance, the total cost of tuition and 7-day boarding at Wyoming Seminary costs $61,750 per year.
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