Boarding schools in Texas
Many international parents and students consider American boarding schools an attractive educational option. Indeed, boarding schools in Texas have everything on campus, from classes and accommodations to social events and extracurricular activities. Moreover, parents do not have to worry about the safety and well-being of their children since boarding schools staff in Texas supervises students around the clock.
Every year, 77,000 international students choose Texas as their study destination, and one-third of them decide to study in boarding schools in Texas. Before discussing the best schools in Texas for international students, it is worth discovering the state itself.
State Overview
Texas, or the Lone Star State, is located in the South-Central region of the US. It borders Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas. Austin is the capital of the state, but the most populous cities are Houston, Dallas, El Paso, San Antonio, and Fort Worth.
The total area of Texas is 695,662 km2, and its total population is more than 29,145,505 citizens. According to the recent census, over 5 million people are immigrants, predominantly from Mexico, El Salvador, Vietnam, India, and China. Although English is the most common language in the state, other spoken languages are Spanish, German, French, Polish, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and Vietnamese.
An abundance of natural resources, a large population, developed cities, and leading centers of higher education have contributed to the diverse economy of Texas. Indeed, the state has the second-highest gross state product in the US, after California, with $2.4 trillion. Its economy focuses on the high-tech industry, petrochemicals, energy, aerospace, tourism, agriculture, and biomedical sciences.
Texas has ten climatic regions, 14 soil regions, and 11 distinct ecological regions, making it impossible to categorize the state into a recognized region of the US. One of the classifications divides Texas from southeast to west into Gulf Coastal Plains, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, and Basin and Range Province. International students who want to explore the state during their holidays at the boarding schools in Texas can observe a landscape that ranges from piney woods and coastal swamps to mountains and rolling plains.
Types of Boarding Schools in Texas
Now it is time to discuss boarding schools in Texas in more detail. The state has over 1,000 public school districts, and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) manages and provides supplemental funding to them. In their turn, the TEA has no authority over private boarding schools in Texas. They may or may not be accredited, and achievement tests are not required for graduation from boarding schools. Still, many boarding schools have accreditation and perform achievement tests to show parents the school’s interest in the educational performance of their students.
There are no one-size-fits-all boarding schools in Texas for international students since each type of boarding school has a defined specialization. Thus, parents should know the key facts about each school to select the right boarding school for their child.
Among the most popular types of boarding schools in Texas are college preparatory. It offers all-girls, all-boys, and co-educational programs meant to aid international students with key developmental skills. They offer AP (Advanced Placement), SAT preparation, and various extracurricular activities to keep students engaged. As a rule, this type of boarding school welcomes high school students, though some offer programs for younger students as well.
Junior boarding schools in Texas are the best option for international students who enroll in Grades 7 to 9. Students prepare for the high school program and prosper in a safe and welcoming environment.
International students who are keen on the performing arts can consider fine arts boarding schools in Texas. Music, dance, theater, and acting are integrated into the day-to-day study program, and international students can have a chance to shine on stage. Since this type of boarding school focuses specifically on performing arts students, they tend to have a more selective admission process. Still, the majority of boarding schools offer Performing Arts courses that allow international students to get a high-quality education and develop their talent.
Many boarding schools in Texas focus on specific sports, so parents can investigate which school matches their child’s interests. However, not all of these schools prioritize academics first since they concentrate on the training of world-class athletes. Thus, parents can consider college preparatory boarding schools in Texas that have strong extracurricular athletics programs.
There are also military boarding schools in the state that prepare US citizens for ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) programs in post-secondary schools. The other type is religious boarding schools in Texas that offer a unique experience for students of all denominations and incorporate theological courses into the school’s curriculum.
The Best Boarding Schools in Texas
Texas has 15 boarding schools across the state: Brook Hill School, The Chinquapin Preparatory School, Hockaday School, International Leadership of Texas Private High School, Marine Military Academy, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, San Marcos Baptist Academy, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, Allen Academy, Coach Carter Impact Academy, TMI Episcopal School of Texas, New Hope Boys Home, Still Creek Ranch, The Village School, and Thrive Girls Ranch.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School is one of the best boarding schools in Texas. It is a private, coeducational college preparatory school in Austin that offers day school for students of Grades 6-12 and boarding school for international students of Grades 8-12. It provides a rigorous college preparatory curriculum within a balanced program of academics, athletics, and the arts. St. Stephen’s Episcopal School has three special programs: Tennis Academy, Soccer Academy, and Theatre Focus Program. These combine comprehensive curricula with highly specialized training delivered by experienced professionals.
Among the best boarding schools in Texas is The Village School. It is a private, coeducational Pre-K through Grade 12 day and boarding college preparatory school in Houston. It has a tradition of highly personalized learning combined with innovative methods of teaching. The school is known for its STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and International Baccalaureate (IB). Moreover, the Village School collaborates with The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and The Juilliard School.
The Brook Hill School is also one of the best boarding schools in Texas. It is a private, coeducational Pre-K through Grade 12 day and boarding college preparatory school in Bullard. The school offers a boarding option for international students who enroll in Grades 8-12. The school has rigorous fine arts and athletics programs. Competitive options include art, drama, orchestra, and vocal music alongside basketball, baseball, football, soccer, golf, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
Located in Madisonville, Allen Academy is among the best and oldest non-religious private, co-educational boarding schools in Texas that serves students in Pre-K through Grade 12. It offers an outstanding educational experience and rigorous college preparatory curriculum that integrates academics, athletics, artistic expression, and community service in a positive atmosphere. Allen Academy ensures that international students learn with vigor, work in partnership, live with integrity, and thrive as adaptive learners, thinkers, and doers.
TMI Episcopal School of Texas is also one of the best boarding schools in Texas. Situated in San Antonio, it is a private, coeducational day and boarding selective college preparatory school. The school welcomes students from Grades 6 to 12 but offers a boarding option for international students who enroll in Grades 8-12. TMI Episcopal School of Texas focuses on teaching students in small classroom settings, allowing a great deal of interaction among students in class and an opportunity to develop personal relationships with the students and faculty members.
Average Tuition Fees for International and Domestic Students in Boarding schools in Texas
The tuition fees in boarding schools in Texas range from $20,000 to $80,000 per year. For instance, the total cost of tuition and 7-day boarding at the Village School is $76,850 per year. St. Stephen’s Episcopal School charges $72,570 per year. The Brook Hill School charges $61,320 per year. TMI Episcopal School charges $58,490 per year, which includes tuition, room, and board. The tuition and board at Allen Academy cost $20,670 per year.
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