US boarding schools for expat children, 2026

Why US boarding is its own model

US boarding schools differ from UK and Swiss peers in three structural ways that materially affect the experience for an expat child.

The first is the academic model. US schools run a four-year high school cycle (Grades 9 to 12, roughly ages 14 to 18). There is no GCSE equivalent and no early-specialisation A-Level model. Students take six or seven subjects per year across the full four years, including English, mathematics, science, a language, history and arts. The Advanced Placement (AP) programme provides college-level courses in the final two years. This breadth, sustained over four years, is the central feature of the American academic model. Read our American curriculum guide for the broader picture.

The second is the residential model. US boarding schools historically run a much larger campus footprint than UK or Swiss peers. Andover, Exeter and Choate each have campuses of 600 to 1,200 students with full college-style facilities including libraries, sports centres, science buildings, dining halls and chapels. The scale is closer to a small US university than a UK boarding house system.

The third is the college advising machinery. US boarding schools dedicate substantial staff and infrastructure to college advising, beginning in earnest in junior year (Grade 11). This advising operates at a level UK and Swiss peers cannot match for the US college market. For families targeting US universities (particularly Ivies and equivalents) this is the single strongest reason to consider US boarding.

The tradeoffs are real. US boarding is most efficient as a 9th to 12th grade experience; entry in 10th or 11th grade is possible but requires the child to navigate the transition mid-cycle. The first year (often called freshman year) is more academically structured than UK Year 9, with less curriculum customisation. And the schools are explicitly American in cultural orientation, even when international intake reaches 25%.

The Ten Schools and the next tier

The "Ten Schools" Admissions Organization is a coordinating body of ten historic New England boarding schools that share an admissions calendar and a broadly common entry process. They are the most visible reference points for international families:

The Ten Schools are not necessarily the right answer for every family, but they are the reference set against which other US boarding schools are usually compared. For most expat families, a sensible shortlist includes three or four Ten Schools plus three or four from the next tier.

The next tier is broader and more interesting than the Ten Schools list suggests. Worth considering: Groton (one of the most academically rigorous, smaller intake), St George's School (Rhode Island, smaller, strong arts), Middlesex (Massachusetts, smaller, intellectually serious), Milton Academy (Massachusetts, urban edge, mixed boarding and day), Thacher (California, smaller, outdoor culture), Cate (California, small, strong pastoral system), Mercersburg (Pennsylvania, broader intake), Episcopal High School (Virginia, strong but less famous), St Mark's (Massachusetts, smaller scale), and Concord Academy (Massachusetts, progressive culture, strong arts).

For families wanting a comparable view of UK and Swiss alternatives see our UK boarding schools guide and Swiss boarding schools guide which sit alongside this article in our boarding cluster.

2026 fees and the all-in number

Published 2026 to 2027 boarding fees at the Ten Schools sit between USD 72,000 and USD 84,000 per year, all-inclusive of tuition, boarding, and meals. Andover, Exeter and Choate sit at the upper end of that band. Smaller and less famous Tier 2 schools (Cate, Thacher, Concord Academy) sit similar to the Ten Schools on fees. Broader-intake schools typically sit USD 5,000 to USD 10,000 lower.

The American model is more "all-inclusive" than the UK model, which means the published number is closer to the true cost. That said, expect to add: required school laptop or tablet (USD 1,000 to 2,000 once), uniform or dress code items (USD 200 to 800), sport equipment (USD 200 to 1,500 depending on sport), AP exam fees (USD 100 to 150 per exam, typically 4 to 6 exams in junior and senior years), SAT and ACT testing (USD 300 to 500 total), school trips and weekend activities (USD 1,500 to 4,000 per year), and flights home (variable).

The honest all-in number for a US boarder is USD 80,000 to USD 95,000 per year. Over a four-year senior cycle the total commitment runs to roughly USD 340,000 to USD 380,000 per child. For multi-child families and broader cost planning across destinations see our cost calculator.

Financial aid is available but is much harder for international students than for US citizens. The top US boarding schools fund roughly 30 to 45% of their domestic students through aid; for international students the proportion is closer to 5 to 10%. International aid applicants need to demonstrate both genuine need and exceptional merit. The schools that fund international students most generously include Andover, Exeter and Hotchkiss; the practice at other schools varies meaningfully.

The application calendar

Unlike UK boarding (where the Pre-Test cycle runs in autumn of Year 6 for Year 9 entry) or Swiss boarding (which runs a flexible 12 to 18 month cycle), US boarding admissions runs on a tightly coordinated calendar with the same deadline at most schools.

The standard cycle for September entry is:

September of the year before entry: Begin school visits. Most schools host structured visit days in September and October. International families typically combine visits across 6 to 8 schools in 2 to 3 trips.

October to December: Sit the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test). Most schools require SSAT scores by mid-January. Test prep is widely available; international families should aim to sit twice, with the first sitting in October and the second in early December.

January 15: Coordinated application deadline at most Ten Schools and Tier 2 peers. The application includes essays from the student, parent statement, school report and teacher recommendations, plus the SSAT.

Late January to February: Interview window. Most schools require an interview, either on campus or (for distant international families) virtually. On-campus is strongly preferred at the most selective schools.

March 10: Coordinated decision date. All Ten Schools and most Tier 2 schools release decisions on this date. The Ten Schools' coordinated calendar prevents inter-school strategic timing games.

April 10: Family decision deadline. Families have one month to accept or decline, pay the deposit, and begin the F-1 visa process.

August or September: Arrival, orientation, and start of school year.

For families coordinating multiple boarding applications across geographies, our admissions timing by city guide covers the full international map.

The SSAT and entry requirements

The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is the standardised test required by virtually all US boarding schools. It is sat at three levels: Elementary (Grades 3 to 4), Middle (Grades 5 to 7), and Upper (Grades 8 to 11). For 9th grade entry, students sit the Upper Level SSAT.

The test covers verbal reasoning, reading comprehension, quantitative reasoning (two sections), and a writing sample. Scores are reported as percentiles relative to other students applying to US boarding schools. The candidate pool is highly self-selected, which means the percentile bar is harder than it looks.

Tier 1 schools (Andover, Exeter, Deerfield) typically look for SSAT percentiles in the 85th to 95th range. The next tier of Ten Schools (Choate, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville) look for 75th to 90th. Tier 2 boarding schools look for 65th to 80th. Below 60th percentile, the application becomes much harder at any selective school.

SSAT preparation is widely available and works. Unlike the ISEB Pre-Test which is more coaching-resistant, the SSAT is meaningfully prep-amenable. Expect a 5 to 10 percentile gain from systematic preparation. International candidates often benefit more than domestic candidates from preparation because the test format itself is unfamiliar.

Beyond the SSAT, the application includes essays, parent statement, school report, three teacher recommendations (English, mathematics, and one other), and an interview. The teacher recommendations matter more than international families often expect; cultivate good relationships with the recommenders in advance. For the broader admissions strategy see our piece on the international school admissions process.

The F-1 visa explained

The F-1 visa is the standard student visa for foreign nationals attending US secondary or post-secondary education. It is administered by US Citizenship and Immigration Services and processed through the local US embassy or consulate.

The process runs as follows. Once the family accepts an offer and pays the enrolment deposit, the school issues a Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status). The family then completes the DS-160 online visa application, pays the SEVIS fee (USD 350 in 2026) and the visa application fee (USD 185), and books an appointment at the US embassy for a visa interview.

The interview itself is brief, typically 5 to 10 minutes. The consular officer is checking three things: that the student is a genuine student (not a covert immigration intent), that the family can financially support the studies, and that the student has ties to the home country sufficient to suggest return after studies. Bring documentation that supports each of these points.

Processing times vary by embassy. Most posts process F-1 visas within 2 to 4 weeks of interview, but some (particularly in China, India and parts of the Middle East) can take longer, especially in late summer when application volume peaks. Plan to start the visa process the week the offer is accepted and aim to have the visa in hand by mid-July at the latest. For broader visa planning see our visa checker.

The F-1 covers the duration of the studies, plus a 60-day grace period afterward. Children can travel home during the school year (Christmas, March break, summer) and re-enter the US on the same visa. The school's Designated School Official (DSO) signs the I-20 for re-entry; build the relationship with the DSO early.

College advising and university outcomes

The college advising machinery is the feature families most underestimate before arriving. At the top schools, dedicated college counsellors carry a caseload of roughly 30 to 50 students per advisor, beginning intensive work in junior year (Grade 11). The counsellor reviews course selection, supports essay writing, calibrates testing strategy across SAT, ACT and AP, manages teacher recommendations, and writes the school report that goes to every college on the list.

The output is one of the strongest US university pipelines in the world. Andover, Exeter, Deerfield and the top tier typically place 25 to 35% of their leavers to top-20 US universities. The next tier of Ten Schools places 15 to 25%. Strong Tier 2 schools place 8 to 15%. For families targeting US universities, this is the single most material reason to consider US boarding over UK or Swiss peers.

The other side is cultural fit. US boarding schools educate primarily for US college admission. A child planning to return to a UK or European university system may find some of the advising machinery less useful. For families on this fence, the IB-orientation of Swiss boarding is worth comparing. Our curriculum overview sets out the details.

Who actually thrives in US boarding

The expat children who thrive at US boarding share several traits. They are socially confident in a large peer group; US schools are larger than UK or Swiss peers and the social mass is harder for shy children. They are academically broad rather than narrow; the US curriculum rewards children who carry English, mathematics, science, history, language and arts at a consistent level rather than specialising early. They engage in athletics; US boarding requires sport participation in most schools, and a child with no interest in any sport will struggle culturally.

They are also typically children whose families orient toward US universities. The advising machinery, alumni networks and cultural assumptions are all calibrated to a US college destination. Children whose families remain uncertain often get more out of UK boarding or strong international day schools. Children who struggle at US boarding tend to be those who specialise early, those who do best in smaller peer environments, or those with very narrow academic strengths. For these children, the right answer is often UK Tier 1 or a strong selective international day school. See our boarding options overview for the broader comparison.

Related guides

• UK boarding schools for international families
• Swiss boarding schools for international families
• Boarding options at international schools

Frequently asked questions