What skills do boarding schools build?

Junior boarding communities offer students extraordinary opportunities for growth, introducing them to lifelong friends, diverse perspectives, and inspiring new experiences as they discover who they are. While parents naturally anticipate the academic rigor and athletic and cultural opportunities offered at these schools, they are often surprised by how deeply their children grow and mature as individuals. “Parents are floored when their children come home, and they are setting the table, cleaning up after themselves, and communicating much better, because those are all things that they are required to do here,” says Jake Sumner, Head of Upper School at Fay. Beyond the classroom and playing field, here are a few of the personal and practical benefits of junior boarding that leave a lasting impact.

Replacing Screen Time with Real Connection

More than half of parents worry about screen addiction and the toll it takes on their children’s sleep and social skills. At Fay, we make it simple. In our junior boarding community, every student is subject to the same tech limits, allowing them to prioritize real-world relationships and engagement over digital distractions. Our school days are phone-free, and in the evenings, boarding students have time to use personal devices (once homework is done!) before turning them in for the night, ensuring kids get the distraction-free rest they need.

Taking Ownership of Their Learning and Themselves

At a junior boarding school like Fay, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Advisors and dorm parents help students build essential skills for success, from time management and organization to personal accountability and self-advocacy. For a seventh grade boarder, this might look like a lesson in packing their backpack for the next day or sitting down with their advisor to break a big project into manageable deadlines. “Laying out clothes for the next day and packing sports bags are part of the dorm’s nightly routine, particularly at the beginning of the year,” notes Assistant Head of Upper School Joe Buteau. “It’s a scaffolded experience that helps kids learn those skills, so that by the time they are eighth or ninth graders, it's no big deal.”

Cultivating Community Spirit

As students learn how to navigate personal responsibility, they do so within a close-knit community. By sharing family-style meals, dorm chores, and living spaces, students learn how to collaborate and form deep, lasting friendships. Over time, this shared experience sharpens their interpersonal skills and helps students see themselves as an important part of something larger. 

A Willingness to Try New Things

Between sports practices, music lessons, tutoring, and social events, modern family life can start to feel like a perpetual commute. Children’s opportunities become limited by the sheer logistics of fitting it all in! At a junior boarding school, everything changes. By bringing sports, arts, academic support, and weekend activities under one roof, kids have the freedom to explore new passions and discover hidden talents. It removes logistical barriers, giving working parents peace of mind and giving kids the space to discover who they want to be. 

Building Cultural Awareness and Broadening Perspectives

With students representing over 25 countries and 15 states, Fay creates an environment where authentic, global friendships thrive naturally. Living side by side, students gain firsthand appreciation for different cultures, values, and perspectives - a vital experience in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms. “Whether you're a day student or a boarder, you’re interacting with kids from all over the world,” says Alex Fernández, Associate Director of Admission and Director of Financial Aid. “Not many kids at this age can say they’re roommates with a kid from Mexico, China, or the Cayman Islands!”