Oregon’s Delphian School Offers Day and Boarding Programs. Which Is Best for Your Child?
Is your child getting ready to begin grade school? Considering a change due to a family move or “fit” issues in their current institution?
Whatever the reason for your family’s pending educational transition, your choice of school is not one to take lightly. And if you’re not sure that your local public school is the best fit for your child, you’ll need to do your research to find a better option.
One question you’ll need to consider early on in this process is whether to send your child to a day school or a boarding school. If you live close to the school(s) you’re considering, you don’t have to commit to one or the other, as many private schools — such as Delphian School, south of Portland, Oregon — offer both day and residential formats. However, you should understand what to expect from each option so that you can make an informed decision.
Read on for a summary of the benefits of residential and day programs, and a brief guide to determining which is better for your family.
Benefits of Residential (Boarding) School Programs
1. They Offer an Immersive, Tight-Knit Experience
Boarding schools are not quite self-contained worlds. But they are much more immersive environments than day schools. As a result, they are more tight-knit, in social and cultural terms, than most non-residential schools.
Such environments allow learners to thrive among those who share their goals and enjoy many common experiences, without being monolithic about it. Especially for younger students, this can be a powerful advantage.
2. They Make It Easier to Take Advantage of After-Hours Mentorship and Extracurricular Opportunities
Residential schools are, by definition, 24/7 environments. While students of course need to sleep and take “waking” breaks from schoolwork and structured extracurriculars, they also have more chances to meet with and learn from mentors like older students, coaches, and teachers themselves after hours.
3. They Teach Independence and Personal Responsibility at a Young Age
Boarding schools foster independence and personal responsibility in a way that day schools can’t. While students can learn the same skills at home, they may not feel the same urgency to adopt them as they do when they’re not living with their parents or guardians.
4. They’re Good Preparation for Residential College or University Programs
Because they’re “homes away from home” that foster independence and personal responsibility from a young age, boarding schools prepare students well for residential higher education programs. The two are not the same, to be sure, but kids who’ve never lived away from home may struggle more at college than those with years of such experience.
Benefits of Day School Programs
1. They May Not Be As Disruptive to Your Family Routine
Day school programs may be friendlier on families than residential school programs. It’s true that students — and parents — are more adaptable than they may realize, but the process of getting into a new routine takes time and can itself be disruptive. Additionally, younger children may experience homesickness or more serious mental health issues as a result of their separation.
2. They Allow for More Development Outside a School Setting
The non-immersiveness of day school programs may be a drawback for parents who wish to impart independence and personal responsibility early on. On the other hand, students in day school have more time to explore interests and experiences outside their academic, athletic, or residential environments.
3. They Enable an “Extracurricular” Social Life
Likewise, day school programs make it easier for students to have a social life outside their peer groups. Boarding school students certainly can maintain strong friendships back at home, but they have less time for these relationships and may find that they weaken over time.
4. They May Be More Flexible for Students and Parents
Especially when the boarding school is hundreds or thousands of miles away from home, residential programs may involve a great deal of travel, both for students to return home and parents or guardians to visit. This is time-consuming and expensive for many families, who may prefer a more flexible day school arrangement as a result.
How to Decide Which Is Right for Your Child
1. Decide Whether They’re Mature Enough to Live Away From Home
This is the first, and maybe the most important, question you should ask when deciding whether boarding school is a better fit than day school. If you believe your child is not ready to live away from home for weeks at a time, that may settle the question (for now).
2. Evaluate the Curriculum and Educational Opportunities
At schools with both day and residential programs, such as the Delphian School, this consideration may not be as important. However, many “one or the other” schools have very different approaches to learning, which could influence your decision.
3. Consider the Logistics of Travel (In Both Cases)
This might seem like a point in favor of day school, but remember that many families spend an hour or more traveling to day schools each day. Any time saved on longer-distance travel could be overwhelmed by the daily grind of the commute.
4. Gather Feedback From Families Who’ve Made Similar Decisions
Finally, talk to trusted families who’ve made this decision before yours. Even if they can’t tell you exactly what’s best for your child, their feedback may be different from — and more valuable than — what you hear from the schools themselves.
Find the Perfect Fit
Answering the “boarding vs. day” question won’t put an end to your school search, but it will help you narrow down your options. It will also prompt other important questions that you should be asking as you research schools and think more deeply about what your child — and your family — need in an educational institution.
One thing is for certain: This is not a decision to make lightly. While taking care not to miss any vital deadlines, be sure to spend all the time you need to find the perfect fit. It’s easier to choose a school in the first place than to make a change in the middle of the year.
