2024 Best Boarding Schools in the Boston Area

• Andover, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.44 out of 5  168 reviews

Sophomore: I am extremely grateful to PA. Coming from a lower income background, Andover has opened doors and introduced me to countless opportunities. I’ve been able to gain new passions, such as running and activism, and practice my old ones under incredible instruction and with access to fantastic resources. My only issue with the school is that it’s an incredibly stressful environment for 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 year old students - meaning students are handling both normal teenage stress (pertaining to popularity or pop culture), along with the stress of elite college admissions. There’s not much done by the administration to combat this, meaning students have to tackle it themselves, resulting in people getting overwhelmed, and sometimes leaving the school. However, most of us stick it out, but at what cost? All in all, I would recommend Andover if you’re someone who feels as if your current environment is too restricting and you want to broaden your horizons and meet new people.... Read 168 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,187

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Groton, MA•

• Private School•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  66 reviews

Alum: At Groton, I feel that I have been able to become a more independent and conscientious person during my time at this school. The best thing about this school is the resources that it provides the students. Here, I feel that I can be whoever I like because the teachers, dorm parents, coaches, and community is supportive of everyone's quirks, interests, and dreams. The teachers are approachable and dedicated, and work hard to provide students with a positive experience and I have made some of the truest and most diverse background friends. However, while at my time here, I have noticed that there is a toxically competitive culture here. Moreover, sometimes it is hard to get leadership positions in clubs because one has to be "connected" or popular, and the unsafe hook-up culture NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! Overall, a great school, and despite the school's imperfections, I would not trade my experience at Groton for anything else in the world.... Read 66 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 380

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Dedham, MA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.62 out of 5  58 reviews

Senior: It is hard to put into words the incredibly positive impact that this school has had on my life. Coming in as an awkward freshman, I was greeted by a welcoming community of intelligent, funny, and hard-working students and teachers that have supported me since day one. Through the most amazing sports teams, clubs, organizations, and even just academic classes, I have made memories and formed relationships (with students and teachers alike) that will last me a lifetime. Now as a senior in my fourth year at the school, I feel confident in myself as a learner, friend, teammate, leader, and person, and so much of this is thanks to Nobles. Starting with assembly in the morning, and ending with "Dogs on three, one, two, three, DOGS!" at the end of practice in the afternoon, the constant infectious energy makes it a joy for me to go to school each day. I will miss this place dearly and plan to stay connected long after I graduate.... Read 58 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 614

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Southborough, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  51 reviews

Junior: My St. Mark's experience so far has been great. The smaller sized classes allow for more individual attention and better communication between the students and teachers. There are also many opportunities available to students from community service to leadership positions. As a boarder, the dorm atmosphere is great and I've met many of my friends there!... Read 51 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 385

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Concord, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.49 out of 5  76 reviews

Parent: My son recently graduated from MX and his experience was a game changer for him. It is academically intense but non competitive, with students studying together and helping each other succeed. It is one of the kindest places that fosters friendliness and acceptance. His friends are smart, caring, multi faceted and diverse in every sense. The teachers take the time to build relationships and get to know the kids, meeting weekly as advisors to learn about and support their students as they navigate academics, sports, friends and teen challenges. MX is a gem that you seek out for a different and special ISL experience. An incredible place filled with amazing people!... Read 76 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 418

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Concord, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  106 reviews

Junior: I LOVE CA! As a current day student, I don’t have many regrets about my choice to go CA. The academics are manageable but rigorous, super friendly community, and most teachers really put in an effort to connect with students. CA is centered around common trust basically meaning that we all have trust in each other and put effort to foster a community. With that said, that is the case about 90% of the time. I’ve had a couple negative experiences with teachers and students who simply just don’t adhere to the common trust. For instance, I’ve a couple of teachers who just didn’t put in any effort to support me or my unique learning. Other than those few experiences, I have nothing but positive feedback for CA.... Read 106 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 419

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Milton, MA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  146 reviews

Senior: Milton Academy students leverage their top-tier academics to achieve their goals. Whether that be in academics, athletics, the arts, or in social justice, everything these students do is done at the highest caliber. We love to learn and bond through knowledge! I would describe its community as full of social nerds. Milton has provided me with endless opportunities and has expanded my network immensely. Thank you for a wonderful three years so far, Milton. While I’ll be moving onto a new chapter in the next couple years, I know I will always have Milton’s support.... Read 146 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,020

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Belmont, MA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.79 out of 5  29 reviews

Sophomore: There are several reasons why my high school is so dear to my heart and I really adore it. I have had the opportunity to explore several facets of academic life as a rising sophomore, which has made my journey extremely exciting and gratifying. First off, my high school offers a tremendous variety of extracurricular activities. Being a member of the soccer team has given me the opportunity to hone my talents, promote collaboration, and create enduring connections with my teammates. To sum up, I want to say how appreciative I am of my high school and the chances it provides. My high school experience has been really gratifying because of the variety of extracurricular activities, the academics that are in line with my interests, and the supportive environment. As a rising sophomore, I am eager to continue my path because I know that my school will continue to encourage my development, push me, and provide the groundwork for a prosperous future.... Read 29 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 465

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• North Andover, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  52 reviews

Senior: Brooks School is a very great school. It has great staff and faculty, as well as a student body that is not afraid to show school spirit!... Read 52 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 346

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Byfield, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  72 reviews

Parent: Govs would be a fantastic choice over the other independent schools in the area. The faculty is top-notch, caring, and invested in helping students succeed. Academics are rigorous, yet offer many challenging paths, such as AP, Honors, etc. There are no Saturday requirements! Athletic options are wide-ranging, with athletes competing on state/national levels. In afternoon programming, students are encouraged to try new sports, even if they've never played before. There are alternatives to team sports as well. Student-led clubs meet regularly and provide an opportunity to get involved and make a difference. The music, arts, and theater options are fabulous. Students can even get involved in theater tech by building sets and running events. On-campus weekends are fun and open to boarding AND day students. The Head of School also opens his home for student activities. The administration could be more consistent when holding students accountable. There's always more room for diversity.... Read 72 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 415

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Groton, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.77 out of 5  52 reviews

Parent: My son has had an incredibly positive experience at Lawrence Academy. The teachers are wonderful and nurturing; and the advisor program encourages involvement and good study habits. Lawrence Academy is a community rich with actives; arts and music, athletics, clubs, charitable events as well as leadership opportunities. The staff and administration are continually providing many different ways for students to become involved, promoting the diverse interests of all the students. By joining the soccer team his freshman year, my son made lots of great friends very quickly, both other freshman and upper class-men. He has found LA to be a warm and welcoming environment. Lawrence is a great balance of academics, activities and community. I'm so thankful to have found this perfect place for my son to grow and develop throughout his high school years. I would highly recommend LA!... Read 52 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 408

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Wellelsey, MA•

• Private School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  74 reviews

Senior: As a boarding student my Dana friends have become my family. I’ve never felt more supported and loved. The connections I’ve made at Dana I will forever cherish. On the flip side it’s really easy to get caught up in all the craziness happening. With such a busy schedule it’s common that students get overwhelmed and can break down. Though there are adults who can help support the students, the workload is a lot. Many students say they’re stressed repeatedly throughout the day. In summary, Dana has changed my life, it’s changed me. Both positively and negatively. But if you’re looking for a fun, and uplifting community this is the place for you. But if you struggle with time management Dana might be challenging... Read 74 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 465

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Weston, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  76 reviews

Senior: The history, art, and dance department are fantastic! The students are given a good amount of freedom to be creative, and the class options are very extensive. Test taking and paper writing are more limited, so college preparation in those areas is difficult. The student body is small so a little cliquey. You'll have a good time if you find your "group" however.... Read 76 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 308

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Cambridge, MA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.45 out of 5  83 reviews

Parent: We are so happy to have found ISB! Our three children are in lower, middle, and upper school, so we've seen a good cross section of the entire school experience. The lower school bilingual program is a real advantage - a good balance of English and French - and it's also accredited, which is what we were looking for. Other schools offer full immersion, but at the expense of learning English and they are not accredited. The middle school does a great job of attending to well-being in addition to continuing the bilingual opportunities. Our older son chose to take more French classes in middle school when he was younger, but our middle son is opting for more English. Both have had good experiences. Our older son is currently studying for the IB diploma in the Upper School. The level of personal attention he is getting from his teachers and the new college counselor is tremendous and way more than we could have ever expected if we had put him in the local public school.... Read 83 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 570

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Lexington, MA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  72 reviews

Senior: I've been going to LCA since sixth grade and I genuinely enjoyed my time here! I really appreciate the friendships I've made, the many leadership opportunities the school offers, and the ability to express myself through the arts. Additionally, LCA is very involved throughout the college process, and prepares students well by helping them learn about careers, practice for the SAT, and fine-tune their college essays.... Read 72 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 288

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Boston, MA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  75 reviews

Parent: I have two sons (grades 8 and 10) in the Newman School and we absolutely love it. We couldn't be happier with our choice for where our boys are learning for middle and high school. There are too many highlights to list but some of our family's favorite aspects of the school are the caring faculty, organized and communicative administration, challenging but stimulating learning, small class size, requires sports, strong sense of community, international student body, IB curriculum, and fantastic location. This is a top school and a well-kept secret. It fosters a collaborative relationship between parents and faculty—exactly what we were looking for (and difficult to find in the Boston area). In this small school, there is a surprisingly wide range of adjustments you can make so it fits a student's needs. Despite the challenge of the school, the school encourages a supportive, not competitive, atmosphere so the students are well-adjusted and convivial.... Read 75 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 255

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Waltham, MA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  62 reviews

Parent: Chapel Hill-Chauncey Hill HS has provided a nurturing, yet academically, challenging environment that our daughter has thrived in. Teachers, staff and administration take time to know our daughter and provide support as necessary but also give her the needed freedom to experiment and grow. We strongly recommend CH-CH be on you short list of high schools your considering!... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 200

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Braintree, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  34 reviews

Parent: My only child graduated from CATS Academy Boston a year ago. She got straight into Computer Sci uni program without taking competitive uni entrance exam. I'm happy so today I share this review. I can't say enough good things CATS offer to students: beautiful n safe campus, rich food, diverse culture, great teacher guidance...Boarding room is so unique, my child was given a single room with own clean bathroom n aircon, something I can't find in any other boarding school before. Therefore, she studied very hard n got great results during 2 years highschool at CATS. CATS prepares so well for university. AP n advanced courses she took at CATS, my daughter joins in many helpful clubs within n outside of school. Helpful visits to famous universities such as MIT, Harvard, Boston...Creative sessions at YouthCITIES, Boston Children's Hospital are golden opportunities CATS offer to enrich knowledge n brighten uni profile for students. I'm so grateful and proud to recommend CATS.... Read 34 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 420

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Wenham, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.53 out of 5  36 reviews

Senior: It was a very good school to transition into half way through high school. I entered into a close knit community that accepted me with open arms and hearts. The campus was unlike anything I have seen, and food was wonderfully done every day. The teachers were all enthusiastic about their subjects, and were there whenever a student was in need. However, it wasn't perfect. As a non-binary student, I didn't always feel the most comfortable in this very rigid environment of "womanhood" (I did not discover I was non-binary until about the time I transferred into this school). So, I worked with other non-binary/trans students in an effort to make sure the school would be more welcoming to anyone who is discovering their identity. It is very much a work in progress, but I feel like I was able to make a little bit of an impact on the school that helped me get into college.... Read 36 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 107

• Student-teacher ratio 3:1

• Natick, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  80 reviews

Junior: Overall a great experience, however a very strong cancel culture and the vast pools of money are not used optimally. Very comprehensive artistic training, but for music at least the only large ensemble experience is from an outside organization.... Read 80 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 284

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Marlborough, MA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.82 out of 5  22 reviews

Parent: A fresh take on preparing our children for success, New England Innovation Academy has exceeded all of my expectations as a parent. When I asked my 11th grade daughter why she loves NEIA, she told me 3 things: - The Community - here you have a diverse, respectful, inclusive, inquisitive population of students and staff - Integrated Learning - dive in on a topic and learn from different perspectives, for instance, read 'The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks in English', debate the topic in Humanities, learn about cells in Science, and so on. It makes learning more interesting -Innovation - at NEIA each student understands and applies human centered design to much of what they do. This includes opportunities to imagine, test and bring new products to the market. As a rising Junior, she will be thinking about and executing on her 'Passion Project', the first opportunity to lead her own innovation, tied to her passion. NEIA is the kind of school I wish I could go as an adult!... Read 22 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 116

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Southborough, MA•

• Private School•

• K-9

• •
  Rating 4.79 out of 5  14 reviews

Parent: Great experience with Kindergarten this year. Student programming/curriculum and communication with parents has been excellent. Despite Covid-19 still being omnipresent in our lives, our student's year was not disrupted and was as normal as it could possibly be. We are thrilled we chose Fay and our son has been very happy with his whole experience. He has made so many new friends and has also enjoyed meeting older students as well. We are grateful that many parent and community events returned and were available as in-person events. We just finished our first year and are eagerly awaiting first grade!... Read 14 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 475

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• West Newton, MA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-9

• •
  Rating 4.82 out of 5  45 reviews

Parent: My boys (7th and 6th grades) just finished their first year at Fessy and it exceeded ALL of our expectations! I wish we had made the move sooner. The focus and attention on boys and their growth was outstanding - they are developing boys to meet today and tomorrow's complex challenges. The focus on group learning, team work and respect across all dimensions is seamless, but powerful. The International / Boarding student influence is a special element - it literally opens up the world to all boys at Fessy. There is no other school I know of in this age range that brings that breadth and depth of perspective to their school. The faculty and administration hail from varied backgrounds, geographies and give much valued texture and context for developing critical thinkers and leaders.... Read 45 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 537

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Marlborough, MA•

• Private School•

• 4-9

• •
  Rating 4.72 out of 5  32 reviews

Parent: Our family wishes to pay the highest of compliments to Hillside School for the management of its Spring ’20 Trimester! When academic classes at Hillside resumed online on Monday, March 30, Hillside’s faculty performed with excellence, as if the school had been operating with remote learning for quite some time. Our family was incredibly impressed with the overall effectiveness of Hillside’s remote learning program. And the continuity of curriculum throughout the Spring ’20 trimester exceeded our expectations! Hillside School set a date & time to launch remote learning of Monday, March 30, 2020 at 8:15 am to noon. That morning, his screen lit up with images and familiar faces at precisely 8:15 am. Then, from Monday, March 30 through the last week of May, the consistency of his school day was just what we hoped for. Academic lessons began right at 8:15 am and continued up until noon. Additionally, he received three to four meaningful homework assignments each day.... Read 32 reviews

• grade A

• Students 140

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Beverly, MA•

• Private School•

• 2-12

• •
  Rating 4.54 out of 5  37 reviews

Parent: My child attended middle school (6-8) at Landmark and is presently a student at Landmark High School. The Landmark experience is second to none. Their ability to craft an academic schedule specifically designed to meet each individual student's needs is paramount. The community experience is welcoming, supportive and has something for everyone. They have a wide variety of options for extracurricular activities including athletics, performing arts and lots of clubs. For students with LBLD you can do no better than Landmark. Every day we are grateful our child has been able to grow and thrive at this incredible institution.... Read 37 reviews

• grade unavailable

• Students 470

• Student-teacher ratio 3:1