Affordable Boarding School

Boarding School

This site was created to aid parents in the complicated, and emotionally difficult, search and selection of the best boarding schools, Best Boarding School for their teenager. It is that simple.

We at "Affordable Boarding School" realize that the Internet offers a vast amount of information that may guide the parent of a struggling teen through the preliminary stages of these important explorations. However, "best boarding schools" also understands that there are key gaps in much of the information that can be found during a cursory Internet investigation of the hundreds of boarding schools and alternatives that are available.

At this site, "Affordable Boarding School" focuses on Therapeutic Boarding Schools for the simple reason that we have found that, although they may not yet realize it, many parents engaged in a search of this sort are truly in need of a Boarding School with a strong therapeutic element. This is not an easy decision and should not be approached lightly. There are several determining criteria for a therapeutic boarding school.

If your teenager appears to be an appropriate candidate for a therapeutic boarding school, as determined by the criteria list, then there are 6 components that should be examined and carefully considered during the search for an appropriate Therapeutic Boarding School..

1. Academics

When examining the Academic Curriculum offered by a Boarding School for boys, a parent should consider the following:

Boarding School
  1. Do the teachers actually teach? In other words, do they create the curriculum and syllabi for their classes, or are the classes "packet based" education?
  2. Is there learning support for teenagers with learning differences and/or Independent Educational Programs?
  3. Are the teachers Regionally Certified by the proper State and Professional associations in the area in which they are employed?
  4. (Perhaps the most important) Is the child's individual needs going to be met in order to help him/her through the rigors of High School and with viable options upon graduation.
  5. The percentage of students accepted by institutions of higher learning.

2. Counseling

When it is determined (via the 8 criteria-link), that a Therapeutic Boarding School is appropriate to the needs of the teenager, the following should be considered:

  1. Masters Level Counselors
  2. Cases loads not exceeding 10 to 1
  3. Hours of Group Therapy--weekly
  4. Hours of Individual Therapy---weekly
  5. Parent phone calls
  6. Parental therapeutic involvement
  7. Therapeutic Curriculum
  8. Theme Realizations
  9. Student and Parent Testimonials/Success Rate
  10. Drug abuse and dependency screening and treatment
  11. Alcohol abuse and dependency screening and treatment
  12. Eating Disorder screening and treatment
  13. Self-injury, Suicidal thoughts/threat screening and treatment
  14. Access on and off campus AA, NA, and EDG 12 step programs and meetings
  15. Normalcy-(teenagers do not mature properly in a "boot camp" or hospital type setting) The program should offer a sports program, spiritual and church services and activities, off-campus trips and adventures, Community Service opportunities, Creative outlets, etc.

3. Therapeutic Boarding School Issues / Criteria

There are several issues that may warrant the placement of a struggling teenager in a therapeutic boarding school setting. These issues include, but are not limited to the following:

4. Cost

Is the school dedicated to helping families of making a profit? To determine this a parent should consider the following:

  1. Cost comparisons with other schools offering similar programs.
  2. Hidden Extra Costs (i.e. books, trips, toiletries etc.)
  3. Financial Aid

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5. Physical Plant

Teenagers make mistakes. Deprivation as punishment does not provide lasting positive behavior changes. The physical plant of the organization should reflect the organization's commitment to creating a stable, secure, and comfortable environment in which lasting positive change may occur. For example

6. Staff Credentials and Qualifications

Be certain to determine that all staff that are to be providing a certain service are fully certified to do so, as opposed to being supervised by a certified individual. For example, all counselors and teachers should hold the proper certification in their field and not simply be supervised by someone with this certification.

wilderness

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Ridge Creek Wilderness at Hidden Lake Rd, Dalonega, Georgia

Ridge Creek Wilderness Therapeutic