Junior boarding schools are residential schools for grades 4–9 (ages 9–15) that prepare students for selective secondary boarding schools. Fewer than fifteen exist in the US, mostly in New England — including Fay, Fessenden, and Cardigan Mountain — charging $60,000–$80,000 per year for boarders in 2026.
Key facts about junior boarding schools
- Fewer than 15 dedicated junior boarding schools operate in the US, mostly in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
- Boarding tuition runs $60,000–$80,000 per year for 2025–26.
- Placement into selective secondary schools is the core product — schools publish matriculation lists.
- Most boarders are in grades 6–9; grades 4–5 are predominantly day students.
- International students make up a substantial share of junior boarders, driven by family relocation.
What do junior boarding schools offer?
Junior boarding schools offer high-supervision residential life adapted to younger children — smaller dorms, more adults per student, structured evenings and weekends — plus secondary-school placement counseling that manages the SSAT, interviews, and applications to selective high schools on the family’s behalf.
The best-known US junior boarding schools are Fay School, Fessenden School (boys), Cardigan Mountain School (boys), Eaglebrook School (boys), Indian Mountain School, Rumsey Hall School, and Bement School.
Who should consider a junior boarding school?
Consider a junior boarding school if your family is relocating internationally, your child targets selective secondary schools and needs academic preparation the local system cannot provide, or your child is exceptionally independent and asking for the environment. For most families with children under 12, a strong day school plus a later grade-9 boarding entry is the better sequence.
Check developmental readiness against the readiness checklist, age norms in what ages boarding schools accept, and the middle-school-specific tradeoffs in boarding schools for middle schoolers.
Junior boarding FAQ
What is a junior boarding school?
A junior boarding school is a residential school serving grades 4 through 9 (ages 9–15), designed to prepare students for entry into selective secondary boarding schools. Fewer than fifteen operate in the US, concentrated in New England, including Fay School, Fessenden School, and Cardigan Mountain School.
What ages do junior boarding schools accept?
Junior boarding schools accept boarders from about age 9 or 10 (grade 4–5) through age 15 (grade 9), though most boarders cluster in grades 6–9. Many operate as day schools in the lower grades and phase in boarding in the middle grades.
Are junior boarding schools a good idea?
For a narrow group, yes: children of internationally relocating families, students targeting selective secondary schools who need stronger preparation, and highly independent kids in weak local systems. Child development norms favor keeping children under 12 at home when a good local option exists.
How much do junior boarding schools cost?
Junior boarding schools cost $60,000–$80,000 per year for boarding students in 2025–26 — comparable to senior boarding schools despite the younger age, because of higher supervision ratios. Financial aid availability mirrors secondary schools, with about one-third of students aided.
Sources
- The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS): junior boarding school membership list.
- Fay School and Cardigan Mountain School: published tuition and grade ranges.