Being classified as a low income family shouldn’t stop parents from sending their child to school especially if it is a boarding school that they have in mind. In this article, I have exposed the list of boarding schools that are free for students from low income families. Let’s get started.
This article on free boarding schools for low income families serves as a guide for low income families looking to send their child to a boarding school but cannot afford them due to how costly they are. And if you are not a low income family but looking for options to cut down on the cost of boarding school for your child then you should look up our previous articles on low-cost boarding schools for teens or check out the military boarding schools in Illinois since they are equally cheap.
Boarding schools are typically expensive compared to day school and the reasons are obvious. As a boarding student, you are required to live on the school premises. That means the school will feed you, put a roof over your head, and offer you extra lessons with more time to gain access to study materials and facilities that day students would normally not get.
There are also other reasons but the ones shown above are the major ones. And all of them attract extra costs. Boarding school students only go home during the holidays so all the times you live in the dorm, the school is like your home, and the necessities that you get at home are offered to you and this costs money. Although it costs so much compared to day schools some parents still prefer it for their children.
The average cost of a boarding school is about $20,000 per year and this can go higher depending on the location and the type of school. For example, the average cost of boarding school in the US range from $60,000 to $75,000 per year, and in the UK, it ranges from £20,000 to £30,000 per year for each child.
With such an outrageous amount of money to pay for a high school education not every family can afford it even though they want it badly for their child. So what do low income families that want to send their child to boarding school do about this? Well, they would have no other choice than to send their child to a cheaper school that they can afford.
It really does not have to be so because there is a much better alternative that I have uncovered and that is the free boarding schools for low income families. But before we get into that, let’s see what kind of families are tagged as “low-income families” and also learn how you can get your child into such a school.
What Families Are Considered Low Income Families?
LawInsider describes low-income families as those whose annual income does not exceed 80% of the city, county, or regional median income as determined from time to time by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
So, if your family fits into the above description then you can send your child to any of the free boarding schools discussed in this article. And if you don’t fit into the description but still want to send your child to a boarding school without much cost then you should check our posts on free boarding schools for youth or look up one of the military boarding schools in Maryland which are also free to attend.
How To Get Your Child Into A Free Boarding School For Low Income Families
If you want to send your child to a free boarding school for low income families the first thing is to ensure that you fall into the category of low income family from the description given above. If you do, the next thing is to start searching for the schools and that’s basically it.
Since a wide list of free boarding schools for low-income families has been curated in this blog post you don’t have to go through the stress of searching for the schools anymore. You simply need to read through each of the schools to learn how they operate and then reach out to the ones that make it to your list.
The schools you have picked should obviously meet your academic requirements and specifications and also satisfy that of your child making it a befitting place for them to grow and develop their potential. Some of the schools may have some admission requirements while others may not. This is left for parents to verify and get all the necessary info that will facilitate the admission of their child into that boarding school.
There are also other alternatives to look into for your child’s academic improvement. Like, there are online high schools in California that are cheap, accredited, and allow them to enjoy flexible learning. You may also look into the military boarding schools in Georgia which are free, accredited, and champion disciplining kids as well as improving their academic performance.
Having said that, let’s dive into the main topic.
Free Boarding Schools For Low Income Families
Curated below are the free boarding schools for low income families. Let’s dive in…
- University of North Carolina School Of The Arts
- The SEED School Of Maryland
- Maine School of Science and Mathematics
- Burr and Burton Academy
- Milton Hershey School
- Mississippi School of the Arts
- Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center
- Chinquapin Preparatory School
- Oakdale Christian Academy
- Minnesota State Academies
- Alabama School of Fine Arts
1. University of North Carolina School Of The Arts
First on our list of free boarding schools for low income families is the North Carolina School of the Arts in the US. It was established in 1963 as the first public arts conservatory in the US and offers programs for high school pupils, undergraduates, and graduate levels. The high school part is what is free for families that fall into the low income level category.
The high school is not only for students from low income families, of course others can apply as well but as long as they are not low income families, they get to pay tuition.
2. The SEED School Of Maryland
This is a tuition-free boarding school for everyone that means those who are low income families or aren’t can also attend this school and not pay any tuition fees. The school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA and aims to provide an exemplary education and living experience, which equips students with the academic, critical thinking, and social skills necessary to success in high school and graduate from college.
3. Maine School of Science and Mathematics
Maine School of Science and Mathematics is a public boarding school in Limestone, Maine, USA. It is free for students from low income families who are residents of Maine. The school also accept students from other parts of the US as well as international students.
The boarding school serves students from grades 9 through 12. There are 156 students at MSSM all of whom are boarders and the student to teacher ratio is 11 to 1. It is also co-ed.
4. Burr and Burton Academy
Burr and Burton is a co-ed boarding school in Manchester, Vermont, USA, serving pupils from grades 9—12. The school is free for students from low-income homes but this does not limit others from applying. The academy accepts indigenous pupils and international students but they will have to pay for tuition.
5. Milton Hershey School
Milton Hershey School is an independent boarding school for both boys and girls located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA serving students from K—12. Students from low income families can enjoy free education at Milton Hershey School. The school prepares students for college and career development.
6. Mississippi School of the Arts
If your child has a talents for the arts then you need to help them to start grooming and developing the ability at an early age and you do not need to spend so much to help them realize that dream. Mississippi School of the Arts is a boarding school that focuses on literary, visual, and performing arts and it is free to attend. You will only need to pay $1,000 per year to assist with student’s upkeep.
Whether you are from a low income family or not, this is a cheap, nationally recognized art school to send your child to. The school only serves students in grades 11 and 12.
7. Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center
Eagle Rock School was established by the American Honda Motor Company to assist low income families who do not have the financial means to send their child to boarding school. It is for boys and girls between the ages of 15 to 17 and withing grades 8—12.
One of the perks of the school is that admission occurs throughout the year and every student get an opportunity to professional development. This is one of the free boarding schools that low income families should consider sending their child to.
8. Chinquapin Preparatory School
On our 8th list of free boarding schools for low income families is Chinquapin Preparatory School located in Highlands, Texas, USA. It is a non-profit private college-prep school for boys and girls in grades 6 through 12.
To enter Chinquapin Prep School, you need to write an essay, get recommendation forms from teachers, take an admissions test, go for an interview, and submit documents.
9. Oakdale Christian Academy
Oakdale Christian Academy is a Christ-centered, co-ed boarding school sitting on a 132-acre campus in Jackson, Kentucky, USA serving pupils in grades 7—12. It is a small school that enrolls about 60 students annually and it is affordable too but free for students from low-income families. The student population includes students from 20 states and 8 countries making it a diverse academic environment.
Oakdale Christian Academy stands out as a high school that uses a traditional college-prep curriculum providing an academic program that produces a college acceptance rate of more than 100%. This academy should be at the top of the list of low income families looking to send their kids to a Christian boarding school.
10. Minnesota State Academies
Low income families with special kids can send their child to Minnesota State Academies to get the special education they deserve. It is a school that consists of two academies – Minnesota State Academy for the Blind and Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf. This is a great option for low income families who have kids that have any of these disabilities. They can be sent to any of these schools without worrying about tuition.
11. Alabama School of Fine Arts
Last but not least on out list of free boarding schools for low income families is the Alabama School of Fine Arts. The school is located in Birmingham, Alabama, USA and accepts students from grades 7—12. Aside from being a school that develops the potential of artistic kids, it also uses a college preparatory curriculum that prepares students for any college of their choice and also entitles them to a higher diploma.
This wraps up our list of free boarding schools for low income families. These schools will provide your kids with excellent academic teaching and the environment they need to advance to the next level whether pursuing a career or going into college.