Opinion: More Low-Income Students Should Go to Boarding Schools, Like Me

When I told my friends I was going to a boarding school, they asked me what I had done wrong. That's how it is in my community in Brooklyn; most people don't know about all the high school options available outside New York City's public school system.

I learned about boarding schools from a group called Breakthrough New York which accepted me in sixth grade, and will mentor and support me all the way through college. Before Breakthrough, my family, friends and teachers wanted me to go to a specialized public high school.

I took the Specialized High School Admissions Test, scoring high enough to be accepted at Brooklyn Technical High School, which is a great school. But Breakthrough New York taught me about many other options, such as independent day schools and boarding schools. While these schools are expensive, they can be affordable for families like mine, thanks to financial aid packages.

Boarding schools offer a wider range of courses that interest me — such as astronomy and ancient languages — than most New York City public schools, even Brooklyn Tech. They also offer more options when it comes to sports, music, art, community service and study abroad. I realized that boarding schools would offer me the best opportunity to try new things. 

My mother supported my decision and, with Breakthrough New York’s guidance, she helped me select schools to apply to. For months I wrote essays, gathered recommendations, attended school fairs and campus tours, took standardized tests, and did admissions interviews.

On March 10, I got home from school and noticed a big package on the doorstep from Phillips Academy Andover, my top choice for high school — and one of the best schools in the country. I ripped it open and saw my acceptance letter. I was ecstatic!

I pictured myself as Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, who fell through a rabbit hole into a whole new world.

During this process, I learned the sad fact that students from other countries often know more about boarding schools than students here in New York City do. There are some great public high schools in the city, but not enough, especially in the outer boroughs.

Unfortunately, many low-income, high-potential students don’t realize there are great options for them outside the city. Adults should do more to inform students and families about all of their high school options, including boarding schools.