So I currently attend a boarding school that happens to have spring and winter breaks that are both THREE WEEKS LONG. We also start the school year THREE WEEKS LATER than regular public schools. How come my boarding schools have long breaks and is this normal??? (note*** sorry I had to post this under prep school admissions… I didn’t know what discussion I could put this thread in)
Boarding schools have longer breaks so that students can travel home. Unlike public schools, they don’t get a ton of one-day breaks and half days.
Yes, it is normal. I used to joke that the more you pay, the less they go. 
But, the academics were more intense than our local public school and my kids attended classes 6 days a week and didn’t get days off like Columbus Day or days off for elections and such.
My children have gone to both public and private school. Yes, I also subscribe to the “more you pay, the less you go.” Lot’s of little perks and flexibility with private.
Ha ha …it was a shocker for us as well having experienced both public and private schools. “The more you pay the less they go”…sounds about right! However, when they are there it is very very intense and the schools do prepare the kids very well in the subject matter. No doubt about that.
@starpiano are you at Kent? Yes this is the norm for private schools in general. Fewer breaks in general but they tend to be long. In our last private school the days before and after were still called travel days…i.e to and from the Rivera. LOL
The longer breaks make traveling so much more worth while. Too bad I still have 1 in public school.
The New England boarding schools start around the same time as public school (maybe a week later) but this is later than other parts of the country.
As others have mentioned breaks are compressed - not the half day here, teacher professional day there, Federal holiday off that public schools have. Three week winter break is pretty typical. The schools I know have 2 week break in March - instead of one in February and one in April (typical in the northeast at least).
Yes, I actually do attend Kent! How did you know? @Center
They sometimes give finals during evenings and weekends to make up the longer breaks. Can be done only in boarding schools.
Hi there, Kentie! Yes, your breaks are nice and long. My son has always appreciated them and the way exam stress doesn’t drag into the holidays. Think about all the small holidays and things like election day and teacher conference days and so on that you are not getting a break on. A Headmaster’s Holiday does not come close to covering those. Your academics are pretty intense and you are there 24/7 and have classes or some kind of co-curricular and/or mandatory thing every single day (i.e. some classes every Sat., required chapel every Sun. and then there are things like final exams given on weekend days). You will likely not get any snow days either (barring a seriously major blizzard). The long holiday breaks make good practical sense logistically for the students and the school. They are also well deserved. Have a great school year in the lovely valley land.
Glad to see that has changed. Back in my Kent days (the mid 80’s) we got out wednesday afternoon for thanksgiving and it was crazy. Even my locally educated middle schooler gets out earlier than that.
Was that back before the kids had access to town… when it was “Kent Jail,” @lestouffer? 