Boarding schools in Poland

	School ( = Featured )	Grades	Type	Languages / Type
3	Akademeia High School Św. Urszuli Ledóchowskiej 2, Warszawa, 02-972	Gr. 9 to Gr. 12	A levels English National Curriculum GCSE / iGCSE	English A levels English National Curriculum GCSE / iGCSE
1	Regent College International High School z internatem Królewiecka 100 , Elbląg, 82-300	Gr. 9 to Gr. 12	A levels English National Curriculum GCSE / iGCSE Polish Curriculum (Ministry of National Eduction, MEN)	English A levels English National Curriculum GCSE / iGCSE Polish Curriculum (Ministry of National Eduction, MEN)
1	Montessori Farm School - szkoła z internatem Białka 155, Radzyń Podlaski, 21-300	Gr. 6 to Gr. 12	Montessori Polish Curriculum (Ministry of National Eduction, MEN)	English, Polish Montessori Polish Curriculum (Ministry of National Eduction, MEN)
0	J. Addison School 2 Valleywood Drive, Markham, L3R 8H3
0	Polonijne Liceum Ogólnokształcące Niepubliczne KLASYK Matuszewska 20, Warszawa, 03-876

On this page:

List of schools
Features of boarding
Advantages of boarding schools
Polish or foreign boarding school?
The education system in Poland

Since boarding requires a lot of independence from the student, most boarding schools are high schools. This means they’re intended for students aged 13 to 18.

Many boarding schools also accept day students (who live at home), thanks to which the student community is very diverse, which benefits all students attending the school.

Boarding schools in Poland have dormitories, often assigned to several schools, where students of different ages live.

Features of boarding

Boarding schools have many things in common with other schools, but they also have some special features not shared by all private or non-public schools.

• Programs offered: boarding schools offer high-quality teaching. Many of them use the latest teaching methods and programs, enriching them with their own experience and solutions. They employ high-level specialists, including staff with PhDs. They work with renowned educational centres in other countries, and are often supported by the International Baccalaureate Organization, and offer IB programmes.

• Schools with a special focus: some schools also aim to develop students' specific skills and values, which is why we’ll find denominational (e.g., Catholic), artistic, sports, and even military schools among boarding schools. Shared student housing and constant access to school facilities is of special importance here, e.g., when playing sports or engaging in musical activities.

• Tuition fees: tuition fees in boarding schools are usually higher than in full-time schools, as they include the cost of meals and accommodation for the student. Additional expenses may include participation in optional classes (e.g., learning another language), textbooks, uniforms, and school trips.

• Admissions: each boarding school has its own application requirements. Typical requirements include interviews with parents and child, exams and presentations, and assessments of learning progress based on certificates and exam documents. Schools also have clearly marked deadlines when these documents are due.

Advantages of boarding schools

Boarding schools provide many scientific, educational, and general development benefits.

• International student community: boarding schools eagerly accept students from abroad, thus creating an international environment in which children and teens from all over the world learn. Learning and being in such a culturally diverse environment is a great experience, both for language and general learning.

• Support systems: boarding schools strongly support young people in developing and making life choices. They provide not only help during learning through tutoring and mentoring, but also have special counseling programs. This helps students meet academic requirements and adjust to the social environment.

• Special educational needs: Some boarding schools offer education for students with special educational needs, for example, for children with Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, or ADHD. There are full- and part-time integrated special education classes which offer accommodation. These students are educated by teachers specializing in special education.

• Rich resources: private boarding schools, like many other non-public schools, allocate significant resources to equipment and activities. This applies not only to the quantity and quality of IT equipment (computers, interactive boards, etc.) and the latest scientific aids, but also to the equipment of art studios and sports facilities, as well as to extracurricular activities outside of school.

• Small classes: boarding schools have a low number of students per teacher. They offer education in a few, several, or over a dozen classes. This means teachers can devote a lot more time to students. This promotes effective learning. In a cozy and interactive environment, students are more engaged in learning.

• Time: because dormitories are located on school campuses or in close proximity to school buildings, students don’t waste time and money on commuting, and can spend a lot more time on learning, school life, and can also use extracurricular activities and school facilities not only during class hours. All in all, it also gives them more time for rest and recreation.

• Independence and discipline: boarding school students learn independence and discipline—taking care of their clothes and appearance, as well as their room, satisfying school requirements, and most importantly, observing school schedules and rules.

• Friendships for life: as we know from the accounts of students and graduates, boarding school is a great way to build social competencies and proper relationships with peers and teachers, as well as to make friendships that often cross not only physical barriers but also linguistic and cultural. Most boarding school graduates claim to have met their best friends during this time, many of which last a lifetime.

polish boarding schools

Polish or foreign boarding school?

If you think boarding school is for your child, you need to decide whether they’re better off studying in Poland or elsewhere.

In either case, you’ll see your child much less. It’s not easy, but it will undoubtedly develop your child’s independence and responsibility. When your child goes to a boarding school, though you’ll see them less often, current technology can allow you to be in close contact with them.

Education in boarding schools is more popular in western countries than in Poland. Many Canadian, American, and British boarding schools are schools with a long and rich tradition, have an international reputation, and provide their graduates with a great entry point to the world's best universities.

While learning in such a school, your child will be immersed in English—they’ll learn all subjects in this language and use it during conversations with peers as well as teachers and educators. In the article Studying abroad, we discuss the features of boarding schools in other countries, and list some first-rate overseas boarding schools.

In Poland, as mentioned, there’s an increase in interest in boarding schools for children and adolescents. At present, the largest number of Polish boarding schools are denominational (Catholic) secondary schools run by religious orders and dioceses. There’s also some sports and artistic (mainly music) boarding schools.

The education system in Poland

The Polish education system is in many respects similar to that of Canada and the US. However, there are some differences, and depending on which school you choose, your child may have to make some adjustments.

• Elementary school
Elementary school, also called "primary school," starts for children aged 6 to 7 and lasts up to the age of 14. Until the end of the 2016-2017 school year, elementary school included six classes. From September 1, 2017, elementary school now has eight classes. Education in elementary school (including reformed school), unlike in North America, is divided into two stages.

In the first stage, an integrated curriculum applies, which is implemented by one or two teachers working simultaneously, which is important for the child's development. The second stage includes classes IV-VIII, and here the subjects are taught by various teachers, and the grades on the certificates are expressed on a scale of 1 (insufficient) to 6 (excellent).

• High school
High school is one of the schools you can choose after completing primary school. Education in high school lasts four years. Secondary schools also include technology (currently five years) and three-year industry schools (previously vocational schools). These latter schools don’t give students specific professional qualifications, though they can still work after completing them. Very often, graduates of these schools join the ranks of office workers.

High school, meanwhile, aims to prepare students for further education at university. The curriculum is very intensive and the academics are high-level, especially in subject-profiled high schools, where, in addition to basic requirements, students have an increased number of hours in science (e.g., mathematics, physics, computer science), natural science (e.g., chemistry, biology), or humanities (e.g., Polish and foreign language, knowledge about society, culture and art). High schools prepare young people to pass the secondary school-leaving examination (matura), and in the case of a large proportion of private schools, the International Baccalaureate.

• Middle school (eliminated in 2019)

Middle school, or junior high school, was a three-year school intended for students aged 12 to 14. In 2019, as part of the 2017 educational system reform in Poland, it disappeared completely from the Polish school system, which currently has two levels: primary school and high school. The process of closing down middle schools took place gradually.

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