When you set out to find a great boarding school for your son or daughter, the first step is to compile a list of the best boarding schools in the country. To help you with that goal, below are some of the finest boarding schools in the USA.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in Flintridge, California.

The Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is an all girl's school that provides education for girls in grades 9-12. A Catholic boarding school that boasts a large and diverse student body and where love, respect and compassion are the underpinnings which support the people, the place and the programs that make this school a great choice. "The Flintridge experience." The Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is grounded on a unique balance of academic excellence and moral integrity.

The Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

An all girls college preparatory school that boasts a challenging academic environment where the finest female minds can learn and expand in knowledge and intellectual curiosity. The Stoneleigh-Burnham School is an excellent choice for girls with a strong academic resume and a bright academic future ahead of them.

St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire.

St. Paul's School puts is a coed boarding school that puts an emphasis on the entire college experience to educate the whole person. Students are encouraged to excel at academics, in sports and in extracurricular activities as well. A wide variety of environments are offered to encourage active intellectual dialog between students and faculty and staff.

The Advanced Academy of Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia.

The Advanced Academy of Georgia is a perfect setting to prepare students to matriculate at University. Located on the campus of the University of West Georgia, 11th and 12th grade students live on campus and can earn concurrent credits to graduate high school and complete early credits for their college careers. An outstanding opportunity for accelerating a college program for excellent students.

Excelsior School in Pasadena, California.

Excelsior School is ranking highly as a school that encourages diversity of its student body and diversity of their curriculum and approach to education as well. Students attending this boarding school can expect the finest in a college preparatory education and a well rounded boarding school experience as well.

Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire

An excellence of Academic development is one reason that students from all over the world seek out Phillips Exeter Academy. Along with achieving a high level of learning, students at Phillips Exeter Academy learn to questions, to analyze and to understand the world around them.

Oakdale Christian Academy in Jackson, Kentucky.

Parents find Oakdale Christian Academy appealing because they offer a solid educational experience at an affordable cost. Students seeking a Christian school where they can integrate faith with every aspect of their education will thrive on the campus of Oakdale Christian Academy.

Donahue Academy of Ave Maria in Ave Maria, Florida

Donahue Academy of Ave Maria offers a solid Catholic curium that is well grounded in Catholic theology. In addition, a liberal education is provided in a small, safe and friendly surrounding community. Specializing in only high school junior or seniors, Donahue Academy of Ave Maria offers an excellent program and a memorable boarding school experience as well.

Bridgton Academy in North Bridgton, Maine.

Bridgton Academy is a boys boarding school that is geared exclusively for college preparation of older high school boys. The mission of Bridgton Academy is to provide a program for young men in a unique, one-year environment to prepare for the rigors of college and beyond. A year at Bridgton Academy is an excellent transition year between high school and college and one that makes a difference in a student's achieving success in college and in life. Northwood School in Lake Placid, New York.

Northwood School is located where the winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid, New York. Because of this superior location, Northwood School offers unique outdoor, athletic, and cultural opportunities. Within access to Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Albany, New York; and Burlington, Vermont, Northwood School offers a solid academic curriculum set in a beautiful and culturally diverse environment.

Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire

Kimball Union Academy coeducational boarding and day school. Kimball Union Academy is located in the Upper Connecticut River Valley in good proximity to Dartmouth College. Parents and students alike seek out Kimball because of their educational philosophy that puts an emphasis on developing the whole person as scholar, athlete, artist and global citizen.

Valley International Academy in Campbell, California

Valley International Academy provides an outstanding educational setting because of their emphasis on small class sizes with a low teacher to student ratio. The result is an educational experience where the teachers know the students by name and interaction between student and instructor is frequent and encouraged.

The White Mountain School in Bethlehem, New Hampshire

The White Mountain School prepares young people for rigorous college studies and life beyond academics in the rigors of the real world. White Mountain specializes in student-focused, discussion-based classes. Performing and fine arts, outdoor/wilderness sports and other extracurricular advantages mean an excellent education and an outstanding boarding room experience at White Mountain.

Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia

Oak Hill Academy is a coeducational, boarding day/school committed to excellence in education and adolescent development. Oak Hill's curriculum challenges and encourages those who are unmotivated, underachieving, or experiencing difficulties in their school setting.

Southwestern Academy in San Marino, California

Southwestern Academy is a college preparatory boarding/day school. The goal of Southwestern Academy is to prepare their students to be lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and self-motivated leaders who will impact the global community of the 21st century.

Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California

Idyllwild Arts Academy puts an emphasis on pre-professional training in the arts in grades 9-12. Idyllwild stands out as the only boarding school on the West Coast offering such a comprehensive program in the arts along with a college preparatory academic program

Concord Academy in Concord Massachusetts

Concord Academy offers a lifestyle at boarding school that is creative and inquisitive lead by instructors that are impassioned and involved. Concord Academy strikes a balance as a boarding school that is Large enough to offer a comprehensive program but small enough to provide a caring community.

Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts

Deerfield Academy has a high percentage of their faculty who are highly qualified holding advanced degrees in their subjects. The school offers academic area of focus that includes Computer Science, English, Fine Arts, History, Language, Math, Philosophy and Religion and Science. Deerfield Academy is very selective and it boasts first rate facilities and faculty to match.

Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut

Choate Rosemary Hall offers 240 courses including 25 Advanced Placement. Over 70 percent of the faculty holds advanced degrees. Choate also offers study abroad for a diverse educational experience. There is a wealth of just about everything you could want or imagine at Choate. The sports, the arts, the extracurricular activities, and of course, the world class academics are among the finest anywhere.

The diversity of boarding schools available in every state in the union is large. You can focus on schools with large student bodies and highly diverse programs to schools with small communities that emphasize strong relationships and a rich educational experience. The diversity of costs and the availability of student aid mean that just about anyone can find a boarding school to fit their needs and their budget.

Here are additional resources you might be interested in:

What to Look for in Boys Boarding School

What are the Benefits of Boarding High Schools?