Boarding Schools on the Water: Top U.S. Coastal & Waterfront Schools

As part of our ongoing series of highlighting boarding schools in the United States, below you will find a list of schools located directly on the water - some of the most distinctive boarding schools in the US. From marine science classes to weekend activities, students fully experience all that the schools and unique location have to offer.  From the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans (and even the Great Lakes), these schools fully embrace their surroundings.

Please note that this is only a partial list of schools located on the water and they are not listed in a set order. All information was submitted by the respective schools and formatted by the FindingSchool team.

Santa Catalina School - Monterey, California

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School Site: https://www.santacatalina.org/

Admission Contact: admission@santacatalina.org

Santa Catalina School, an all-girls boarding and day school on the Central Coast of California, sits just two miles from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, an environment so rich in biodiversity it's known as “The Serengeti of the Sea.” In their signature three-year Marine Ecology Research Program, students gain experience in the field with technical skills they need to conduct an independent research project, which they ultimately present at a professional conference their senior year.

Students learn to snorkel, record data underwater, collect and study marine life in a controlled lab setting, and take advantage of partnerships with scientists at renowned local institutions Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Their studies take them into Monterey Bay, under the docks at Fisherman’s Wharf, and down the coast to Big Sur to monitor trout in a protected watershed, one of the many ways their work has real-world impact.

The oceanside location is not just for studying, however; outside of class, students enjoy kayaking and paddle-boarding on the bay, hanging out with friends on the beach, and taking part in service projects that protect this important ecosystem, such as beach clean-ups and dune restoration (Santa Catalina is proud to be designated an Ocean Guardian School). With a moderate year-round climate and a stunning, dynamic coastline, Santa Catalina stands as a shining example of the benefits of West Coast boarding.

St. George’s School -Middletown, Rhode Island

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School Site: https://www.stgeorges.edu/

Admission Contact: admission@stgeorges.edu

The setting of St. George’s School, a 125-acre campus on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean just east of Newport, Rhode Island, provides a nearby natural landscape that both informs and inspires the school’s academic and residential life programs. With 400 boarding and day students in grades 9-12, the school boasts a number of unique educational opportunities, rooted in a rich intellectual tradition.

The most significant way the school takes advantage of its proximity to the ocean is through its School at Sea Program, Geronimo. This signature program, which takes students on multiweek voyages aboard the school’s own 70-foot sailing cutter, provides a transformational experience that combines a strong academic component with seamanship, leadership, and teamwork skills.

The ocean also serves as a living laboratory for science students, with courses like biology and marine science that fully integrate the local environment. The school’s proximity to sites like the Norman Bird Sanctuary and the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge facilitates environmental and service-learning opportunities for students. And the school’s overall sustainability efforts, including environmental education integrated into the curriculum, capitalize on the immediate need for coastal stewardship. Outside of class, students at St. George’s have the exceptional opportunity to participate in a nationally ranked sailing program, learn to surf at the well-known Second Beach “Surfer’s End,” or take part in an afternoon program at the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport.

Portsmouth Abbey School - Portsmouth, Rhode Island

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School Site: http://www.portsmouthabbey.org

Admission Contact: admissions@portsmouthabbey.org

Portsmouth Abbey School features 525 acres and 1.24 miles of magnificent coastline along Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. Students in Green Chemistry, a post-AP, independent-study lab course, designed and executed an independent research project. The cohort designed and built a sugar kelp farm in the Bay to study the environmental benefits of kelp as a wastewater remediator, the health benefits of kelp by measuring antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, and possible heavy metals intake by kelp. 

In Marine and Environmental Science, students spend time on the water collecting invertebrates, studying the sea floor, and analyzing water samples. They lead campus-wide green initiatives, and come away with an understanding of the ocean food web, the evolution of marine life, and an increased awareness of the ocean as a significant natural resource.

The Portsmouth Abbey School campus is a significant historical site, as the estuary created by Bloody Brook was named for its role in the Battle of Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War which was fought on the campus. In addition to formal academic study, the Portsmouth Abbey School sailing team offers top-level competition, and students enjoy the peaceful coastline to fish, collect shells, relax on the beach and watch the sun set.

Tabor Academy - Marion, Massachusetts

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School Site: https://www.findingschool.com/tabor-academy

Admission Contact: admissions@taboracademy.org

Located on the shores of Sippican Harbor in Massachusetts, Tabor Academy—known as the School by the Sea™—is one of the few boarding schools in the United States situated directly on the ocean. The waterfront setting allows students to study and explore the Atlantic each day, turning the harbor into a living classroom.

Through the Marine and Nautical Science (MANS) Center, students collect data, conduct field research, and study marine ecosystems while collaborating with local partners to protect the coastal environment. These experiences help students understand how local marine conditions connect to global issues such as ocean conservation, climate change, and sustainability. Tabor’s historic Naval Honor Program further develops leadership, discipline, and seamanship skills through structured training on the water.

The harbor also supports nationally recognized sailing and rowing programs, including a 115-foot training schooner used for hands-on education and team development. At Tabor, the ocean shapes every student’s experience—encouraging curiosity, global awareness, and a lifelong respect for the sea.

Marshall School - Duluth, Minnesota

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School Site: http://www.marshallschool.org

Admission Contact: admissions@marshallschool.org

Marshall School is a K-12 Day and Boarding School that sits high atop a hill overlooking Gichigami, also known as Lake Superior. As the largest body of fresh water in the world, Lake Superior provides ample opportunities for science and exploration.

In Brewery Creek, a watershed that runs through campus and empties into Lake Superior, students practice real science experiments, learning about the importance of PH, the biology active present, and how water quality impacts life on land. During overnights, and field trips, students explore the geography of Lake Superior’s coast, including dramatic bedrock cliffs, rocky shores, mineral beaches black and pink sand, and numerous waterfalls carved by southeast-flowing rivers.

Through our Outdoor Leadership Scholars Program, and STEM Scholars Program, specialization tracks available in 11th and 12th grade, Marshall students learn not only about the beauty and science of nature, but also how to lead and educate younger students throughout the school.

Hawai’i Preparatory Academy- Kamuela, Hawaii

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School Site: http://www.hpa.edu/

Admission Contact: admissions@hpa.edu

Though Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA) sits upland in the cool, green pastures of Waimea, the ocean is central to who we are and what we do. Our proximity to the Kohala Coast allows students to engage deeply with marine ecosystems through hands-on learning and exploration.

From our Sea Turtle Research and SCUBA diving program to outrigger canoe paddling, underwater robotics, and oceanography studies, students gain firsthand experience understanding and caring for Hawai‘i’s marine environments. These programs foster a deep sense of responsibility and connection to place. At HPA, the ocean isn’t just nearby — it inspires our learning, culture, and commitment to stewardship.

Christchurch School - Christchurch, Virginia

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School Site: http://www.christchurchschool.org

Admission Contact: admission@christchurchschool.org

Christchurch School is a co-educational boarding school located on a two and a half mile wide stretch of the Rappahannock River in Eastern Virginia.  Christchurch takes full advantage of being a school on the river, offering an educational experience that leads to excellent outcomes.

While all aspects of the Christchurch curriculum connect back to the river, marine science is a natural signature program.  Christchurch offers all the mainstream athletics and extracurriculars, in addition to a nationally ranked sailing program that includes students who are just learning to sail and top sailors in the world.  On the weekends, students enjoy activities at the waterfront such as paddle boarding, kayaking, boating, cookouts, fishing and much more.  

Saint Stanislaus - Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

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School Site: http://www.ststan.com

Admission Contact: admissions@ststan.com

Saint Stanislaus High School, located directly on the Gulf of Mexico in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, offers international students a unique coastal boarding school experience. The beautiful beachfront campus features a 100-foot pier that gives students easy access to swimming, paddle-boarding, and fishing just steps from their dorms and classrooms.

The school’s Marine Science class uses the nearby shoreline as a living laboratory, offering hands-on learning in oceanography and coastal ecosystems. Students can join the SCUBA Club to earn diving certifications and explore the underwater world of the Gulf. The Sailing Team trains year-round, right on the water, while the Fishing Club takes full advantage of the area’s rich marine life. At Saint Stanislaus, the Gulf isn’t just a view — it’s an essential part of daily life and learning. 

Admiral Farragut Academy - St. Petersburg, Florida

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School Site: http://www.farragut.org

Admission Contact: admissions@farragut.org

Located on a 40-acre waterfront campus along Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida Admiral Farragut Academy, Admiral Farragut Academy transforms its immediate water access into a distinctive educational asset. The waterfront serves as an interactive, hands-on learning environment where students can move seamlessly from classroom instruction to real-world exploration-whether studying crustaceans in class and then walking to the bay to observe them in their natural habitat.

The school's yacht basin and boathouse provide access to a fleet of boats including a marine science vessel, sailboats, kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes, supporting signature programs in Marine Science, Sailing, and Scuba diving. Boca Ciega Bay's abundance of marine life, including dolphins and manatees, creates a living laboratory for students. This unique setting enables specialized programs that have resulted in over 315 scuba certifications earned by students, ranging from open water to divemaster levels.

Beyond academics, the waterfront offers recreational opportunities that enrich campus life, allowing students to sail, fish, cast net, and paddleboard as part of their daily experience—making the water not just a backdrop, but an integral part of the Farragut education.

Broadwater Academy - Exmore, Virginia

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School Site: http://www.broadwateracademy.org

Admission Contact: fryan@broadwateracademy.org

Broadwater Academy is located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. As one of the most pure ecosystems in the United States, it serves as a chief fishing and aquaculture location. We are a college preparatory school with an intentionally small, family-like boarding program.

Located in a safe, rural area bathed in blue sky and clean air, Broadwater has established strong academic and intern partnerships with William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science, University of Virginia's Oyster, Va research facility, as well as NASA Wallops and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Broadwater is a reigning champion in Marine Science academic competitions and focuses its robotic program on submersibles. The School is regularly a top competitor in national level Sea Perch Robotics competitions. 

Hyde School - Bath, Maine

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School Site: http://www.hyde.edu

Admission Contact: bfelt@hyde.edu

Hyde School, located in Bath, Maine, is situated on the Kennebec River and is just a 20-minute drive to both Popham Beach and Reid State Park.  Students take advantage of the beautiful Bath waterfront, offering a short walk from campus to shops and restaurants while enjoying the view of one of Maine's largest rivers.

Hyde offers frequent trips to the historic beaches, often to watch the sunrise or sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.  Additionally, our campus is conveniently located near many hiking trails that students enjoy.  Morse Mountain is a particularly popular outing - the 3.8-mile hike out-and-back ends at beautiful Sewall Beach.  Hyde is less than an hour's drive from both Boothbay Harbor and Camden, Maine, both waterfront towns where students can enjoy whale watching and boat rides, as well as shop, eat, and hike.

From oceanfront campuses to Great Lakes shorelines, these boarding schools demonstrate how location can transform education. Whether students are conducting marine research, learning seamanship, competing in sailing programs, or simply building a deeper connection to the natural world, schools on the water offer experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. This list represents just a sampling of the many exceptional waterfront boarding schools across the United States, each uniquely shaped by its surroundings and committed to hands-on learning, environmental stewardship, and personal growth.