Top Town Boarding Schools in the US: Where Community Meets Campus
As part of our ongoing series of highlighting boarding schools in the United States, below you will find a list of Town Schools - some of the most distinctive boarding schools in the US. The following schools are all connected to their local communities - both geographically and socially. From a cup of coffee at the corner store to strolling through Main Street, students fully experience all that the schools and towns have to offer. Please note that this is only a partial list of town schools and they are not listed in a set order.
Darlington School - Rome, Georgia
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: https://www.darlingtonschool.org/
Admission Contact: admission@darlingtonschool.org
Rome, Georgia, offers Darlington students the charm of a welcoming small-town community combined with the convenience of modern amenities. The city has a close-knit, suburban atmosphere complemented by a vibrant downtown featuring unique shops, diverse restaurants, and a thriving arts and culture scene, including live music, theater productions, and festivals throughout the year.
As a regional medical hub, Rome is home to two major hospital systems, both of which partner with Darlington to ensure students receive exceptional medical care. The city also provides abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, with three rivers, seven hills, and an expanding network of trails ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, and biking.
Rome's four colleges further enrich the community, offering Darlington students additional avenues for academic exploration and enrichment. Conveniently located about an hour from both Atlanta, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, Darlington students have access to the cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities of larger metropolitan areas, making it a dynamic yet comfortable place to live and learn.
Brewster Academy - Wolfboro, New Hampshire
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: http://www.brewsteracademy.org
Admission Contact: admissions@brewsteracademy.org
Brewster sits in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, "America's oldest summer resort town," where downtown, the public docks, ice cream stands, groceries, restaurants, cafés, galleries, and boutique shops are all a short walk from campus on Lake Winnipesaukee. Unlike many New England boarding schools in more isolated settings, Brewster students enjoy the rare privilege of a walkable town where they can develop independence and agency while still feeling embraced by a close-knit community.
Students don't just study here; they live in the town-meeting mentors and merchants, grabbing supplies at local markets, and learning in the community's real classrooms, from the Cotton Valley Rail Trail and Sewall Woods to the community-owned Abenaki Ski Area. This everyday access builds confidence while keeping students connected to nature, health services, and year-round outdoor life. It is also the perfect setting for Brewster's place-based approach to education, using the town and region as laboratories for inquiry, service, and design thinking.
Here, learning flows naturally between the classroom and the community, helping diverse thinkers find purpose and make a positive impact both locally and globally. Because Wolfeboro is welcoming and walkable, families can trust that students have safe and meaningful ways to explore and grow every day.
The Linlsy School - Wheeling, West Virginia
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: http://www.linsly.org
Admission Contact: admit@linsly.org
The Linsly School is a college-preparatory, independent day and boarding school located on a safe, scenic campus tucked just behind Wheeling's historic National Road. Our students enjoy the best of both worlds: the intimacy of a small, close-knit community and the vibrancy of the City of Wheeling, which has recently undergone an exciting downtown and waterfront revitalization. The city's historic Victorian architecture, cultural attractions like the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra-where many of our students volunteer-and access to the nearby Oglebay Resort provide a rich and inspiring environment for learning and growth. Just miles from campus, Oglebay offers year-round recreational opportunities, from skiing and golf to hiking and festivals.
Nestled in a supportive community, Linsly offers students a safe, welcoming environment with endless opportunities to engage beyond the classroom. Conveniently located just an hour from Pittsburgh and a little over two hours from Columbus, both easily accessible from I-70, Wheeling and The Linsly School combine the charm of a small town with the advantages of easy access to major metropolitan areas.
Linden Hall School for Girls - Lititz, Pennsylvania
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: http://www.lindenhall.org/
Admission Contact: admissions@lindenhall.org
Linden Hall School for Girls, the oldest girls' boarding and day school in the United States, is nestled in the heart of scenic Lititz, Pennsylvania - known affectionately as "America's Favorite Small Town." Linden Hall's historic campus blends seamlessly with Lititz's welcoming atmosphere, where dozens of small businesses and vibrant community traditions enrich student life beyond the classroom.
Just steps from campus, the girls of Linden Hall enjoy a safe and easy walk to those many cafés, bookstores, and cultural events that give Lititz its unique character. The town's warmth and welcoming spirit reflect Linden Hall's own supportive community, making it an ideal setting for young women to learn, grow, and lead. With its balance of small-town safety and cultural depth, Lititz provides a perfect setting for the Linden Hall experience.
Wayland Academy - Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: http://www.wayland.org
Admission Contact: admission@wayland.org
Wayland Academy is a co-educational day and boarding high school in the heartland of Wisconsin, USA. The school is located in Beaver Dam, a welcoming Midwest town known for its picturesque 6,000-acre lake, vibrant downtown, and friendly community spirit. Unlike many boarding schools tucked away in remote areas, Wayland's students enjoy the rare advantage of having nature, industry, and amenities all within walking distance. Restaurants, shops, coffeehouses, and even a local movie theater become extensions of campus life.
Beaver Dam is also home to a strong manufacturing base and community festivals, giving students a window into both small-town charm and real-world opportunities. Positioned between Madison and Milwaukee and just two hours from Chicago, the city offers easy access to cultural hubs while remaining a safe and close-knit place to learn and grow. With 200 students in grade 9-12 from more than 40 countries, Wayland Academy is not only a place of academic rigor and global perspective but also a gateway to the warmth, resilience, and character of the Midwest.
Lawrence Academy - Groton, Massachusetts
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: http://www.lacademy.edu
Admission Contact: admiss@lacademy.edu
Groton, Massachusetts, remains an ideal location for independent learning. Located just 45 minutes from Boston, the bucolic town is the home to Lawrence Academy and Groton School, making it an environment rife with historical tradition. LA is located adjacent to First Parish Church, built in 1755; the edifice presides over the Groton town common, where in 1775 residents assembled to join in the fight against the British regulars in nearby Lexington and Concord. Some of these minutemen are undoubtedly buried in Groton's Old Burying Ground, the final resting place for many of the town's first settlers and soldiers from the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War. In modern times, Groton boasts a population of just under 11 thousand. Governed by town meetings, Groton covers an area of just over 32 square miles.
Lawrence Academy students are lucky in that the town is an extension of campus, with many local establishments that cater to and care for the students and their families. Meanwhile, LA, chartered in 1793 (John Hancock signed our founding document), enjoys an ideal location adjacent to recreational facilities, the Groton Library, local wilderness trails, and casual and fine dining. More than just an address, Groton is our community and we are proud to call the town our home.
Concord Academy - Concord, Massachusetts
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: http://www.concordacademy.org
Admission Contact: admissions@concordacademy.org
Concord Academy is a boarding and day school for grades 9 through 12, located in historic Concord, Massachusetts, less than 20 miles from Boston. With a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio, the school serves 417 students, including 13% from 16 different countries and 46% students of color. Situated on 39 acres, CA offers students easy access to Boston via commuter rail, as well as the charm of Concord's shops, restaurants, and historical sites. The school emphasizes equity and individual growth, fostering a sense of belonging among students.
Faculty collaborate with local institutions like the Concord Museum, allowing students to engage with historical artifacts and study transcendentalist literature in its birthplace. Concord Academy provides a unique blend of small-town life and proximity to Boston's vibrant cultural scene.
The Webb School - Bell Buckle, Tennessee
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: http://www.thewebbschool.com
Admission Contact: admissions@webbschool.com
The Webb School is situated in the quaint, welcoming town of Bell Buckle, Tennessee-just over 400 residents but only an hour from bustling Nashville-where school and community have grown up together for generations. In Webb's early years, the late 1800s, students boarded in local homes, establishing a tradition of care that continues today as townspeople know our students, look out for them, and contact the school if guidance is needed.
That mutual respect shows up in everyday life-and in big moments, like our Homecoming Parade rolling straight through downtown, celebrating school spirit with the whole community. Each fall, the Webb School Arts & Craft Fair-jointly organized by the town and the school-draws over 100,000 visitors, with vendor booths lining downtown Bell Buckle and extending onto campus. Families value the exceptionally safe setting, where independence is balanced by a close-knit network of caring adults. Webb offers a rare blend: rigorous academics in a peaceful, secure environment rich with tradition, hospitality, and vibrant community life that helps students thrive far from home.
Gould Academy - Bethel, Maine
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: https://www.gouldacademy.org
Admission Contact: admissions@gouldacademy.org
Tucked into the heart of Bethel, Maine - a charming New England town with breathtaking mountain views - Gould Academy offers a boarding school experience where students are truly part of the warm local community.
Just steps from the town common, "Main Street," students & faculty enjoy fresh pastries and coffee from inviting cafes and restaurants, boutique shops, and the kind of real-world connection and independence that builds confidence and character. Gould's location is more than scenic wonder, it offers unrivaled access to Sunday River Resort, Mount Abram, and the White Mountain National Forest. Whether it's skiing with Olympic Alumni like Troy Murphy '10, mountain biking after class, or grabbing lunch with friends in town, Gould students don't just live here, they belong here - a place to call home.. Our partnership with the town of Bethel gives students a safe, walkable environment full of outdoor adventure, community involvement, and authentic New England charm. It's a place that feels like home and opens a world of possibilities.
Western Reserve Academy - Hudson, Ohio
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: http://www.wra.net
Admission Contact: admission@wra.net
Ranked the #1 college prep boarding school in Ohio, and nestled on a historic 190-acre campus, Western Reserve Academy offers an experience like no other. Our students are three times as likely to gain admission to a top 25 college or university and ten times as likely to hold the door open for someone, invite a classmate to sit with them, or try something new - like playing lacrosse and joining the dance program.
Hudson, an extension of campus, offers walkable access to coffee shops, bookstores and green spaces. Students stroll to the Hudson Farmers Market on Saturdays, grab bubble tea after class, and soak up the town's festivals and live music on the green. They volunteer with local organizations and become part of a welcoming, close-knit community that feels like home.
And when our students are ready for bigger adventures, Cleveland and Akron - just 30 minutes away - deliver the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, world-class arts, professional sports teams and access to one of the nation's top medical hubs at Cleveland Clinic, which partners with WRA on advanced courses such as Cancer Immunology. It's the perfect blend of small-town charm and big-city opportunity, all shaping a transformative high school journey.
The Hun School of Princeton - Princeton, New Jersey
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: http://www.hunschool.org/
Admission Contact: admiss@hunschool.org
Students at The Hun School of Princeton know it's not just about what you learn, it's how you learn it. Our teachers know that students thrive when lessons are connected to real-world experiences, and there are plenty of opportunities to bring learning to life right in our backyard in Princeton, New Jersey.
Just forty-five minutes from both Philadelphia and New York City, our iconic, self-contained campus is nestled in a quiet neighborhood, yet steps away from one of the country's most vibrant intellectual hubs. From exploring the architecture of Princeton University buildings to catching a play at McCarter Theatre, learning opportunities are right around the corner. Whether in town or in the city, Hun students have access to a world of discovery, every day.
St. Johnsbury Academy - St. Johnsbury, Vermont
FindingSchool Profile: Go to link
School Site: http://www.stjacademy.org
Admission Contact: admissions@stjacademy.org
St. Johnsbury Academy's location on Main Street in the town of St. Johnsbury, Vermont puts students within easy walking distance to a variety of restaurants, theaters, several art galleries, and the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium. St. Johnsbury and Vermont are consistently ranked at the top of national lists for safety and outdoor adventure. Within minutes from campus, the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont offers hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and alpine and Nordic skiing. Just over an hour away, students have access to more shopping, activities, and regional airports.
Our connection to the local community means our boarding students are not just part of a campus family, but feel a tie to the town of St. Johnsbury. Our students are well-known at local businesses, many within walking distance to campus, and countless friendships have formed and endured between day and boarding students.
These Town Schools showcase some of the most distinctive boarding schools in the US, where students benefit from academic excellence alongside the richness of small-town community life. This unique blend of learning and living makes them an inspiring choice for families seeking the best educational experiences.