What is Residential Education?
Residential education is an umbrella term for community-like settings where at-risk children live and learn together, outside their homes, within stable, supportive environments. Whether called a prep school, children’s home, boarding or residential charter school, residential education is a viable and important option for thousands of children, particularly teenagers. Residential education serves children severely challenged by homelessness, abuse, neglect, and low-income, high-crime neighborhoods.
Houseparents and Children at Milton Hershey School in Pennsylvania
The majority of children live in single-family homes with a married couple on a campus. Other children, mostly in urban areas, live in boarding school-style dormitories with adult mentors. The average length of stay is significantly longer than most other residential programs, underscoring a sense of connection and belonging.
Family interaction and connection are maintained whenever possible and appropriate. Whenever possible, children are in programs in close proximity to their families. Enrollment is usually voluntary, often a choice made by families and the children themselves.
Though the programmatic models differ, each program shares a core mission: to provide a way for young people to excel through high-quality education. Enrichment programs - including after-school tutoring, recreation, information technology, the arts, and clinical therapy when necessary - are offered on campus or made easily accessible off campus.
What distinguishes residential education? (pdf)
Residential Education Living Models
There are four primary residential models for residential education programs:
- Family-Style Homes: Six to 10 youth live in a family-style home with a live-in married adult couple and their own children, or a team of live-in adults. Adults live in their own private space in the home.
- Dormitories: Similar to university living, youth live in dormitories with adult staff living on the same floor in their own private space.
- Both Family-Style Homes and Dormitories: Youth live in a mix of settings, according to their age and needs, including family-style housing and dormitories, with a live-in married adult couple and their own children, or a team of live-in adults. Adults live in their own private space.
- Dormitories with Shift Staff: Rare in residential education, adult staff work in dormitories in shifts. Staff work consistently in the same dorm wing.