Boarding has long been a feature of the North American schools system, with many of America’s oldest and best known schools currently or historically offering boarding. Indeed, in the early days of North American colonisation, boarding was often the only viable option for pupils seeking a formal education, particularly for settlers in remote communities or those who sought a faith-based education in line with their own beliefs.

Whilst many of these schools have since moved to day admissions only or a combination of day and boarding options, boarding in the United States is still a relatively popular option, particularly at high school level and especially for those who are seeking to take advantage of a rigorous college-preparatory program in order to secure admissions to the elite American colleges and universities.

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) was established in 1998 bringing together some 200-300 boarding schools from across North America and around the world. Its membership includes a number of specialist schools and junior boarding schools, many of which are internationally regarded. The organisation works closely with other lobby groups and trade bodies representing independent schools, such as the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and international counterparts including the Boarding Schools Association (BSA) and the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA).

Member schools are typically also members of national accrediting bodies such as NAIS or the Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and, in addition, many are also members of niche boarding school associations such as the Junior Boarding Schools Association (JBSA), Catholic Boarding Schools Association (CBSA) or the Small Boarding Schools Association (SBSA).

Membership of TABS may vary but has recently included the schools listed below. Please check with TABS or whichever school you are interested in for the latest membership details.