Welcome to Residential Life at Garrison Forest School! Our boarding program goes beyond providing care and support for the students who reside on campus; here, we fully integrate the boarding experience into our educational philosophy with a strong program that prioritizes character development, global competency and wellness.
As a part of our boarding community, you’ll find a distinctive combination of living on campus and the many opportunities that a day school offers. Our program is designed to give young women the confidence to become:
At every step, you’ll succeed with the Residential Life Faculty there to continuously guide you. The boarding program at GFS gives all girls the support they need to continue to thrive and grow. We hope you will choose to learn more!
Meet and chat with current GFS parents, including the parent of a boarding student, to learn about their experience and ask any questions you have. Click above to be connected. Note that these conversations are private between our parent volunteers and you, so feel free to ask anything you want to know!
Boarding Philosophy
The boarding experience at Garrison Forest is fully integrated into our overall educational approach, one that keeps girls and their specific developmental needs at the forefront of everything we do. Boarding can be an important component to each girl's unique path to success, offering an immersive program that prioritizes character development, global competency and wellness.
Character Development
One of the key benefits of being a part of the boarding community at GFS is our focus on development of the whole self for each individual girl. As a boarder here, you will develop self-discipline, maturity and independence as you learn, with the support of our Residential Life faculty and staff, how to navigate different situations that non-boarders might not encounter until college.
Our weekly programming doesn’t end at shopping trips and fun outings (although we have those too!); as a boarder, you participate in a residential curriculum that continues your personal growth. In addition to the many opportunities to stand out as a leader as a GFS student, boarding students can take on unique leadership roles as a Prefect. Living and leading in our residence halls is an unparalleled way to not only develop your sense of self, but gain many of the soft skills you’ll need in life.
Global Competency
GFS is a globally focused school, and the national and international boarding community is a vital part of that. You’re invited not only to share parts of your culture and unique experiences, but to learn from your roommates and classmates. We’re proud to have a diverse student population, and our students are encouraged to engage with others who have different backgrounds and perspectives.
One component of cultural enrichment is celebrating opportunities for our students to share their traditions and experiences with one another. Whether it’s a dinner program or holiday festivities for the entire community, an off-campus excursion to a festival or museum, or our recently launched Gastrodiplomacy program, our boarding students get a worldview from their home base at GFS.
Wellness And Support
The entire GFS community is dedicated to making sure our boarding students are successful in their journeys here, and that often means emphasizing the importance of balance and wellness. From faculty members who appreciate the perspectives and unique life experiences that boarders bring to the classroom to administrators who are ever-present in our residence halls, we are here to ensure each girl has a positive, productive experience while living on our campus. Most important to this mission are our on-campus faculty residents, who not only live on campus but share their lives with our boarding students. You’ll see them—and their families—at community meal times and around campus on the weekends. They serve as a built-in support system for our boarding community.
This support and care for our boarding students extends to our regular programming and activities. We offer trips off campus to several nearby shopping areas, restaurants and other points of interest several times each week. Our location is unique—while our campus is wooded and serene, we are just minutes from many different stores and just about any type of cuisine you’d want, and are located near several major highways, making travel easy. In addition to those excursions, we recognize that many of our boarding students are joining us far from their homes, and we offer holiday boarding programs and activities during our Thanksgiving break.
What is life really like as a boarding student at Garrison Forest School? Check out our Boarding Basics guide!
About Boarding at GFS
Though innovative, our excellent Boarding program is far from new. For over 100 years, we have offered girls the opportunity to live and learn here and prepared them for an exciting future.
Being a part of our safe, supportive boarding program is one of the best ways to prepare for the transition to college or take your next step with confidence and a developed sense of independence and responsibility. You’ll be supported by on-campus residential faculty and a wide network of peers who become lifelong friends.
By the Numbers
Flexible/Short-Term Boarding
Upper School day students have a variety of options for significant short-term and long-term boarding opportunities. Students choose to live on campus while participating in the Women In Science and Engineering (WISE) program, athletics, student leadership activities and artistic endeavors. Some families also choose a short-term stay for their daughter due to obligations that take them out of town for extended periods. This is a great opportunity to try on living in the dorms--either as part of your GFS experience or prepare for college.
Beyond the cost of day student tuition, day student boarding may encompass a full year, one trimester, or a shorter time at a pro-rated cost.
Questions about flexible or short-term boarding? Contact Randy Beckford at [email protected].
8th Grade Boarding
Students may choose to board starting in 8th Grade. Because we know students have specific developmental needs at this stage, 8th Grade boarding students are housed together in the same dorm to provide the very best experience for them. While they are fully a part of the boarding community, they will find extra support and resources to ease the transition into a boarding environment.
Choosing to board starting in 8th Grade offers students unparalleled opportunities to take on leadership positions, develop emotionally and become more independent even as they form strong friendships and connections. It also allows them to focus on their academic development.
Questions about 8th Grade boarding? Contact Lauren Anderson, [email protected].
Each Student Room has:
Each Residence Hall has:
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