Boarding Schools Beware!
A recent item in the Financial Times points to factors that portend disruption in the heretofore relentless stream of students from China seeking English-language education in the United States. While the article focuses on higher education, the same dynamics--high costs and too little return, declining employment prospects in China for those with overseas degrees, and a higher proportion of mediocre students seeking to study abroad--apply to private, independent boarding schools as well.
We have long cautioned boarding school leaders against addiction to the "China solution" for their enrollment challenges. While the FT article may not translate into an immediate drop in supply, it does suggest that many U.S. schools need a new strategy beyond China.