6 Facts That Help You Choose Between Day Schools and Boarding Schools

Published on July 3, 2024 by Tula's International School

One very important decision that every parent has to make in ensuring that their child gets the best education is the choice of school, and whether it should be a day schools or a boarding school.
For those who are unaware of the difference between the concept of day schools and boarding schools, here is a quick overview.

What is a Boarding Schools & Day Schools?

A boarding school is a residential school where students live on campus in dormitories or resident houses (hostels). They only go home during vacations. They live under the care of hostel wardens.
Whereas, a day schools is where the students attend classes in school and return to their home for everything else. They stay with their family and go to school only for studies.

Boarding schools and day schools both have their own benefits. These include many factors such as curriculum, administration, fitness, care, safety, supervision, guidance, facilities, etc. Given below is a comparison that helps you in making a well-informed decision.

Here is a list of some factors which can help parents decide whether they should go to day schools or boarding schools:

⇒1. Cost
⇒2. Self-reliance & Confidence
⇒3. Constant Guidance
⇒4. Physical Fitness
⇒5. All round development
⇒6. Safety, care & supervision

1. Cost:

Every parent knows that boarding school is more expensive compared to day schools, but not many know the reason for the difference between the fees of Day Schools and  Boarding Schools.

In a day schools, students go to school only for fixed hours. They attend their classes and go home. But in a boarding school, students spend their entire time on campus, except for their vacations. The cost difference exists due to the provision of facilities like accommodation, meals, health, security measures, school stationery, etc., in a boarding school. While the difference is significant in number, it is a reasonable price for the welfare of the child.

2. Self-reliance & Confidence:

Children who study in a boarding school live in an environment where they perform all the tasks themselves. They learn to fend for themselves because they have to do their own work without waiting for anyone’s help. They solve their daily problems and look after their personal needs, for example, buying their essential items when they run out of them or making sure that their school uniforms are washed and ironed. This leads them to become independent, disciplined, and self-reliant. On the other hand, children living at home are helped by their parents and other people, which reduces their workload. They are dependent on other people for a lot of things.

Confidence is an important quality to have if you want to achieve success in life. Children become confident when they discover or invent new things, make new friends, learn new information and get opportunities to explore more. Participating in various activities and appreciation will boost their self-confidence. They become responsible and learn to take care of things on their own. Even when they make mistakes, it serves as a learning experience, and they take up new challenges with more confidence.

3. Constant Guidance:

Not every child has the same grasping power. While some students catch up with things easily, other students take more time to understand. Teachers in a day schools are available only for a certain period of time, and students might not get enough time to clarify their doubts because teachers are available for a certain period of time. Many boarding schools allow students to reach their teachers around the clock as they are always available on campus. Students can get extra help before and after school, at night, and during the evening study hall, when they can get a better understanding of any subject.

Also, bigger is not always better. Due to the bigger size of classes at a day schools, there are chances that the teacher might not be able to help every student. But in a boarding school, there is a less number of students in each class; therefore, students get full attention. Thus, many boarding schools usually have better academic performance as students get more attention from teachers. It is also easier for teachers to give personal attention to each and every student.

4. Physical Fitness:

Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, but it is also the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. In a healthy body resides a healthy mind. Realising the significance of being healthy, both day schools and boarding schools offer sports as a part of their curriculum. But many boarding schools have the added advantage of placing emphasis on physical fitness. Students spend more time playing various games, which leads them to excel in physical fitness. This keeps them physically and mentally sound. Also, participation in sports activities in school helps the students in future college admissions, in adding to their career opportunities as well as in their entire life.

5. All-round development:

Gone are the days when academic excellence was the only priority, and other things like sports and co-curricular activities were ignored. In today’s time, with increasing competition, children are required to be good in different areas of learning, expression, sports, drama, singing, dancing, etc. While day schools also have provision for extracurriculars, due to a lack of time, students are unable to make the most out of them. But in boarding school, students have their own liberty to spend their time on various co-curricular activities throughout the day. This gives them a better platform to explore themselves and their talents.

By joining a boarding school, children learn to adjust to new surroundings and come into contact with and interact with students of different backgrounds, places, and behaviours. Students thus learn about new cultures and peaceful coexistence.

Children living in a group have comparatively more creative mindsets and abilities.

They learn to thrive amongst people with varied intellects and interests. They learn many qualities like teamwork, leadership, compassion, self-management, patience, etc. All of these lead to an all-round development of the students.

Studies have also proven that the ethics of respecting and appreciating the opposite gender and working with them in harmony are generally developed in boarding schools and hostels.

6. Safety, Care & Supervision:

The safety of the child is one of the biggest concerns of parents. Both day schools and boarding schools prioritise the safety of the students, but we at Tula’s International School pay extra attention as we have the entire responsibility of the students.
For this, most boarding schools take safety and supervision measures that use advanced technology. They employ security personnel in greater numbers than in normal schools. Usage of 24*7 surveillance cameras in buildings and the system of attendance in hostels makes the students and parents feel safe.

With so many advantages and opportunities being available, boarding school is perhaps the better choice for parents as well as their children, which is also why many parents are exploring options in boarding schools.

Children in a boarding school are bound to join an educational community and grow in it. This shapes their personality in a good way. Studying, living, and interacting on campus also helps them to avoid any negative influence from outside. Compared to day schools, boarding schools offer a more inclusive approach to education.

Boarding schools like Tula’s International, also known as the follow the ancient art of schooling, where the overall development of the child’s personality is kept in focus.

What’s the Right Choice for Your Child?

Compromise in your child’s schooling? Not a chance. 

When it comes to your child’s future, what is the best way to go ahead?

How can a parent sleep at night, knowing they have done the best they can?

Well, choosing between day schools vs boarding schools is essential. But you don’t need to do this alone. There are lots of resources you can go through before you make an informed decision. Both of these options come with their own advantages, and the right choice depends on a plethora of factors. Academics, social development, and lifestyle are some of the criteria you need to analyse. 

Day Schools vs Boarding Schools: Our Choice - 

We thought of retaining our son in a day schools in Delhi initially. It was convenient, but we came to understand that day schools are incapable of instilling independence, time management, and strength of character like boarding schools can. 

Meanwhile, most boarding schools in India were too rigid and archaic. That's where Tula's International School stepped in. It was not like the others; it was not a school, but a home with care. The residential boarding school setup was disciplined but never constrictive. 

Today, I am in a position to say with certainty that the day schools vs boarding schools issue ended for us was the day we selected Tula's International School.

Day School vs Boarding School: The Indian Parents' Dilemma - 

Most parents are still confused: day schools or boarding schools, which one is better? While day schools provide kids with comfort, they also introduce distractions—long bus rides, wastage of time on phones, and no discipline. 

Contrarily, schools like Tula's allow kids to stick to a daily routine, learn self-reliance, and bond better with friends and teachers. Unlike stiff residential schools in India, Tula's makes its hostel life nurturing, not suffocating.

Here are four key facts that can help you decide:

1. Academic Excellence and Support System

Both day schools and boarding schools offer quality education, but how one is exposed to that education differs. This is where the learning environment comes in.

Boarding schools provide a structured academic atmosphere. They provide extended study hours and mentorship, which help the students stay focused. A structured setting, along with round-the-clock guidance, makes it easier for students to thrive. 

2. Development of Life Skills

Want your child to develop skills that enhance their lives?

Personal growth of the child is a factor you need to consider while comparing day schools vs boarding schools.  Boarding schools encourage independence, self-discipline, and time management. They learn to tackle everyday life situations with responsibility. During this, they learn adaptability and resilience. They also learn to resolve conflicts and solve problems on their own with necessary support. This independence goes a long way in building a strong, grounded life.

3. Social Interactions and Exposure

Want your child to be a global citizen of the world?

Boarding schools help people find a community. Students interact with peers who come from different backgrounds. This helps them understand different cultures, which opens their minds to global perspectives. Living on campus creates strong friendships and teaches students valuable social skills. If building a strong community and sustainable relationships is a priority, boarding schools are your answer. 

4. Extracurricular and Sports Facilities

Want your child to be equally involved in academics and co-curricular activities? 

Well, in the battle between day schools vs boarding schools, the residential boarding schools win this one. While both kinds of schools focus on extracurricular activities, boarding schools have an edge due to their residential nature. If your child loves sports, art, or anything that goes beyond textbooks, boarding schools are definitely the right fit for them. 

Deciding between day schools vs boarding schools depends on various factors. Some of these factors are academics, personal development, social interactions and extracurricular involvement. But it's not just about the factors. It's also about how much priority these factors hold in your life. It's always easy to choose an option that feels safer. But it's the bold choices in life that make a difference. 

You may want your child to come back home every evening, but don't you also want them to grow up as individual adults? As parents, it's important to think long-term. 

Boarding schools offer a structured, immersive learning experience that builds independence. Understanding your child’s needs and future aspirations will help in making the best choice.

If you choose a boarding school over a day schools it’s important to look for an institution that goes beyond academics and provides a safe and sound environment for students. Schools like Tula’s International School offer state-of-the-art facilities, personalised attention, expert faculty and a focus on both academic and extracurricular excellence. They feel like a home away from home. A well-rounded education ensures that students don’t just excel in exams but also develop the skills needed to thrive in the real world.

Whether you choose a day schools or a boarding school, the most important thing is that it matches your child’s personality, strengths, and long-term goals. Some children thrive in the structured, immersive environment of a boarding school, while others do better with the flexibility and familiarity of a day schools. It’s not just about academics—it’s about finding a place where they feel supported, challenged, and inspired every day. The right school can shape their confidence, skills, and future opportunities in ways that go far beyond the classroom.

Day Schools vs Boarding Schools: Why Tula's is a Winner - 

● If we compare day schools and boarding schools head-on, we can see: 

● Day schools give academic focus but not life skills. 

● Boarding schools give independence, but sometimes not emotional focus. 

Tula's International School is a residential boarding school that is residential and offers both the academic focus of a day schools, the independence of a boarding school, and the emotional love of a family.

Day Schools vs Boarding Schools: Why Parents Are Opting for Boarding - 

Each parent is confronted with this dilemma: day schools or boarding school. Day schools are cosy, but they do not often offer the all-around growth that a residential boarding school can. In Tula's, kids sleep in hostels, learn to schedule their day, juggle studies with games, and live in a structured yet caring environment. While most boarding schools in India, where rules are overbearing, Tula's balances form with tender loving care. This distinguishes it from other residential schools in India.

Good Day Boarding School in Dehradun, (Boys/Girls): Which School is the best?

 Dehradun, the home of IT professionals, is sometimes referred to as the education capital of India, as the name suggests. It is the location of some of the best schools in the country, which attract not only Indian students, but also international students. However, when most people mention the name Dehradun, the first thing that comes to mind is the traditional boarding schools, but there is one other side, which is every bit as important to parents and students today, which is day boarding schools. Many families do not wish their children to remain out of the house entirely, but they desire them to have the discipline, organisation, and the chances of a boarding school. The day boarding schools present the best option there. Our question is: What is the best day boarding school of boys and girls in Dehradun? 

The place of day boarding schools

 In easy terms, a day boarding school is a sort of intermediate between a day schools and a full residential boarding school. Most students spend the majority of their day schools-going; to classes, studying, taking meals, playing sports and participating in activities. Towards the evening, they arrive home. 

The use of such a system comes in handy more with senior classes where students require more-lasting academic assistance and routines. Day boarding is the halfway approach to parents who wish their children to receive quality education whilst not being fully out of their custody. 

How do you determine the best school today board at? 

In my opinion, as a student, the most preferable day boarding school would be a school that does not merely collect students in campuses and spend their time there the whole day, but spends those hours in a meaningful way. It is supposed to deliver good academics, a safe environment, extracurricular activities, and equal opportunities to both boys and girls be at their best. Tula's International School is a name that is frequently recommended among numerous alternatives in Dehradun, as the number of schools that can be trusted with the day boarding. And as you look at its approach, you see why. 

Academics with structure 

Academics can become overwhelming to students, especially those in classes 9 to 12. There are competitive tests such as JEE, NEET, and CUET, which provide additional stress. In normal-day schools, this would tend to include lengthy contact-less coaching periods and additional tuitions outside-of-school. But in a day boarding school such as Tula's International School, the routine is calculated to lessen such a burden. 

The students regularly attend classes, yet receive monitored sessions of self-studying, clarity with the teachers, and additional test preparation at the school. This saves on travel time and has everything under a single roof. Rather than commuting to coaching centres, the students receive board exam training in addition to competitive exam training within their day boarding activities. 

Boys and girls alike received the same attention 

The fact that it is co-ed is one of the reasons why Tula's International School is regarded as the best day boarding school for both boys and girls in Dehradun. There is co-education, boys and girls attend the same schools, schools have the same activities and have equal opportunities. 

It may seem quite self-evident, but it contributes highly to the preparation of students for the real world. The learning of co-ed educates about respect, team-work and confidence in approaching all people. It busts stereotypes and develops personalities that will be prepared to go to college and beyond. 

Safety and environment

 It concerns parents that they have to worry about the safety of their children in school when they spend a long time there. It is at this point that the importance of a safe campus comes in. Tula's International School ensures tight monitoring, up-to-date security and specialised staff to ensure that the safety of the students is guaranteed inside the lesson rooms and in the outdoor areas. 

It is a disciplined and not stifling environment. Students are also not just directed by teachers and mentors in their academics, but in their personal development. This balance gives room to the encouragement of the children without putting pressure on them. 

Sports and co-curriculars 

The way in which schools handle extracurricular activities is one of the things that differentiates the best schools among them all. At the high school level, academics are mainly emphasized and in most cases, it stresses students, making them burn out.

Sports and co-curricular activities are as important in Tula's International School. Day boarders are engaged in competitive football games, cricket, basketball, swimming, athletics and numerous other forms of games. Meanwhile, the school life is habitually punctuated by cultural events, debates, dramatics and art competitions.

These activities not only provide students with a study break, but also supply students with aspects of confidence, teamwork, and leadership qualities. Such well-rounded profiles are also sought after during the admissions of students in universities and colleges; thus, this kind of balance does matter. 

The routine of a day boarder 

The rhythm of life as a boarder is different. A classic Tula's International School day starts with the morning classes, and then there are the academic performances, Lunch, afternoons off, taught periods, and scheduled self-studies. Academics, then the students also take part in sports or culture, after which the day ends with another study session, and then they go home.

Such routine conditions help students with time management. They are taught how to manage the combination of study and activities, and how to remain disciplined throughout the day and also how to manage their time. They are not distracted like at home, where distractors are innumerable. 

School comparison 

There are twelve well-known schools in Dehradun, all of which are not of equal quality as regards the day boarding programs. Others pay so much attention to academics, and some of them forget about sports. Others have good hostel facilities but fail to give the same to day boarders. 

This is not the case of Tula's International School since it does not discriminate between day boarders and residential students. The infrastructure, opportunities, and mentoring did not differ, and that day, boarders did not feel left out.

 This inclusiveness has distinguished it among the other institutions. 

Conclusion 

Not the school with the most recognised name or the most grandiose campus is the best day boarding school in Dehradun. It is the one which students are motivated to study in, inspired to be involved, and backed as a person. 

Tula's international school is one of the places that offers both boys and girls the right measures of academics, activities, discipline and care. It is, that is why, being deemed the best day boarding school in Dehradun for boys and girls in town, the school which makes you ready for a life of exams, the life of road-show, and then the next generation.