Residential education

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[edit] Generally

Broadly defined, residential education is an education provided in an environment where students both live and learn outside of their family homes. Varied forms of residential education have been in existence in the United States since before the nation's founding. Some typical forms of residential education include boarding schools, preparatory schools, orphanages, children and youth villages, residential academies and, most recently, residential charter schools.

Residential education programs are distinct from residential treatment programs, but have some similarities. While residential education programs typically focus on education within a residential setting, a residential treatment program would focus on providing both education and mental health or behavioral treatment.

Though the exact number of residential education programs is difficult to determine because of the broad terminology used to describe the different programs, estimates are that there are upwards of 150 spread throughout the nation, with concentrations in the East and in the South. Some of the largest schools include: the Milton Hershey School, Girard College, Happy Hill Farm Academy Home, and Mooseheart, to name a few.