U.S. Boarding Schools with International Travel Programs

As part of our ongoing series highlighting boarding schools across the United States, we are pleased to feature U.S. Boarding Schools with International Travel Programs that offer exceptional global learning opportunities as part of their educational experience. From language immersion and cultural exchanges to service-learning initiatives and academic research abroad, these programs allow students to expand their understanding of the world while developing independence, adaptability, and global awareness.

Please note that this is only a partial list of schools with international travel programs and they are not listed in any particular order. All information was provided directly by the schools and images are shared with permission.

St. Johnsbury Academy – Vermont

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School Site: https://stjacademy.org/

Admission Contact: admissions@stjacademy.org

St. Johnsbury Academy has a long tradition of offering meaningful international travel opportunities through the Academy’s Colwell Center for Global Understanding. Since 2003, the Center has sponsored faculty-led programs designed to foster cultural awareness, global citizenship, and experiential learning. Students in good academic and community standing are encouraged to apply for programs that align with their interests and passions.

Recent destinations have included Peru, Ghana, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Prague, and Japan, with programs focused on language study, service learning, music, art, history, and cultural immersion. Upcoming programs will take students to Costa Rica, India, Greece, Cyprus, Mongolia, London, and Paris. Several of the Academy’s most established programs, including service initiatives in Ghana and India, originated as student-led projects and continue to be important parts of the school’s global education offerings.

A longstanding partnership with Kaijo Gakuen High School in Tokyo provides students with valuable opportunities for cultural exchange. Participants share their experiences through presentations, blogs, and community events upon returning to campus. While international travel is not required, students frequently describe these experiences as transformative opportunities that broaden their worldview and inspire future academic and personal pursuits.

The Northwest School – Washington

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School Site: https://www.northwestschool.org/

Admission Contact: Global@northwestschool.org

The Northwest School’s Global Programs are rooted in the belief that meaningful international experiences are an essential part of a student’s education. Through partnerships with schools in Spain, France, Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia, Costa Rica, China, and Ethiopia, students connect classroom learning with firsthand cultural experiences around the world.

A hallmark of the program is the international exchange experience, through which 10th-grade students spend six to eight weeks abroad living with host families and attending partner schools. Students complete independent research projects tied to their Humanities curriculum, allowing them to explore cultural, historical, environmental, and social issues through direct engagement with local communities.

In addition to exchanges, students may participate in faculty-led travel programs focused on language immersion, sustainability, history, and global citizenship. Recent destinations have included Spain, Costa Rica, France, Taiwan, Japan, and Cambodia. Extensive pre-departure preparation helps students understand the history, culture, and contemporary issues of their destination countries. More than 80 percent of Northwest School graduates participate in at least one global travel experience before graduation.

Dublin School – New Hampshire

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School Site: https://www.dublinschool.org/

Admission Contact: admissions@dublinschool.org

International travel is an important part of the Dublin School experience, providing students with opportunities to strengthen language skills, explore new cultures, and gain a broader perspective on the world. While destinations vary from year to year, the school’s longstanding relationship with communities in Patagonia serves as the cornerstone of its international travel program.

Each March, students travel to Chile and Argentina, where they experience South American culture through homestays, school visits, and programs with Indigenous communities. Activities include dance classes, meal preparation, horseback riding, hiking, rafting, and fishing, offering students both cultural immersion and outdoor adventure. Participants frequently report increased confidence in their Spanish-language abilities and a deeper appreciation for environmental stewardship.

Additional travel opportunities have recently taken students to destinations including Norway and Spain. Students are selected based on academic standing, participation in language studies, and seniority. Through these experiences, Dublin students develop curiosity, adaptability, and cross-cultural understanding while extending their learning far beyond the classroom.

For students who are interested in global learning opportunities, these international travel programs can also be an important part of a broader High School Study Abroad journey.

St. Mark’s School – Massachusetts

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School Site: https://www.stmarksschool.org/

Admission Contact: admission@stmarksschool.org

At St. Mark’s, global citizenship connects classroom learning with meaningful experiences around the world. Students in grades 9–12 have access to a variety of domestic and international opportunities that emphasize cultural immersion, language study, scientific inquiry, leadership, service, and experiential learning.

Recent destinations have included Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, Belize, Greece, Sweden, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Chile, and Bhutan. Students have participated in biodiversity research, language immersion, museum and cultural studies, historical inquiry, artistic performance, and community engagement projects. Opportunities include faculty-led spring break programs, exchanges, homestays, School Year Abroad programs, conferences, and the school’s fully endowed Lions Roam initiative.

Preparation and reflection are central components of the travel experience. Students participate in orientation programs focused on destination-specific learning, cultural competency, health and safety, and situational awareness. While international travel is not required for graduation, students may earn recognition through the school’s Global Diploma program, which celebrates sustained engagement in global learning opportunities throughout their time at St. Mark’s.

Northfield Mount Hermon – Massachusetts

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School Site: https://www.nmhschool.org/

Admission Contact: admission@nmhschool.org

Northfield Mount Hermon’s travel programs are designed to help students develop intercultural competence and become adaptable, self-aware global citizens. Students of all grade levels are eligible to apply for travel opportunities, which vary from year to year and may include interdisciplinary study, service learning, and language immersion.

One of NMH’s signature experiences is its sophomore interdisciplinary travel program, which combines coursework in biology, world history, and world religions. Recent destinations have included South Africa, Spain and Morocco, and Brazil. Students explore themes such as ecology, urbanization, race, power, and natural resource management while studying these topics in real-world contexts.

Additional opportunities include March break service-learning and career exploration programs, with recent trips focused on environmental science research in Costa Rica and healthcare training in Belize. Language immersion programs in destinations such as Spain, Peru, France, Senegal, and China allow students to strengthen language skills while engaging directly with local communities through homestays and service projects.

Annie Wright Schools – Washington

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School Site: https://www.aw.org/

Admission Contact: abby_drivdahl@aw.org

Annie Wright Schools is committed to providing students with meaningful learning experiences beyond the classroom through a wide variety of local, domestic, and international opportunities. Global travel is integrated into several Upper School programs, giving students numerous opportunities to explore the world while pursuing their academic and personal interests.

In Grade 10, students participate in the Expeditions program, choosing from weeklong experiences in Italy, Peru, or Iceland. Through the school’s (s)Electives program, students explore specialized interests such as sports medicine, podcasting, and rocketry, often culminating in travel experiences connected to their studies. Recent student trips have included destinations such as New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, and Bosnia.

The school’s IB Global Alliance further expands opportunities through partnerships with schools on five continents. Students in Grades 9 and 10 may participate in month-long exchanges in Argentina, Mexico, Namibia, Thailand, and Australia. These immersive experiences encourage students to build confidence, resilience, compassion, and a deeper understanding of cultures and perspectives different from their own.

Baylor School – Tennessee

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School Site: https://www.baylorschool.org/

Admission Contact: admission@baylorschool.org

Baylor School’s Exchange Program provides students with a unique opportunity to experience life and learning in another country while building meaningful cross-cultural relationships. Students who have attended Baylor since ninth grade may apply during the fall of their sophomore year through a competitive application and interview process.

The program partners with schools in South Africa, Spain, Germany, France, Australia, and New Zealand, allowing students to participate in a one-to-one exchange. Baylor students spend time living with host families, attending classes, and becoming active members of their host communities before welcoming their exchange partners to Baylor during their senior year.

Preparation and reflection are central components of the experience. Students develop a project before traveling and continue their work throughout the exchange, later presenting their findings at Baylor’s Global Scholars Symposium. Through direct engagement with different educational systems, traditions, and cultures, students gain confidence, adaptability, language skills, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Santa Catalina School – California

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School Site: https://www.santacatalina.org/upper-school

Admission Contact: admission@santacatalina.org

Santa Catalina School’s global education program prepares students to understand and address the world’s shared challenges through meaningful international experiences. Students may participate in both exchange programs and cultural or service-learning trips designed to broaden perspectives and strengthen global awareness.

Beginning in sophomore year, students may apply for exchanges with Saint-Denis International School in France and Downe House School in England. These programs provide opportunities for students to live and study abroad while building lasting relationships with peers from around the world. Participants often report increased confidence, independence, and communication skills as a result of their experiences.

In addition to exchanges, students may join cultural and service trips without an application process. Recent programs have included an identity and mission trip to Italy and a service-learning experience in Costa Rica. Upcoming travel to Peru will combine visits to archaeological sites with community-based service projects focused on education, sustainability, and social development. These experiences help students develop a deeper appreciation for different cultures while encouraging personal growth and global engagement.

Westover School – Connecticut

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School Site: https://www.westoverschool.org/

Admission Contact: admission@westoverschool.org

Westover School’s Global Programs reflect the school’s commitment to global learning as an essential part of a student’s educational experience. Through exchanges, service-learning opportunities, and group travel experiences, students engage in meaningful cultural immersion while developing the skills necessary to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.

Global exchange opportunities are available to students in grades 10–12 and include partnerships in Australia, Kenya, and Jordan. Programs range from two to six weeks and feature homestays and full integration into host school communities. Additional opportunities include a longstanding service-learning program in Puerto Rico, a planned trip to Rwanda, and a future program in Iceland.

Participation in exchange programs is selective and requires students to demonstrate strong standing across multiple areas of school life. Students engage in pre-departure preparation, guided reflection, and post-travel integration activities that connect their experiences abroad with classroom learning. Through these programs, students develop cultural fluency, global awareness, and the ability to engage thoughtfully across differences.

Miss Porter’s School – Connecticut

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School Site: https://www.porters.org/

Admission Contact: noxley@missporters.org

Global education is central to Miss Porter’s School’s mission of preparing young women to become informed, resourceful, and ethical global citizens. Since 2015, every student has participated in the school’s fully funded Global Intensive program during the 11th grade.

Students travel in small cohorts to destinations including Costa Rica, Spain, and France as part of an Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminar focused on a global theme. These experiences combine rigorous classroom study with international travel, allowing students to examine complex issues through multiple academic lenses. Generous alumnae support ensures that participation is included within the cost of tuition.

Each seminar begins with extensive coursework on campus before students travel abroad. A distinctive feature of the program is its technology-free approach, encouraging students to engage more deeply with their surroundings and local communities. Participants frequently describe the Global Intensive as one of the most meaningful experiences of their time at Porter's, citing increased independence, self-awareness, and global understanding. By graduation, every student has gained firsthand international experience and developed the skills needed to thrive in a globally connected world.

Conclusion

International travel has become an increasingly valuable component of a well-rounded boarding school education, offering students opportunities to engage with different cultures, perspectives, and ways of life in meaningful and lasting ways. Whether through language immersion, academic research, cultural exchange, service-learning projects, or outdoor exploration, these experiences help students develop the confidence, adaptability, and global awareness needed to thrive in an interconnected world.

The schools featured here demonstrate the many ways international travel can enrich a student's educational journey. By extending learning beyond the classroom and into communities around the globe, these programs encourage students to become thoughtful global citizens who are prepared to navigate complex challenges and contribute positively to society.

As families explore boarding school options, international travel opportunities can be an important factor to consider. While each school's approach is unique, all share a commitment to helping students broaden their horizons, deepen their understanding of the world, and create experiences that often become some of the most memorable and transformative moments of their school years.