Overview  | Application Process |  


 
The aim of Community School’s Residential Program is to provide the opportunity for talented and creative students from across the country and the globe to experience life in the Wood River Valley and attend Community School.


Our Residential Program was created to support the academic and athletic success of residential students. We prioritize trust, respect, honesty, responsibility, teamwork and healthy living.

Our program capitalizes on the close relationships between students and teachers that Community School students and families have always valued; teachers, counselors, coaches and other residential staff live in the residential hall, giving it more of a “family” vibe than that of a dormitory.

"I like how we call the dorm "home." It's pretty funny but true-it is our home away from home.”

- Marge, 12th grade, McCall, ID


Residential advisors (RAs) provide adult supervision in the dorm, oversee meals and study halls, help organize weekend and evening activities, and help students navigate the academic, athletic, and social challenges that arise in high school.

Our boarding students are fully integrated into the life of the school, and participate on teams, in clubs, and in theatre performances. We make every effort to create an inclusive and lively community. In addition to all school events, advisor groups regularly join the students at the dorm for dinner or other activities. Teachers and others also offer weekend activities for boarding and other students. These activities provide students the opportunity to explore the area, see some of the beautiful natural surroundings and places of interest, or visit museums. Trips to Boise, shopping excursions, workshops or classes, theater performances, concerts and lectures are also scheduled throughout the year.

“The Residence Hall is a place where you can be yourself and you have a chance to grow as an individual.”
– David H., RA


Together with the residential advisors, students assume responsibility for the building through our work program and daily chores. This responsibility cultivates leadership and teamwork, and students emerge from the program as responsible, respectful, independent adults who understand how to live and thrive in a close community.

Residential students are supported by the residential staff, faculty, and the entire school community. All students are assigned an academic advisor, with whom they check in daily. The advisor is a great source of support and helps the student manage his or her academic schedule, and communicates any academic issues or successes with the student’s family and the residential staff.

"In the beginning I didn't think I
would enjoy study hall but now that
school is underway, I am truly grateful
for that mandatory study time."
-Marge, 12th grade, McCall, ID


All students live with roommates, which provides an important opportunity for personal growth and friendship. Students often find that living with a roommate is one of their favorite and most important parts of their residential experience. Day students visit the dorm regularly for both special events (dinners, contests, parties, etc.) and on an informal basis.

All residential students are also assigned to a local “host family.” Host families are local families who are affiliated with the school who check in regularly with the student and provide them additional support and friendship. A typical host family will attend the student’s events and competitions, will invite the student to their home for dinner on a regular basis, and may help the student coordinate vacation or long weekend plans. For many students, living in the residence hall with students from all over the world is one of the most valuable parts of their life at Community School. Cooking and sharing a meal with their peers, playing an endless weekend game of ping-pong, and staying up late studying for a math exam can serve as the building blocks for lifelong learning, adventure, and  friendships.

“I wouldn't describe it as living at a dorm. The sense of living with a community has made the dorms feel like my house, and the people who live there my family. Another plus about living at the dorms is that I have been able to have fun without my grades slipping. I can do this because of one of the best things in the world: mandatory two-hour study hall. Study hall might sound like torture (which is what I first thought when I heard about it), but it is a very efficient way of helping me complete all of my assignments and so I can focus on skiing. Study hall is just one of the ways I think living at the dorms will help me become a more independent person later in life.” – Perry, 9th grade, Darien, CT
“As a Residential Adviser, it is great coming
‘home’ to a smiling family. There is
never a dull moment in the dorms!”
–Kristen M, RA


 Please visit our Residential Hall blog
for more information.