Institut Le Rosey, Switzerland: $116,719 a year
Institut Le Rosey in Rolle is the most expensive boarding school on the planet.
Bursting with privilege, boarders at the school get to live in a luxurious medieval
château and spend winters at the school’s outpost in exclusive Gstaad. Academic
and sporting facilities are unrivaled and the school’s alumni include royalty and
generations of prominent families including the Rothschilds and Radziwills.
The Masters School, U.S.A.: $65,700 a year
This former girls’ school – Masters went co-ed in 1997 – is one of the finest in
New York State. Like many independent schools in the US, Masters follows the
Harkness method, which involves seating students in an oval configuration and
encouraging them to discuss ideas. Notable alumni include Princess Marie-Chantal
of Greece, and Alex Pall of chart-topping DJ duo The Chainsmokers.
Hurtwood House, U.K.: $54,309 a year
This co-ed sixth-form college in Surrey calls itself “the most exciting school in
England” and is Britain’s most pricey boarding school. A beacon for creative
types, the establishment is famed for its arts facilities and for putting on lavish
productions, including a recent staging of the musical Grease which had a budget
of $104,000 (£80k). Unsurprisingly, an impressive line-up of actors went to
Hurtwood House, including Emily Blunt and Jack Huston.
Appleby College, Canada: $52,360 a year
Popular with the country’s elite, Appleby College in Ontario, Canada was
established in 1911. The co-ed school boasts an outstanding liberal arts educational
ethos and enviable sporting facilities, and is known for churning out senior
politicians – Senators Norman Atkins and Dan Hays are former students. A year
of boarding costs $52,360 for Canadian pupils.
Cranbrook School, Australia: $48,157 a year
Cranbrook School in Sydney is Australia’s most reputable independent boys’
school, and also its most expensive. Ancient by Australian standards, the school
dates back to 1918 and has commanded much respect over the years for academic
and sporting excellence. Famous old boys of the school include billionaire
James Packer and Murray Rose, the Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer.