The best private schools in the world. The most unusual schools in the world The most strict schools

The most valuable thing that can be given to children is a good education. And one of the best in the world is a private education with centuries-old traditions. We present to your attention the best private schools in the world.

Eton College, United Kingdom

In the legendary closed school for boys, where they provide a high-quality education and upbringing, the descendants of the royal dynasty and the English aristocracy study. This school is the alma mater of 19 British Prime Ministers, as well as Princes William and Harry of Wales. Getting into Eton is quite difficult. And although a few years ago the system, when a child was enrolled in this college almost from birth, was canceled, upon admission, the applicant passes a series of tests and interviews, the purpose of which is to determine the level of his intelligence and training. It is almost impossible for a graduate of a non-English school to enter Eton. One of the main requirements of a private boarding school is absolute knowledge of the English language, as well as the possession of some skills that are not provided for by most general education programs, such as Latin. Especially for Eton, a special, top secret test for intellectual potential was created, which teachers call the "brain trap". It is impossible to pass this test simply by memorizing the material, even the most extensive one. It is necessary to have a certain mindset, exactly what distinguishes a college graduate.

The history of the best private school in the world dates back to 1440, when King Henry VI created a school for the free education of seventy of his fellows - the intellectual elite of the country - who then had to continue their education at the Royal College of Cambridge. Eton holds its traditions sacred, and to this day 70 Royal Scholars (14 applicants at each stage) study here: young people of outstanding, extraordinary academic abilities are the main pride of Eton. There are other scholarships here, including music.

According to statistics, 98 percent of students enter Eton after graduating from the best private preparatory schools, in which children study from the age of 7 and where they are purposefully prepared for studying at the most prestigious colleges in the world for six years. You can also enter Eton after graduating from a simple high school in England, if the student is able to pass a tough selection and tests - most often such gifted children study on a royal scholarship. Boys usually start school at Eton at the age of 13. There is also the option of entering at the age of 16 - for a two-year preparation for entering a university.

All those wishing to study at Eton at age 11 undergo a pre-assessment which includes a test, an interview and a progress report from the boy's current school. After passing the test, about a third of applicants receive a so-called conditional place in the school.

For it to become real, the child must successfully pass the entrance test at the age of 13. Every year, 250 new students are admitted to the college, in turn, about 1,000 boys receive conditional places. The deadline for parents to enroll their child in pre-selection is before the child is ten and a half years old.

Tuition fees: £29,862 per year.

Ecole des Roches, France

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and his brother Joachim were educated at the most prestigious and oldest private school in France, where children aged 11 to 18 study. It was founded a century ago as a boarding school for the offspring of aristocratic families and families of the big bourgeoisie.

Initially, the system of English public schools, famous for its high level of education, was taken as the basis for education, but its own principles and techniques were added to it, aimed at the personal enrichment of each student. Another feature of the school is that foreign students are taught French at first as a foreign language, gradually introducing them into the class with training in the French high school program. For admission to the Ecole des Roches, you must submit report cards from the current school for the last three years, a motivational essay in your native language and pass an interview with the director. When selecting students, the main criteria are academic performance and motivation to study, the desire to join the life of the school and strictly follow the rules of the Ecole des Roches (where, for example, aggressive behavior, obscene appearance, piercing, smoking, drug use, alcohol are prohibited). The college admissions process can take about six to eight months and must be completed no later than August 15 of the current academic year (before that date, parents must pay the first installment of their offspring's annual tuition fee). There is also a branch of the Ecole des Roches in Versailles, the private primary school Les Petites Roches la Tournelle for children from 7 to 11 years old.

Tuition fee: 30,675 euros per year.

Kent School, USA

The heir to the Swedish royal family, Carl Philip, prepared for university at this co-educational boarding school located in the state of Connecticut and aimed at young people aged 14 to 17. It was founded in 1906 as a school for boys, now 560 students from more than 40 countries of the world are studying here, including girls. Since the Kent School purposefully prepares students for admission to the world's leading universities, in addition to general education programs, narrowly focused, often exclusive disciplines are taught here, such as genetics, meteorology, Irish dramatic art, biotechnology, genocide in the 20th century, constitutional law, civil rights, Supreme Court. Students can choose the level of difficulty of subjects according to their desires and ambitions.

To enter one of the best private schools in the world, you must submit to the administration the report card for the last three years and recommendations from teachers. In addition, a standard test must be passed. International students whose first language is not English will also have to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The school recommends starting the admission process in November-January, the last day for submitting documents is January 15th. On April 10, the management names the applicants who have passed the entrance tests and are enrolled in the school.

Tuition: $47,400 per year, scholarships available.

Lakefield College School, Canada

Felipe, the heir to the Spanish throne, studied at this one of the most democratic educational institutions in North America. The goal of the college is to bring education as close as possible to the requirements and conditions modern world. The compulsory program of Lakefield College has one and a half times more subjects than provided by the Ontario Department of Education. The school is also famous for the fact that all its graduates become university students. The college accepts children from the age of 9 years. But most boarding school students enter it at the age of 14.

Those wishing to study at Lakefield College must submit an extract from school grades for the last four years, letters of recommendation from teachers, non-English-speaking students must pass tests (SSAT or TOEFL) and pass an interview. College introductions and interviews are held annually from November 15 to April 15.

Tuition fee: 37,350 euros per year. About a third of the school's students receive scholarships.

Alpinum Zuoz, Switzerland

Prince of Liechtenstein Hans Adam II graduated from Alpinum Zuoz, one of the oldest private schools in Switzerland. Education here is conducted according to the national standards of Switzerland or Germany, and the English-language secondary education program International Baccalaureate (IB) is also offered. The age of students is from 10 to 19 years.

For admission, an applicant must submit information about his grades for the last two years and letters of recommendation from teachers (for foreign students - pass exams in English and mathematics), as well as pass a test and an interview. The deadline for submitting an application for studying at a boarding school is at least six months before the start of studies.

Tuition fees: from 53,292 to 59,138 euros per year.

Le Rosey, Switzerland

The elite private school in Switzerland, where Guillaume, the hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg studied, is notable for the fact that the students spend the autumn and spring trimesters in Rolle, and for the winter the school moves to Gstaad so that the pupils can go in for winter sports. Children are accepted to school from the age of 8. Teaching is conducted in two languages - French and English. After graduating from high school, students can choose which program to continue their studies: the English-language International Baccalaureate (IB) or the French French Baccalaureat.

For admission, it is necessary to submit report cards for the last two years, letters of recommendation from the current school and from teachers. In Le Rosey, the applicant passes a test and an interview (if necessary, the test and interview can be passed at the place of residence of the applicant). Applications for admission should be submitted between November and March. Every year the school accepts about 90 new students out of 400 applicants.

Tuition fee: CHF 94,500 per year.

Ludgrove School, United Kingdom

Princes William and Harry studied at Ludgrove School, one of the best preparatory boarding schools in England, founded in 1892, before entering Eton. Boys from 7 to 13 years old study here. On the territory there are two scientific laboratories, a music school, art, carpentry and pottery workshops, golf courses, football, rugby, hockey, cricket. As well as a swimming pool, tennis and squash courts. The school does not have entrance exams per se, however the administration asks for a report on the progress of a student from his previous school. Every year, 35-40 boys are admitted to the Ludgrove School, and as soon as the number of students for the new academic year is recruited, the rest are put on the waiting list.

Tuition fees: £20,850 per year.

College Alpin Beau Soleil, Switzerland

In this one of the most expensive private schools in the world, the princes of Luxembourg, Louis and Felix, studied. International educational institution co-educational College Alpin Beau Soleil, one of the top five best schools Switzerland, located in the ski resort of Villars-sur-Ollon, and learning to ski is part of the compulsory curriculum. College Alpin Beau Soleil is owned by the Meyer family, who have been running it for the third generation. Teaching is conducted in two languages - English (according to the International Baccalaureate (IB) or American High School Diploma programs adopted in England) and French, and upon completion, students receive a Baccalaureate diploma. After the 9th grade, students choose the language of further education, with the ability to combine subjects from other sections.

To enter the school, you must pass exams in English and mathematics, submit a certificate for the last two years of schooling and recommendations from school teachers. Parents will also be interviewed during a mandatory pre-school visit. Applications are accepted from November to March.

Tuition fee: CHF 125,000 per year.

Marlborough College, United Kingdom

The granddaughter of the Queen of England, Eugene Windsor, Princess of York, was assigned to study at the most famous private boarding school, coeducational, founded in 1843 for the children of the clergy. The school still places great emphasis on the Anglican faith, attendance at some services is mandatory. More than half of the students learn to play musical instruments. The school has three orchestras, various musical groups and ensembles, and a church choir.

The traditional age for admission is 13 years old. Boys and girls are admitted to the college on the basis of a general entrance examination. Exams for 13-year-old applicants are held in February-March, for high school students - in November. A college application must be submitted no later than two, but no earlier than four years before the child's start of school. After submitting the registration form, the student's parents receive an invitation to the entrance examinations, which include an intelligence test and an interview. The performance in the current school is also taken into account. At the end of February, 18 months before the start of college, the applicant is informed of the test results and offered places on the "A" or "B" lists.

Tuition fees: £29,310 per year.

St George's School, Windsor Castle, United Kingdom

A coeducational preparatory school for children aged 3 to 13. It is also called "the school of royal choristers". All students of St George's School sing in the choir, from the age of seven they learn to play musical instruments. It is among them that 24 singers are selected for the choir at the Church of St. George, whose services the Queen herself attends. The school also has a boarding house for 30 children. The granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Eugenia of York, graduated from this educational institution, and the princess's cousin, Louise Windsor, daughter of Prince Edward, is now continuing her studies here. Admission to the school is carried out in chronological order after completing the registration form.

Full board rate: £18,015 per year.

St George's School, Ascot, United Kingdom

The granddaughter of the Queen of Great Britain, Beatrice of York, graduated from a private boarding school in Ascot, which accepts girls from the age of 11 (as well as at 13 and 16). To enter the school, you must pass exams in English, mathematics and science. Entrance exams for applicants aged 11 are held in January, for 13+ - in February and June. Open days starts on October 1st. When applying, you must submit report cards from your current school, as well as all kinds of diplomas and certificates. Foreign students must pass the Language Proficiency Test and must pass an interview.

Tuition fee: £28,380 per year, there are various scholarships.

International School of Paris, France

The English-speaking private school, one of whose graduates is the Prince of Monaco Andrea Casiraghi, is located in the center of Paris and accepts children from 3 to 18 years old. Children study according to the programs of elementary and secondary schools, in high school they study according to the English program International Baccalaureate (IB).

Students are admitted subject to availability in classes and relevant knowledge. New students are accepted throughout the academic year.

For admission, you must write a motivational essay in English (for children under 7 years old - draw a picture), submit report cards from the previous school for the last two years. Applicants to middle and high schools are also required to have letters of recommendation from teachers.

High school tuition fees: 23,900 euros per year.

A school where you can swear and do nothing, an adventure school, a floating school and other outlandish institutions around the world

On the eve of September 1, Maria Ivanova, a freelance writer for Forbes, has chosen the 10 most unusual schools in the world.

1. Underground school

Terraset Elementary School PTA (USA)

The address: 11411 Ridge Heights Road, Reston, Virginia

The students of the American school Terraset are almost children of the underground. The school was built in the mid-1970s when the US was hit by an energy crisis. The country introduced an energy saving mode, which was used, among other things, for heating schools. In the city of Reston, the Terraset School was built: they leveled the hill, erected a building on this site, and then covered it with earth. The natural earth cover provided warmth and saved energy.

The designers faced another difficult task: the room had to be not only heated, but also cooled. And this required new energy costs. Solar collectors solved the problem. Today Terraset is not only the most energy efficient school in the country, but also one of Reston's top tourist attractions.

In contrast to the history of the creation of Terraset, the process of learning at school can hardly be called original. This is a junior school with a traditional set of subjects for the USA. True, from time to time the school holds events for children and parents, such as a family run through the streets of the city or an evening bingo.

2. School without discipline

ALPHA Alternative School (Canada)

The address: 20 Brant Street, Toronto, Ontario

ALPHA, which opened its doors in 1972, has a perpetual celebration of disobedience. There are no grades, no strict schedule, no homework. No one will punish for a curse written in chalk on a blackboard and will not stand over the soul. Students themselves decide how to spend the school day and what classes to attend. Classes are formed not by age, but by interests: along with mathematics and spelling, there are classes in modeling, cooking and even elementary philosophy. The task of teachers is simply not to interfere.

If a conflict situation arises in the school, then a special committee is convened, consisting of students and teachers. The parties are allowed to speak out and justify their point of view, after which the commission offers options for solving the problem. The main thing is to find a solution that everyone will like.

Another ALPHA tradition is to hold meetings during which children, along with adults, have the right to speak out about the need to make changes to the curriculum and the school management system.

3. Nomadic school

Kenelaken (Russia)

The address: Olenek Evenki national region, Yakutia

In the past, the children of nomadic reindeer herders either did not receive a formal education at all, or were forced to stay in boarding schools and not see their relatives for months. Today, this problem is being solved with the help of nomadic schools, which are becoming more and more numerous in Russia every year. There are already more than a dozen such schools in Yakutia.

One of these nomadic schools is Kenelaken. It is a branch of the Kharyyalakh secondary school of the Olenek Evenk national region. At each new nomad camp, in addition to the usual structures, a school tent now also appears. Students can be counted on the fingers. However, despite the small number, subsequently they will not be inferior to their peers, who were lucky enough to study in more stable conditions. Children study according to a specially drawn up schedule. Homework and tests are received via the Internet - all schools for the children of reindeer herders within the framework of the national project have access to satellite Internet. After completion, they are sent back for verification.

photo courtesy of the press service of the Governor of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug

4. School of finding a common language

Busan International Foreign School (South Korea)

The address: 798 Nae-ri, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan

Pupils of the school for foreigners in Busan, South Korea, work tirelessly all year round. Children of emigrants or those who came to Korea to work for a long time study here, as well as boys and girls who were transferred to one of the Korean schools on exchange and need adaptation. An intensive regime is necessary in order to quickly adapt to new living conditions and subsequently successfully enter one of the Korean universities.

It is not easy for young expats to make friends with new classmates in a regular school. Ignorance of local traditions often becomes a reason for ridicule, which can cause psychological trauma to the child. Many of the teachers at the Busan School for Foreigners are psychologists by training. They teach their pupils to find a common language with each other, despite the fact that many of them have never heard of the existence of the country from which their new classmate came.

Most children learn three languages at once: Korean, English, Spanish. The program also provides thematic classes that do not allow you to forget the culture of your native country.

There are multicultural schools in many countries. School No. 1650 operates in Moscow, in which children of different nationalities are specially recruited in order to instill in students a tolerant attitude towards those who are somewhat different from them, and also to help them learn more about the traditions of other peoples.

5. School of pleasant interaction with the world

Mountain Mahogany Community School (USA)

The address: 5014 4th Street NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico

To get into Mountain Mahogany, you need to win the lottery. You need to download a special form from the official website of the school, fill it out, send it by fax or mail and wait for the drawing to take place and the list of lucky winners to be announced.

The approach to the learning process at school is no less original. The three principles on which school policy is based are pleasure, safety and emotional development. The program is based on the latest neurological research, according to which the key to good learning is a positive atmosphere and active involvement. The school has standard general education subjects, but first of all, children are taught how to interact with the outside world and everyday skills: sewing, cooking, gardening. Teachers jokingly refer to students as "little gardeners". And no wonder: hundreds of trees have been planted on the school grounds that need to be taken care of. Children eat organic fruits that they have grown themselves.

6. School of knowledge of everything through music

Choir Academy of Harlem (USA)

The address: 2005 Madison Avenue, New York

Giving a child to the Harlem Choir Academy, parents provide them with not only vocal cord training, tours and familiarization with spiritual values, but also a basic education with a humanitarian bias.

The mission of the teachers of this school is to contribute to the development of the child's hidden talents. Therefore, the main program consists of various types of performing arts: singing, dancing, playing musical instruments. During an introductory interview, a potential student is tested for a sense of rhythm, time orientation and concentration. However, the child's love for music remains paramount. If parents cannot afford to buy musical instrument, the school will provide it to the child for temporary use.

Doesn't go unnoticed and physical development students: the school has a baseball and football team and, of course, a group of cheerleaders.

7. School for refugees and illegal immigrants

"Bialik-Rogozin" (Israel)

The address: HaAliya, Tel Aviv

In February 2011, Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film. The forty-minute film tells about the Israeli school "Bialik-Rogozin", where children of refugees and illegal immigrants study. They come from all over the world, come from different families and worship different gods, but many trials have fallen on the short life of each of them. Many have lost loved ones and are exhausted both physically and emotionally. Some children have never gone to school before.

"Bialik-Rogozin" gives children not only the necessary elementary knowledge. Pupils are fed, watered and clothed there. And the most important thing that students receive from their mentors is sincere participation and care. Here, children are not considered alien or unnecessary, since they have all become Israelis.

More: www.schooly.co.il

8. Floating school

Kompong Luong School (Cambodia)

The address: Tonle Sap Lake, Kompong Luong Village

Cambodian lake Tonle Sap, not far from which the famous temple complex Angkor Wat is located, is considered the largest fresh water body of the Indochinese Peninsula. It is even called " inland sea". On the surface of the lake is the famous landmark of Cambodia - the floating village of Kompong Luong: houses, cafes, shops and a school.

For students, the floating school has become a second home in the truest sense of the word - mostly orphans study in it. This is where they live. The parents of many of them died while fishing: during the rainy season, the water level in the lake rises significantly and it becomes quite dangerous to walk on it in boats.

Tourists help provide for the children: each new group buys all the goods from the counters of local shops and literally fills schoolchildren with toys, stationery and sweets.

9. School on the principle of open space

Ørestad Gymnasium (Denmark)

The address:Ørestads Boulevard 75 2300, Copenhagen

The Orestad Gymnasium building in Copenhagen, designed by 3XN, is a true piece of contemporary art both inside and out. In 2007, the gymnasium was named the best building in Scandinavia. This is the first educational institution opened in Denmark as part of the national educational reform.

Orestad's students are high school students who are about to pursue higher education in media. The word "communication" sounds here at every step. The classrooms of the school are separated from each other very conditionally - all classes are practically engaged in one huge room. There is wireless Internet throughout the building, so high school students constantly interact not only in real, but also in virtual space.

The luxurious spiral staircase that connects the four levels of the gymnasium is called the heart of the building by the students. During breaks, they lie on colorful cushions and look at the ceiling, decorated with round lamps, reminiscent of a starry sky.

10. Adventure School

Watershed School (USA)

The address: 1661 Alpine Avenue, Boulder, Colorado

The decline of farming culture in the United States is a concern not only for farmers and the government, but also for school workers. How else to explain the fact that Watershed introduced the Farm to Table program, in which students go to one of six local farms and learn how the farm works.

All in all, studying at Watershed is like a grand adventure spanning several years. Of course, the kids do the usual stuff like math and English, but those activities can be endured for the sake of the learning expeditions, which are considered the most productive method of education here. So, children study architecture not in stuffy classrooms, but on the streets of the city. Instead of geography and biology lessons, they raft in kayaks along nearby rivers and wander through the forest.

Watershed teachers help students write songs, create rock bands, build robots and come up with scenarios for video games. In addition to traditional sports like football, students practice yoga, mountain biking and playing frisbee.

More: www.watershedschool.org

Every parent who decides to send their child to is interested in the question - how is it right to choose this school, where the child will be more comfortable and best to study? There are many national and world rankings - in this article we have collected information for you about the most exclusive, prestigious, their unshakable reputation and the highest level of academic services have been tested by time and thousands of students. Take a closer look: maybe one of the options is right for you?

The Charterhouse School was founded in 1611: it has been located on the current territory (more than 250 acres in Surrey) since 1872. The institution is distinguished by excellent academic results of students, as well as a bias in theatrical and dramatic arts: students organize at least 7 full-fledged productions during the year, subsequently many students enter the prestigious LAMDA college. Additionally, there are more than 80 clubs and communities of interest - everyone will have the opportunity to show their inclinations and talents.

Famous graduates Cast: Jeremy Hunt, Peter Gabriel, Jonathan Dimbleby
Tuition: £36,774 per academic year.

British private coeducational school foreign students was founded in 1912. This is a fairly large educational institution: more than a thousand students aged from 3 to 19 years old can study here every year (accommodation from 5 years old). The school is divided into four departments for different age categories of students: from 3 to 10 years old, from 10 to 14 and from 15 to 19 years old. The college got its name in honor of Queen Ethelburga, who brought Christianity to the northern part of Great Britain. Today the campus of the school is located in a tranquil rural area in Yorkshire. The place is considered one of the most popular from a tourist point of view, since only half an hour's drive from here are 2 most interesting cities - York and Harrogate. One of them invariably attracts romantics from all over the world, and the other keeps the heritage of real English Gothic.

Tuition fees: from 12196 GBP per trimester.

Located in Lausanne, a famous resort in the French-speaking canton of Switzerland, next to the huge and picturesque Lake Geneva: the school was directly managed by the founding family for more than 130 years. Most of the windows of residential residences (in total, the school accommodates up to 100 boarders in 5 houses) offer a magnificent view of the lake or the Swiss Alps. In addition to excellent conditions for academic and creative development, the school provides opportunities for skiing and eco-hiking: from January to April, schoolchildren spend almost every weekend on the best slopes in Switzerland.

Tuition fees: £50670-55652 per academic year.

This modern American school is located in the heart of New York. Students of all ages are accepted here - from very young students of seven years to teenagers of 15-18 years old. Therefore, the programs here are divided into several categories: elementary school, middle and high school. The most adult students study at the Leman Manhattan Preparatory School on a full board basis, and students under 15 receive only full-time education. LMPS is part of the educational organization Meritas. The school has a high academic level, which is annually confirmed by students who managed to enter various leading universities around the world.

Tuition: from 36,000 US dollars per semester with accommodation.

One of the leading and most prestigious private schools in Canada, Ridley College is located in the province of Ontario. During the academic year, up to 600 students from 11 to 18 years old can study here, 20% of whom are foreigners. Ridley College is in the top 50 Canadian boarding schools. And all because it offers its students a high level of training, allowing them to enter the desired university in the future. The proportion of such students is almost 100%. Many students graduated from Ridley College, whose success the school is proud of today, and their names are known throughout the country and the world.

Notable Alumni: Aeronautical Engineer Frederick Baldwin, Professor of Medicine J. I. Bell, Oscar Nominee Hume Cronyn
Cost: from 31850 Canadian dollars per semester.

15) (Austria)

The Austrian school St Gilgen International School has an impeccable reputation as an educational institution of international format. Every year from September to July, about 250 children, schoolchildren and teenagers from various countries attend the school. For children 9-18 years old, all the necessary training programs are offered: a course for elementary and secondary schools, IB preparation for it for senior classes. The language of instruction is German and English. During the holidays, a summer camp is organized on the school campus.

Tuition fee: from 16400 euros with accommodation for the trimester.

16) (Switzerland)

St. George "s School is a private boarding school of English origin. In 1927, an educational institution in Switzerland was founded by graduates of Oxford University - St. George" s School became the first institution of this class in the country. The curriculum here offers the same direction as the national British one. Students study not only in English, but also in French German (there is a large selection of language programs during the summer holidays). The educational institution occupies a line in the list of top boarding schools in the country, since St. George's School 100% continue their studies at prestigious universities around the world.

Tuition fee: from 94760 Swiss francs per year with accommodation.

17) (France)

The prestigious French private boarding school Ecole des Roches is located in the suburbs of Paris. This educational institution has an international status, so students from various countries come here from the age of 6. The school itself consists of three separate structures, a primary school (campus in Versailles), a secondary school (campus in Normandy) and language classes(the training center is located in Paris). The school falls into the top 20 of the best secondary educational institutions in the country according to the results of the final exams.

Tuition: from €12,200 per trimester full board.

18) (USA, California)

The Webb Schools consists of two educational structures: the Vivian Webb School for women and the Webb School of California for men. Despite the fact that each of the institutions has its own tasks, they work towards a common goal. The Webb Schools campus is on the beach Pacific Ocean- this is an excellent picturesque place for teaching children from 15 to 18 years old. In total, the school will include 400 students of local and foreign students (the latter are about 20% of the total). The Webb Schools is proud of the success of its students and not without reason: the average SAT score is 1970. With such results, graduates of the institution easily enter leading universities not only in the United States, but also in Europe.

Notable alumni: Goodreads.com founder Otis Y. Chandler, former US Secretary of Energy James D. Watkins, TalkingPointsMemo.com editor and publisher Josh Marshall, vineyard owner John Trefeten, author John Scalzi
Tuition: from $60,845 per academic year.

19) (Switzerland)

This is one of the oldest private schools in Switzerland, located in the French part of the country - in the city of Montreux. The campus of the institution is located in a picturesque place, from where you can reach the Swiss capital in just an hour. Institut Monte Rosa belongs to family-type educational institutions and is included in the TOP-5 prestigious schools in the country. The students of this elite school receive a real European education, of guaranteed high quality, while being educated according to the best Swiss traditions and standards. Due to the chamber atmosphere and a small number of students (up to 65 people), teachers give each of the students the maximum amount of attention. And this increases their chances of entering prestigious universities - the European University in Montreux, BSL in Lausanne, Schiller in Leysin, Webster in Geneva and so on.

Tuition fees: from 20,300 Swiss francs per trimester.

20) (Scotland)

The private school Fettes college trains students from 7-18 years old from different countries around the world. This is a prestigious institution of secondary education located in Scotland. Fettes college is also one of only three Scottish schools proudly holding IB World School status. The curriculum of the boarding school combines elements of the British, Welsh and Scottish educational systems, so students can choose one of training courses: A-Level, International Baccalaureate and Highers.

Notable Alumni: Former Prime Minister of England Tony Blair
Tuition fees: from 7530 Swiss francs per trimester.

21) (Switzerland)

It was founded in 1889 as the Institute Dr Schmidt, the current name of the school has been since the 1930s. The institution has always been distinguished by a strict confidentiality policy regarding its students, closeness and elitism, the highest level of security: that is why many children of politicians, diplomats, royal and ruling families from all over the world study here. The territorial location of the campus offers the widest opportunities for both winter (alpine skiing, snowboarding, skating) and summer (water skiing, swimming, sailing) sports.

Tuition fees: £66,777 per academic year.

22) (Switzerland)

It was opened in 1960 and quickly began to gain popularity with parents around the world. Educational courses are provided here even for kids from 2 years old (preparatory classes like kindergarten), and the curriculum is bilingual - English and French. So, in the primary grades, students study 70% of disciplines in English, and 30% in French, subsequently the ratio becomes 50% / 50%. Bilingualism significantly increases the chances of graduates to enter the most prestigious universities in the world, provides a career advantage when looking for a job after university.

Tuition fees: £69,573 per academic year.

23) (Switzerland)

One of the oldest private boarding schools in Switzerland (founded in 1910), one of the most expensive schools in the world. The institution provides the opportunity to study in the traditional French educational system, British and international. The school is famous for its expeditions with students: groups visited Cambodia, Ghana, Tanzania, conquered Kilimanjaro, Meru and Cotopaxi.

Notable alumni: Princess Marie (Denmark), Prince Guillaume (hereditary Duke of Luxembourg), Jacques Villeneuve
Tuition: £79,528 per academic year.

24) (Switzerland)

Founded in 1949, the school combines effective IB and IGCSE training with a rich program of adventures, hikes and excursions, expeditions to various countries of the world. Sports are popular (including skiing - the campus is located near the famous Alpine resort of Chezier-Villars and overlooks Mont Blanc). Great attention is paid to the psychological comfort and moral development of students: for example, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays the whole school gathers for a twenty-minute morning meditation.

Notable alumni: Pietro Dova, Princess Tatiana (Greece and Denmark), Michael Gill
Tuition fees: £81,595 per academic year.

25) (Switzerland)

Le Rosey is often called the "school of kings" - today it is the most expensive and prestigious school in the world. It was opened in 1880 as a men's boarding school, but already in 1967 it switched to a joint type of education. Training programs are available in both English (IB) and French () with only 5 students per teacher. The vast territory of the school includes a wide variety of infrastructure for learning and leisure activities, including an excellent golf course (18 holes), a private pier with a yacht (deck length 38 feet), a riding center and stables for 30 horses.

Notable alumni: Belgian King Albert II, Alexandra von Furstenburg, Ranier III (Prince of Monaco)
Tuition fees: £86,657 per academic year.

Vittra Telefonplan: the school of the future without class division

This school is located in Stockholm in a spacious modern building that does not have separate rooms that resemble traditional classrooms with desks and a blackboard. Children are divided into groups according to the type of training and each is given an individual laptop. Classes are held everywhere - on a bench around a huge blue amphitheater that looks like an iceberg, on a cozy green sofa or even on the floor. In this school, the environment is a unique learning tool, so it is divided into five areas: "laboratory" for practical experiments, "water" for discussions, "fire" for group work, "show yourself" for the demonstration of personal projects and "cave" where you can relax and unwind.

Vittra Telefonplan does not have standard lessons, schedules and. The curriculum is not built on the study of disparate disciplines, but on the solution of specific issues that require extensive knowledge. Children perceive the world as a single organism and learn to live in it harmoniously and intelligently.

The Rosal Bosch team of architects created a very beautiful and unusual building for this school, which is considered a masterpiece of design art in Sweden and around the world. Perhaps this is one of the most beautiful schools peace. school organization Vittra has already opened 30 such schools, which means that there are even more happy children and their parents!

Big Picture Learning: the main thing is career guidance

This educational institution is rightfully one of the ten most unusual in the world. It appeared in the US state of Rhode Island in 1995 as a pilot project and very quickly showed good results. About 98% of Big Picture Learning graduates go to colleges and universities, receive scholarships and have no problems finding employment. What is the secret? The fact is that in this school, studies are closely connected with career guidance, so children study according to their individual program. They are united in groups of 15 people, which are called councils, and a curator is assigned to each group. The mentor communicates with his wards, tries to understand their interests and help with the choice of a profession, since this is what the individual training scheme will be based on. Two days a week are devoted to career guidance, when students meet with specialists from different fields of activity and gain experience in different professions. There are no grades in the school, the teacher is not a warden, but an assistant, and parents and children take an active part in drawing up the curriculum.

There are now over 65 Big Picture Learning schools in the US, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands. Elliot Walter, one of the founders of the school, says: “I am for standards, but not for standardization. On the contrary, we need to move further away from the “one test for all students” approach. The focus should always be on the interests of the students and what opportunities are provided to them.”

Steve Jobs School: a school for the digital age

Steve Jobs called the educational institutions he created the "School for the New Era", where all children study according to individual programs and in a free schedule of classes. Each student has a personal iPad with educational material, exercises, tasks and tests in accordance with the chosen training program. Everyone determines for himself the intensity of classes, the speed of learning, priorities in school subjects and the amount of necessary knowledge. Teachers here are called trainers, because their main task is not to give knowledge and evaluate results, but to help and advise. Every six weeks the plan changes, so there is no time to be bored here.

The first school was opened in the Netherlands, and now a whole network of Steve Jobs schools is successfully operating around the world, the main goal of which is to form originality and flexibility of thinking, creativity, which are very necessary in our constantly changing world. Students acquire the universal qualities necessary for the digital age, by the end of school they are able to collect information, analyze it, draw conclusions and understand how this knowledge can be applied in practice. Instead of dividing into classes by age, groups of 20-30 children are created here with a difference in age of up to 4 years. The younger ones learn from the older ones, and the older ones teach the younger ones.

According to Business Insider, Steve Jobs School are included in the ranking of the most innovative educational institutions in the world.

Watershed School: Real Life Adventure School

One day, two American teachers Jason Burve and Sumaya Abu Haidar decided to create a fun and unusual school in Colorado, where children would be very interested. And this idea was crowned with success, despite the fact that at first only 16 people studied in it. Now the number of students has reached one hundred, while there is one teacher for every nine students. But this is not the most important thing in Watershed School. The school team is a friendly community in which children do not just learn, but learn about life in all its beautiful aspects. In addition to classes, the school has a design workshop, dance and theater centers, a sports club, science laboratories, and outdoor educational lessons. Children are actively involved in local history, visiting local farms, Indian reservations and the most beautiful places not only in their state, but also in other countries.

School Principal Graham Bamford believes that “you can only be of high quality when you yourself educational process supports and develops an innate love of knowledge. Students should love the learning process and be active participants in it.” But the school sees the most important task in bridging the gap between school walls and real life.

Shchetinin School: learning through immersion

Oddly enough, among the list of non-standard educational institutions, you can also find unusual schools in Russia. For example, the experimental school of Mikhail Petrovich Shchetinin was considered a sect for a long time, like everything unusual in our country. Created in 1988-1994 by a senior employee of the Research Institute of Means and Methods of Education of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of the USSR in the village of Tekos, Krasnodar Territory, it immediately attracted attention with its unusualness. Since the school is a boarding school, children from different cities study in it, while the education is year-round.

An interesting fact: students themselves are engaged in the construction, repair and maintenance of all buildings and premises on the school grounds. Agree that in ordinary secondary educational institutions this is not taught!

Education at Shchetinin's school is based on the immersion method, which lasts from several days to several weeks, when children study only one subject. According to teachers and the students themselves, this way of learning is more effective, because you do not need to constantly switch attention and jump between different school disciplines. In addition to traditional subjects, the program includes hand-to-hand combat, ethnic dances and esotericism. Actually, it is for this reason that many are wary of Shchetinin's school.

Instead of classes, groups of different ages have been created, there are no classrooms, an assessment system, and certified subject teachers. Children are educated independently, with the support of adults.

The school has 350 students, but it is difficult to get here because of the high competition. It does not matter how the child studied earlier, the qualities of character and accommodating in the team are priorities - all this is revealed during the probationary period. The school, which is a kind of commune, has a rather strict daily routine with early rises, physical education and hardening. Education is free, the level of education is high, children easily pass oral exams in universities and colleges, but it is more difficult to pass the USE, since the test system is based on memorization. Graduates who need USE results prepare for them separately.

"Perspective": all life is a game!

But perhaps the most unusual school in Russia is the Moscow Perspektiva Play School. Created in 1992 as an alternative to the traditional system, it took all the best from the old Soviet school and added progressive methods. Thus, an educational institution appeared, in which many parents seek to attach their child.

Education at the school is conducted in groups of ten people. The educational "program" consists of a kind of "packages" - courses that combine several subjects, such as history, literature and geography. For the duration of the course, all group members are immersed in the subject being studied. If the topic of study is Japan, the school cafeteria serves Japanese food with chopsticks instead of traditional porridge, haiku is recited in class, and a tea ceremony is held on mats. All training is structured as exciting game. Part of the academic year is spent in boarding houses, and once a year the “Big Game” is organized, for which a castle, a town with houses and streets, a small village with private farms are created in the Moscow region. During the game, everyone has their own role. There are nobles, artisans, peasants, hunters and even robbers here. However, role-playing games for "Perspektiva" is not uncommon, but quite a common everyday process. Often educational material mastered in camps, trips and hikes.

First Political Cultural School No. 1650

In the first political cultural Russia No. 1650, children of 32 nationalities study, although the people call it Armenian. The fact is that the teacher Ophelia Vazgenovna Arakelyan created this school in 1989 for children who suffered during the earthquake in Armenia. Gradually, the school expanded and began to accept children of other nationalities for education.

At the same time, any student can study not only the language and culture of his people, but also the national traditions of other states. Interestingly, the Russian language is taught here as a foreign language, on a par with other languages. AT school curriculum there is cultural studies, ethnology, Russian studies, ethnopsychology, etiquette of the peoples of the world - it is no coincidence that this educational institution is called the school of international communications. About 200 students study here on a budgetary basis.

But with them, everything is relatively clear. I went, painted, slapped, rolled down the hill a couple of times and that's it - my mother came and you can go home. Something is wrong with the school. There is always some doom in school.

In the new academic season, we decided to make a selection of the best schools in the world. This is interesting to look at. But you know what is most pleasant: even in this modern, beautiful, cool and fashionable school, you and I, dear readers, do not need to. And never need to again. We all. (Isn't that a reason to secretly rejoice every September?)

Why does a school building have to be beautiful?

Well, don't you remember yourself as a child? As you go to school, it’s dark around, and around the corner this vile square building, painted in some kind of inhuman yellow, appears around the corner. And for some reason, in this building, only the windows in a single classroom on the fourth floor are on fire. By some devilish coincidence, it is in this class that you will have two Russian lessons in a row.

And the first lesson is a dictation. Moreover, these windows are burning with such a poisonous color that it seems to you: he will now be able to burn out your eyes. And like this every day: you go, and exactly a minute before you have to turn the corner, you pray - no, seriously, you directly pray. You say to yourself: well, please, well, I can now turn the corner, and this vile building will collapse. There is no more. But no. You turn and it's there. It stands so whole, it shines with hellish light from the Russian language classroom with such a flame that even call an exorcist.

Here, in order not to start every weekday of a small person with these thoughts, some rather grown-up architects built schools that, in fact, they want to go to.

And here are the most significant examples.

Ørestad High School, Copenhagen, Denmark

Photo: archilovers.com

This amazing school is not only modern, trendy and cool, but also free and in a way ordinary - in the sense of general education. You don't have to be very rich or very smart to get into it. You can be an ordinary person and at the same time study in a building, the shutters of which, like sunflowers, move after the sun, so that there is always light in the room.

And there is much more glass here than blank walls, so that the children do not have the familiar feeling that you are locked here against your will.

In addition to the usual classes at school, there are a lot of places where you can lie on pillows with a laptop or a book. The whole point is to make it more pleasant for the child to spend more time at school than he is required by the schedule.

Rafael Arozarena High School, La Orotava, Spain

Photo: mimoa.eu

The design of the school is very powerful and very urban. If this school were somewhere in the center of a busy city, one could say that it is interesting and not bad, and forget about it. Here are some interesting details. This free comprehensive school was built for the children of farmers. Most of her students are from peasant families. Many parents have an incomplete secondary education, and no one even stutters about higher education.

The purpose of the school is to show children that the circumstances in which you were born should not at all become an obstacle to achieving your goals.

And if you grow up in a farming village and your parents are peasants, this does not mean at all that you cannot have another fate. There is a completely different life in the world, and you can choose for yourself - to become a farmer or a physicist.

Modern High School, Los Angeles, USA

Photo: archimania.ro

In a sense, this school sets itself the same task as the Spanish one. The school is located in one of the most disadvantaged areas of this rather prosperous city. The majority of students are children of the first generation of emigrants from Mexico.

Since the parents themselves are uneducated, children have few examples of successful adults who were able to break out of their social environment thanks to education.

The modern school is trying to show that life in the ghetto does not oblige you to stay in this ghetto. That is, the school, surrounded by slum-type houses, is trying to be the coolest building in the area. And education becomes the coolest occupation in the area.

Galjoen School, The Hague, The Netherlands

Photo: archdaily.com

The school was built from two old pumping station buildings. The architects connected them in the shape of a crocodile, which, in their opinion, should appeal to children.

In general, the main requirement for the school was safety: the school is located in a not very good area, and therefore it was important to create a place where children could play away from the unreliable elements walking around. Another requirement was to get rid of rectangular classes, because it is unbearably boring.

Marcel Sembat High School, Sotteville-le-Rouen, France

Photo: archdaily.com

This is one of the greenest schools in the world. Despite being located in the city and surrounded by uninteresting buildings where the local poor live, the school tries to use every square meter allotted to it for a lawn.

Not only the roof, but all the patios are sown with grass.

The main idea is that the child should be more in the air: the constant sitting in boring classes is harmful not only to health, but also to a person's attitude. When the weather is good, even lessons are held here on the lawns.