More California kids go to boarding schools

The Los Angeles Times today reports an 8 percent jump in the numbers of boarding students at California schools in the last decade.

Reasons for boarding schools' growing popularity are varied: Dissatisfaction with public schools has encouraged families to look for alternatives, and financial aid is helping attract more mid- and low-income students, said Peter Upham, executive director of the boarding schools association. And migration of people with means from east to west has brought a familiarity with boarding school traditions.

But boarding schools may not be an option for everyone. Nearly 16 percent of boarding school students on the West Coast don't return to classes the next year unlike less than 7 percent of other students.

Some critics also worry separating children from their parents may be a bad idea and say some kids could be exposed to bullying.