Loyola Jesuit College, Day Waterman College, Atlantic Hall, Corona Secondary School Agbara and Olashore International School are among the boarding schools worth shortlisting in Nigeria. Other options include Greensprings, Grundtvig, Brookstone and Preston International School. The best choice depends on your child’s learning needs, the school’s boarding arrangements, your location and the full cost of attendance.
This guide compares nine private secondary schools using information published on their official websites. It is an editorial shortlist, not an official national ranking or an independent inspection of their facilities.
Boarding Schools in Nigeria at a Glance
Start with location and boarding arrangements before comparing individual schools.
| School | Location | Boarding information |
|---|---|---|
| Loyola Jesuit College | Gidan Mangoro, Abuja | Full boarding for boys and girls |
| Day Waterman College | Asu, near Abeokuta, Ogun | Full boarding for boys and girls |
| Atlantic Hall | Poka, Epe, Lagos | Full-boarding secondary school |
| Corona Secondary School | Agbara, Ogun | Co-educational boarding secondary school |
| Greensprings School | Lagos | Boarding available; confirm the campus and year group |
| Olashore International School | Iloko, Osun | Co-educational full boarding |
| Grundtvig International Secondary School | Oba, Anambra | Co-educational boarding |
| Brookstone School, Secondary | Igwuruta, Port Harcourt, Rivers | Co-educational school established as a full-boarding institution |
| Preston International School | Akure, Ondo | Full boarding at secondary level |
The school profiles below explain these arrangements and link to the official sources. The order does not indicate that one school is academically better or safer than another.
Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja
Loyola Jesuit College is worth considering for families seeking a Catholic, full-boarding secondary education in Abuja.
The college is in Gidan Mangoro and teaches boys and girls from JSS1 to SSS3. Its official website describes a full-boarding system supervised by Jesuits, the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus and lay staff.
Although its educational approach is Catholic, the college states that it welcomes students from different religious backgrounds. Character development, service and religious formation are central to its mission.
Before applying, ask how religious activities work for non-Catholic students, how new boarders settle in and what support is available when a student struggles academically or socially.
Official website: Loyola Jesuit College
Day Waterman College, Ogun State
Day Waterman College is an option for families seeking full boarding with a British-based educational programme that incorporates Nigerian content.
The school is on Asu Village Road, off the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State. Its curriculum page describes a combination of British and Nigerian content across Years 7–11. Parents should distinguish the school campus from its Lagos liaison office.
Its boarding page provides specific information about residential care. The school describes separate houses for boys and girls, house parents, assistant house parents and matrons. It also states that its medical centre operates around the clock. These are school-published arrangements, which parents should confirm during a visit.
Ask which examinations your child will take and how the subject choices support their intended next stage of education.
Official website: Day Waterman College
Atlantic Hall, Lagos
Atlantic Hall is an option for parents looking for a full-boarding secondary school in Epe, Lagos State.
The school’s official website identifies its campus as College Road, Poka, Epe, and confirms its full-boarding model. At the time of checking, the website was undergoing renewal and directed parents to its admissions contacts.
Because the available website information was limited, request the current prospectus, examination pathways, boarding handbook and complete fee schedule directly.
Also consider the journey to Epe. A Lagos address alone does not tell you how easy visiting days, emergency collection or airport transfers will be for your family.
Official website: Atlantic Hall
Corona Secondary School, Agbara
Corona Secondary School Agbara is the specific Corona campus to investigate when comparing secondary boarding schools.
Corona identifies the Agbara school as a co-educational boarding secondary school in Agbara Estate, Ogun State. Parents should use the exact campus name when requesting admissions information because the Corona network includes different schools and locations.
Ask for the boarding arrangements available for your child’s year group, the current subject and examination options, and the total charges for a new student.
Check that any fee quotation you receive belongs to Corona Secondary School Agbara, rather than another Corona campus.
Official school page: Corona Secondary School Agbara
Greensprings School, Lagos
Greensprings is worth comparing if you want a school offering boarding alongside international examination pathways.
Its official boarding page describes live-in house parents, supervised preparation periods and additional learning opportunities for boarders. It also identifies an IGCSE pathway at secondary level and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at sixth-form level.
Confirm the exact campus, entry year and boarding availability before applying. Do not assume every campus offers the same accommodation or programmes.
For a child transferring from another school, ask how Greensprings will assess placement and handle differences in subjects already studied.
Official boarding information: Greensprings School
Olashore International School, Osun State
Olashore International School is a full-boarding option for families considering a school in Iloko, Osun State.
The school identifies itself as a co-educational residential institution. Its location makes it relevant to parents comparing boarding schools outside Lagos and Abuja.
Before choosing it, compare the journey from home, arrangements for student collection and the academic support offered in your child’s intended subjects.
Ask for the current boarding handbook. This should help you understand communication with home, visiting arrangements, weekend routines and how the school responds when a student needs help.
Official website: Olashore International School
Grundtvig International Secondary School, Anambra
Grundtvig is a boarding option in south-eastern Nigeria for families interested in an educational approach that includes practical skills and personal development.
Located in Oba, Anambra State, it is a co-educational boarding school owned by the Grundtvig Movement of Nigeria. Its stated “Education for Life” philosophy places emphasis on self-development and usefulness to the community alongside academic learning.
Parents should ask how that philosophy appears in everyday teaching, clubs and residential life. Request recent results for the subjects your child needs, rather than relying only on the school’s historical awards.
Official website: Grundtvig International Secondary School
Brookstone School, Port Harcourt
Brookstone’s secondary school is an option for families seeking a boarding school in the Port Harcourt area.
The school’s official information describes it as an independent, co-educational institution with a Christian ethos, founded as a full-boarding school. Its secondary campus is in Igwuruta, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
When making enquiries, specify the secondary school and confirm its current boarding arrangements. Ask about subject availability, residential supervision and how its Christian ethos shapes school life.
Families travelling from outside Rivers State should also establish collection arrangements and the contact procedure if travel plans change.
Official website: Brookstone Secondary School
Preston International School, Ondo State
Preston International School is an option for parents seeking a Christian, full-boarding secondary school in Akure.
Its official welcome page distinguishes the secondary school, which operates full boarding, from the primary school, which offers day and boarding options. Its boarding page describes separate boys’ and girls’ hostels, common rooms and adjoining staff accommodation.
Ask how staff supervise evenings and weekends, what students can do outside lessons and how parents receive updates about their child’s adjustment.
Official website: Preston International School
How Much Do These Boarding Schools Cost?
A reliable comparison requires a current written fee schedule for the same academic session and entry class. Complete, comparable schedules for all nine schools were not verified for this guide, so no estimated price ranking is presented.
For example, Day Waterman College’s official fees page directs parents to its admissions team for up-to-date figures rather than displaying a fixed tuition amount.
When requesting a quotation, ask the school to separate these costs:
| Cost | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Is the amount per term or per session? |
| Boarding and feeding | Are both included, and for which periods? |
| New-student charges | Which registration, acceptance or development charges apply? |
| Uniforms and books | What must be bought separately? |
| Examinations | Which registration fees are additional? |
| Devices and learning materials | Are laptops, tablets or subscriptions compulsory? |
| Activities and trips | Which are compulsory and which are optional? |
| Transport | Are collection services or airport transfers charged separately? |
Calculate the first-year cost by adding tuition, boarding and all compulsory extras. Keep refundable deposits separate, and do not add an item twice if it is already included in a package.
Also request the returning-student bill. A school may be manageable in the first year but difficult to sustain once fees change or another child starts secondary school.
How to Choose the Best Boarding School for Your Child
Check residential care before facilities
Ask who takes responsibility for your child after lessons end.
Useful questions include:
- Who supervises the hostel at night?
- How can a student report bullying or mistreatment privately?
- Who handles a complaint involving a member of staff?
- How quickly are parents informed about illness or an incident?
- What happens if a student repeatedly struggles to settle in?
Request the written policies and ask staff to explain how they work in practice.
Match the examination pathway to the child’s plans
Ask which examinations students take, which subjects are available and what qualifications the programme leads to.
If your child may attend university in Nigeria, establish how the school supports the required subject combinations and entry route. If you are considering overseas study, ask what further qualifications may be needed after secondary school.
A school’s use of “British,” “international” or “Nigerian curriculum” is only the starting point for this discussion.
Request results that show the whole picture
Ask for recent results across the graduating class, including English, Mathematics and your child’s intended subjects.
Find out how many students sat each examination and how the school supports students who are below target. One exceptional student’s result does not describe every learner’s experience.
Visit the areas where boarders actually live
Ask to see the dormitories, bathrooms, dining area, study spaces and medical facilities.
Discuss room occupancy, water supply, meals, laundry, phone access and weekend routines. Where possible, visit with your child and leave time to hear their concerns afterwards.
Consider distance and your child’s readiness
A school farther away creates additional travel and collection arrangements. Decide who can reach your child if you are unavailable.
Also discuss how your child feels about boarding, sharing a room, following a residential routine and asking adults for help. Their willingness and support needs should influence the decision.
Questions to Answer Before Paying an Acceptance Fee
Before accepting an offer, obtain clear answers to these questions:
- Is the offer for the correct campus, class and boarding arrangement?
- What is the complete first-year bill?
- Which payments are refundable?
- What notice is required if the child withdraws?
- Who is the parent’s main residential-care contact?
- What learning or medical support has the school agreed to provide?
- What documents and personal items are required before resumption?
Choose a shortlist of three schools, request comparable information from each and visit before deciding. The strongest choice is the school whose education, residential care and full cost fit your child and your family.
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