I taught at a school in Alaska that was a combination of a local community school and a boarding school for students from mostly small, rural villages. They came for many reasons: better education, experience with a more diverse student body, athletics, chance for a fresh start. At the school, some thrived, some survived, some languished, some were kicked out. The experience was probably hardest for those who were really close to their families and had rarely or never been away from them. Homesickness probably caused more attrition than anything else (you could actually see some of them just pining away). Rules violations were probably the second biggest cause of attrition, with poor study/work habits and the resultant frustrations that built up with bad grades being third. However, a number of the kids thrived because of the structure of the boarding school and the relationships they formed with other students, school personnel, and community members. Many of them still stay in touch through Facebook and often express deep appreciation for their experiences while living at the boarding school. There are three public boarding schools I know of in AK (Sitka, Galena, and Nenana). Since they are public schools there is much less out-of-pocket expense for students to attend them. I don't think we ever had any out-of-state kids apply for the one I worked for, but it might be interesting to check that out. While not every student is well-adapted to handle the boarding school environment, wouldn't it be a great opportunity for a kid from, say, Alabama or New Jersey to get to spend a year or two in a place like Alaska? I'm not sure my own kids could have handled that kind of separation, but for those with a proper mindset and a supportive family, particularly if they are self-motivated, it could be a truly wonderful opportunity; almost like being a foreign-exchange student without the language barrier.