During the 1950’s the boarding program at Incarnate Word High School offered educational options to the various mission projects that the sisters of the Incarnate Word operated across Texas and Mexico. With the expansion of the educational options in these locations over the course of the next twenty years, the boarding program slowly faded out. However, in 1985, the new president of the University of Incarnate Word had a passion for providing opportunities for international students to experience the culture of San Antonio and add to the life of the campus.
Recruiting efforts for the boarding program started and the first high school boarding students were welcomed in 1994. The supervision of the boarding program came under the umbrella of Residential Life at the university. At first boarding was only available to junior and senior students but that was quickly expanded to allow all grades to attend. Currently the male floor averages around 13 students with capacity for Starting with a core of 10 to 12 students, the program has 16 students. The girls floor averages around 20 students with an ability to house up to 30 girls. In 1999, St. Anthony Catholic High School housed a few boarding students on the campus of Incarnate Word High School. The following year St. Anthony’s boarding program increased enrollment to 12 students and the program was moved to St. Anthony’s Catholic high school.
In January 2004, the St.Anthony's boarding program was moved back to Incarnate Word High School campus where male students reside on the first floor of Madeleine Hall. Female students live on the third floor of Madeleine Hall. Combined the two programs average between 30 and 40, mostly international, students.
