I want to chime in with the "School for Good and Evil" series by Soman Chainan. Ostensibly Middle Grade, but enthralling for grown ups as well, with lots of action, mild horror and humour, so perfect for an 11 year old. And they have the magical boarding school thing going on.
(I'm going to assume he isn't put off by female protagonists, I know these books have a large following among boys.)
I'm going to second the Dragonlance rec, at least for Chronicles. Now, they make me wince, but at twelve my entire inner fantasy life took place in those books. There are sexual references, though, if that is an issue.
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I honestly simply thought that the theme (in the DOP books) of the dragonriders having sex, due to their DRAGONS having sex, regardless of the gender of the rider, might not be apropos for a boy his age.
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As a parent, I find the consent issues concerning. As a twelve year old girl, they really upset me, although I couldn't quite articulate why, only that they made me feel bad.