A private school does not have to accept your child. Nor does it have to give you any reason why it has refused your child admission.

How can this be? Surely there must be some federal or state laws which govern the situation? There is no legal recourse because private schools don't take public funding. They pride themselves on their independence. They admit who they choose for whatever reasons they decide are best.

Can you choose a private school for your child by yourself? Of course you can. You can also write your own will or buy a house without consulting an attorney. But would you? Do you trust your limited knowledge of private schools? That is why you need to hire a professional educational consultant. A consultant offers you a wealth of experience for a very modest fee. While she can't guarantee that your child will get into a particular private school, a consultant knows private schools. He understands the process, knows who to call and the questions to ask.

So unless your father endowed the school or was its first headmaster, don't take a chance. Seek and pay for the expert advice you need. Here is a recap of some of the things you will have to do to choose a school:

• Start the process for admission early for admission the following fall.
• Engage the services of a professional consultant.
• Develop a short list of schools to research and visit.
• Fix any academic deficiencies as quickly as you can.
• Arrange financing.

Resources

Finding A Good Grade School, For A Fee