Choosing A Prep School

Published June 01, 2008
If you are following our timeline for choosing a private school, you will notice that this process starts almost two years before the fall in which you want your child to start school. The process begins in a leisurely fashion as you gather your thoughts and think about schools. The intensity builds in the final six months before the January admissions deadline most schools seem to have.
 
 
Here's a recap of the steps you need to follow to find the right school for your child. Work through the process in sequence from beginning to end.
 
Why Private School?
Is private school right for your child? Learn about the things you should consider and the unique benefits of a private school education. Once you are convinced of  the value of a private school education, then you must determine which private school is going to be best for your requirements.
 
Which School IsThe Best For Your Child?
It depends on your requirements. But in the end only one thing matters most anyway: The fit.
 
Boarding or Day School?
Many parents agonize over sending their child to boarding school or keeping them at home and sending them to day school. There are benefits to both kinds of schools. This is an important choice to make.

Single Sex or Coeducation?
You ought to consider a single sex school as opposed to a traditional coeducational school. Why? Because your son or daughter might just truly thrive in a single sex environment.
 
Religious Schools
If your religion is important to you, you will want your children to be educated in a school where your religion matters.
 
Once you have made your choices about which kind of school is right for your child, it's time to get down to the process of evaluating  the schools which you have chosen. This is the time-consuming part of the job. It is also the most interesting and demanding aspect to choosing a school because you will visit schools, interview the admissions staff and be interviewed yourself.
 
Checklist For Comparing Schools
Use this checklist to help you organize the data for your school visits.

The Interview
Part of the admissions requirements of almost every private school is the interview. While it sounds as though this is a one sided exercise, you should be interviewing the admissions personnel as well.
 
The Visit
Visiting the schools on your short list is very important. You need to inspect the campus yourself.
 
One final tip: use the services of an educational consultant. Educational consultants know their schools. They will help you find a good match for your child. They will advise you as to what your child's chances of admission are as well.

Read Related Choosing a School Articles:

Step by step guides and tips on finding the right school.

  • Choosing an Elementary School
    You would think it would be easier to get your child into an elementary or primary school than into a prep school. But in fact it is almost as complicated.
  • Evaluating and Choosing a Private School
    How should parents evaluate and choose a private school? Read about some helpful tips regarding this important decision.
  • Changing Schools and Moving to New Area
    Find out tips and services for changing schools and moving to new area.
  • Should You Send Your Child to Private Primary or High School?
    If you had to choose when to send your child to private school, would you send her to private school for the primary grades or high school?
  • Open Houses
    You must visit schools on your short list. Open houses are an efficient way to do this. More on organizing this task here.
  • Small Is Good
    Private schools offer individualized attention to their students because their class sizes are generally small.
  • The Value of a Private School Education
    Why pay $30,000, $40,000 or more for something which public education gives you for free? Here are five reasons why you would do so.
  • Why Private School?
    Is private school right for your child? Learn about the things you should consider and the unique benefits of a private school education.

Identifying Schools

Make lists of schools which seem to fit your requirements.

  • Boarding or Day School?
    Many parents agonize over sending their child to boarding school or keeping them at home and sending them to day school. A look at the pros and cons here.
  • If We Did Rank Schools...
    Ranking private schools is almost impossible because it is so difficult to gather the data needed to compare statistics. If we did rank schools, this is how to do it.
  • Do Ranks Matter?
    How do I know how this school compares with the others I am considering? Has anybody ranked private schools?
  • When Should You Consider a Therapeutic School?
    It is a heart-stopping moment for any parent when you realize that your child needs much more help than you can give him at home and at his current school. Perhaps a therapeutic school is the answer.
  • Single Sex or Coeducation?
    Sooner or later you ought to consider a single sex school as opposed to a traditional coeducational school. Why? For several reasons.
  • When Should You Consider A Special Needs School?
    Dealing with the reality that your child has a learning difference can be a defining moment for many parents. So much is at stake. Special needs schools offer programs and highly trained faculty.
  • Which School Is The Best For Your Child?
    It depends on your requirements. But in the end only one thing matters most anyway.

Evaluating Schools

Doing your due diligence.

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