Choosing a Private School

This section will provide expert advice, valuable tools, and relevant resources to aid in the decision making process. Learn more about what factors to consider when choosing a private school, what to expect at an open house, and how an educational consultant can help.

View the most popular articles in Choosing a Private School:

Changing Schools and Moving to New Area

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Changing Schools and Moving to New Area
Moving and changing private schools? Follow this practical 2026 checklist to stay organized, navigate admissions, manage your move, and help your children transition successfully into their new school.

Changing schools and moving can be stressful, even if the entire family is excited about the move. The purpose of this article is to give you a checklist of all the things you may need to think about as you orchestrate your move and what you may need to do when changing schools. We have set up a list of things to do along a timeline to mirror your busy schedule as you get your household and school paperwork in order.

As Soon As You Decide to Move

Changing Schools?

  • Private schools often have rigorous admissions. As soon as you realize that a move is necessary, it would help if you researched the private schools in the area and set up interviews so that you can better ascertain your family's fit for the school.
  • One of the easiest ways to begin your search is by using the Private School Review directory to compare schools by location, grade level, tuition, enrollment, and academic offerings before scheduling campus visits.
  • Get on the waiting list. Even if you cannot get your children into your first choice school because they do not have room, stay on their waiting list. Students drop out, move themselves, and enrollment openings occur throughout the year.
  • Consider using an educational consultant from your target destination to help you decide where to place your children when you move.
  • Give yourself enough time for your children to take admissions tests, if required, or placement tests so that the school can best determine fit
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Evaluating and Choosing a Private School

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Evaluating and Choosing a Private School
This guide gives you a roadmap for selecting a private school, emphasizing the importance of identifying family needs, researching schools, conducting visits, and making informed decisions. It provides a step-by-step approach to help parents navigate the complex process of choosing the right private school for their children.

You have your reasons for thinking about sending your child to a private school.

Perhaps she has unique needs that you feel the public school system cannot remediate. Maybe you are less than satisfied with the academic achievements or the safety records of the public schools where you live.

Perhaps you attended private school as a child, and you want your children to enjoy the same experience.

The Rationale

No matter what the reasons are for deciding to enroll your child in private school, the fact remains that deciding which school to send your child to is a tough decision.

  • With so many schools from which to choose, selecting a school is not simple by any standards.
  • Several aspects of school and child must be considered before deciding.

Let me help you work out a process with which you can evaluate and choose from private schools.

  • First, you need to identify your needs.
  • After you identify and prioritize your needs, you can survey private schools.
  • After you’ve narrowed your list, you’ll want to set up school visits and interviews.
  • Deciding on that final school can be a two-way street between your family and the private school.
  • After interviews, you’ll need to prioritize your school list again to make that final decision as offers to enroll your child come in.

This video offers a video of Stuart Country Day School, Princeton, New Jersey.

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Recent Articles

Should Your Child Stay at the Same Private School K–12?
Should Your Child Stay at the Same Private School K–12?
Explore whether your child should attend the same private school from kindergarten through graduation, weighing academic continuity, friendships, changing needs, tuition costs, and opportunities at different educational stages.
When Your Child's Closest Friends Leave Private School
When Your Child's Closest Friends Leave Private School
Learn how to support your child when close friends leave private school, manage loneliness, maintain friendships, encourage new connections, recognize emotional challenges, and decide when additional school support is needed.
When Your Child Doesn't Connect With Their Teacher
When Your Child Doesn't Connect With Their Teacher
Discover when parents should intervene if their child struggles to connect with a private school teacher, including warning signs, communication strategies, classroom concerns, and practical steps toward improving relationships.

Choosing a Private School

GETTING STARTED
In this section we offer a look into some of the most important factors of choosing a private school. Investigate single-sex education and read what students have to say, learn more about what is important when choosing a private school, and get valuable advice on transitioning to a new school.
FINDING SCHOOLS
Learn more about how to find and evaluate private schools. Find out why price should not be your only consideration. Get valuable advice on how to save time and money when choosing a school. Learn more about ranking schools and why it may not work.
EVALUATING SCHOOLS
Here you will find resources and tools to aid in your search and evaluation of private schools. Explore the ranking system and read what schools have to say about it. Learn more about the most important questions to ask and how an education consultant can get answers. Use our checklists to help compare school administration, curriculum and more.