So, let's assume that somehow, we could rank private schools. After all, asking how a particular school is ranked is something most parents want to know. We are accustomed to comparing just about everything these days. We comparison shop constantly. We rank our favorite teams. We know which pop artist is on top of the charts. And so on. Comparing and ranking anything and everything is just the way we do things. Doing so lets us know that we are getting the best value possible.
That comparison shopping approach works fine for most things in our daily lives. Unfortunately, it does not work when it comes to ranking private schools. Why? Because each private school is unique. How it is run, where it is located, the courses it offers, the sports programs, the extracurricular activities, its philosophy, and the results it gets are all unique.
That doesn't mean we can't compare the various features of private schools. That is doable, but it is a lot of work. As we have pointed out in Do Ranks Matter?, it is extremely difficult and time-consuming for ordinary people to find the data and information we need to arrive at a ranking system for private schools. But if we did rank private schools, here is how we would do it.
One reason rankings can be misleading is that families value different things. One family may prioritize a strong STEM curriculum, while another is searching for a school with exceptional arts programming or robust support services. Some parents want a school close to home. Others are willing to relocate or consider boarding options to access specialized programs. Because every family's priorities differ, a school that appears perfect for one student may be entirely wrong for another.
This is especially true in today's educational environment. Private schools continue to diversify their offerings, adding entrepreneurship programs, artificial intelligence coursework, global learning opportunities, experiential education, and expanded wellness initiatives. These differences make meaningful comparisons increasingly difficult.
Visit the schools
"Wait a minute!" you are thinking. What about important stuff like how selective the school is, where its graduates went to college, how many teachers have terminal degrees, and so on? For now, put those considerations on hold. First things first. Visit the schools. Here's why.
You wouldn't buy a house based only on a few pictures and some publicly available information like taxes and comparables, would you? No, of course not. You'd visit the house personally and look in every nook and cranny. You would visualize yourself living in the house with your things. You would make sure you liked the neighborhood. If being close to shops and other amenities is important to you, you would also review that aspect of the equation. How long a commute to work will you have? The list of questions you will want answered is your very own personal list of questions.
The same principle applies when evaluating private schools. A website can provide useful information, but it cannot convey the atmosphere of a campus. You cannot fully understand how students interact with one another, how teachers engage with their classes, or how comfortable your child might feel in the environment until you experience it firsthand.
See where we are going with this? How the schools you visit fit your needs best determines which school is best for you. The fit trumps everything else.
You are probably beginning to realize that this is a lot of work and will take a lot of time. Our Checklist For Comparing Schools will help you keep track of your findings as you visit each school. Don't trust your memory. Looking at your list and noting that School A has fine athletic facilities but a limited arts program, while School B has a fine arts program but has limited athletic facilities, positions you to make an informed decision. Since sending your child to private school is a major decision, I think it is very important for you to make a well-informed decision, don't you?
During campus visits, pay attention to details that may not appear in admissions brochures. Observe whether students seem engaged in class. Notice how faculty interact with students outside the classroom. Look at the condition of facilities and ask questions about academic support, college counseling, extracurricular opportunities, and student well-being. These observations often reveal more than rankings ever could.
How do I know which schools to visit?
In the first stage of finding the right private school, you looked at dozens of private school websites. A couple of phone calls and emails later, you narrowed that list down to three to five schools you want to investigate further. That's why developing a list of schools that meet your requirements is so important.
Developing that list is probably the most important part of the process of choosing a prep school. Match what each school offers with your specific requirements. Then, hire an educational consultant to help you match your child with the school. That's the secret to the process.
Many families make the mistake of focusing only on a school's reputation. While reputation can be a useful indicator, it should never replace careful research. A highly respected school may not offer the academic environment, learning style, or extracurricular opportunities that best serve your child's needs.
Instead, begin with a clear understanding of what matters most to your family. Consider class size, curriculum, academic rigor, learning support, athletics, arts, campus culture, religious affiliation, location, and cost. Before beginning your search, it is also worth reviewing Evaluating and Choosing a Private School, which outlines many of the factors families should consider when evaluating schools. The National Association of Independent Schools also offers resources that can help families evaluate independent school options.
This is the real reason why rankings do not matter as much as the fit. Your professional educational consultant knows her schools. Obviously, she doesn't know every private school out there. But she is familiar with hundreds of them and has visited many of them. She also has a vast network of admissions directors and their staff with whom she is in regular contact. She has her finger on the pulse of the private school world.
Match your child with the school's requirements
Look at this stage of the process this way: you want your child to go to Phillips Exeter Academy. Exeter has everything you and your child want. But will Exeter want your child? Why is that relevant? Because Exeter is such a fine school that hundreds more students apply to that grand old school than it has places for.
I know you are thinking that "Exeter is a top-ranked school." It is indeed and has been for many decades. The reasons why Exeter got to the top of the rankings are many and varied. But the simple answer is that it does a really good job of educating young people, not just academically either. Exeter, like many schools, strives to develop the whole child. Does your child have what Exeter is looking for? You won't know until you apply and go through the admissions process.
Admissions decisions involve much more than grades and test scores. Schools seek students who will contribute to their communities in meaningful ways. Character, motivation, intellectual curiosity, leadership, creativity, and extracurricular involvement often play important roles in the admissions process. Families can learn more about the process through the Enrollment Management Association.
This is another reason why an educational consultant is so useful. She will know that Exeter is probably a reach for your child and recommend two or three other schools from your shortlist. One of these schools will be a great fit and will likely be quite eager to offer your child a place. We consultants refer to that as a safe school. Does this mean you are settling for second best? Not at all.
Organizations such as the Independent Educational Consultants Association provide professional standards and resources for families seeking expert admissions guidance.
In fact, many students discover that their eventual school choice turns out to be a better fit than their original first-choice institution. The goal is not to attend the most famous school possible. The goal is to attend the school where your child will thrive academically, socially, and personally.
Don't forget: the only thing that really matters is the fit. Every school on your shortlist should be a great fit for your child's needs and requirements. With thousands of private schools across the United States to choose from, you have a vast array of options. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics illustrates the breadth and diversity of the private school sector.
That's why finding three to five schools that fit your requirements takes time and effort. Sifting through all those websites is a major project.
I recommend scheduling an hour or two a week to accomplish this exploratory phase of the school search process. That is also why you need expert guidance along the way. Your consultant will save you much time because she knows her schools, your requirements, and your child. She can match all three up successfully. This is why ranks are not the only thing that matters when it comes to choosing a private school.
Conclusion
Parents naturally want to know which schools are considered the "best." The challenge is that there is no universal definition of best when it comes to private education. Every student has different strengths, interests, goals, and learning styles. Every family has different priorities and expectations.
That is why rankings should be viewed as only one small piece of the decision-making process. Campus visits, thoughtful research, conversations with admissions professionals, and a careful assessment of your child's needs will provide far more valuable insights.
Ultimately, the right school is not necessarily the highest-ranked school. It is the school that offers the strongest fit for your child. When you focus on fit rather than rankings alone, you are far more likely to find a school where your child can succeed, grow, and flourish.
