Private School Review Blog

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

Applying to a private school is a process. It is a process with many sections and parts to it. If you are accustomed to managing projects and meeting deadlines, this is just another version of that kind of exercise. I strongly recommend that you set it up just as carefully as you set up any major 12 to 18-month project at your office. When you organize yourself this way, you can put the project on the back burner for a week or so in the first six months without losing any momentum because you have your notes and "must-do" items listed. You can see what has to be done at a glance.

Start the Process Well in Advance

Begin your private school search at least 18 months before you actually want your child to begin classes. For example, if you want your child to begin Grade 10, then you would begin your private school search process in the spring of Grade 8. That will give you summer and fall to identify and visit schools. That will also allow time for admissions testing and submitting applications.

You can start earlier if you prefer, but this timetable will give you enough time to thoroughly research and visit schools without feeling rushed. You will be able to arrive at well-informed decisions about where to apply. Starting far in advance ensures that you have enough time to take care of all the details and arrangements involved with visiting schools for admissions interviews,

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.

Why Private School?

The question of how to educate a child is one of the most important a parent can ask.

• Many parents struggle with the basic choice of public vs. private school.
• Parents do not want to incur unnecessary expenses if they will not ultimately benefit their child.
• After all, many public schools do an excellent job of educating students.

While it is true that public schools do not have tuition costs compared with private schools where tuitions run, on average, from $30,000 to $50,000 per year, the benefits of private education can still far outweigh the costs depending on the local options parents may face.

• Private schools challenge their students academically, expose them to clearer value systems, give greater access to teachers, and allow them to feel safer than at a local public school.
• When you do decide to pursue private schooling for your child, start the research process early.
• Admission to private schools can be competitive, and finding a school that is a perfect fit for your child, where he or she will also be accepted, may take some time.

A Higher Bar

A major advantage to private education is that your child will likely be challenged to a higher academic standard.

• Private schools tend to be more academically rigorous than public schools.
• Private school students may have to meet more criteria to keep up their grade point averages.

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