Month: July 2010

An "Insider’s" Perspective On Private Elementary School Admissions

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Are a few letters of recommendation and a phone call really all it takes to get in? It depends on who you ask.

Recently, I had an interesting conversation about our book with a private school mom. She is successful and accomplished, with Ivy League degrees. She and her husband live in one of the toniest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. She has successfully navigated the private elementary school admissions scene at several top schools, including John Thomas Dye. She is funny and nice.

The conversation turned to Beyond The Brochure when this mom asked me what my book was about. I told her it was for any parent who plans to apply to private elementary schools. I explained the thesis of our book, which is that private school admissions is an insider’s game, but anybody can play the game if they first understand its hidden rules.

This mom and her husband are the quintessential “insider” family. Therefore, she had difficulty understanding why we would write a book like Beyond The Brochure. With her family’s connections, there would be no need for anything more than a few well placed phone calls and letters of recommendations to make the application process a mere formality. Acceptance letters for this family have always been forthcoming. The idea of receiving a rejection letter simply never occurred to her.

I pointed out that for many families, rejection from top schools is a reality. The competition is fierce and parents don’t always understand what’s happening behind the scenes in the admission offices. The application process for many parents (including me) can be very stressful.

Italic
The topic turned to “feeder” preschools i.e. those preschools that send lots of kids to specific elementary schools. See our blog posts about “feeder”schools: Feeder Schools To Harvard-Westlake and Feeder Preschools To Private Elementary Schools and Westside Feeder Schools

We also discuss “feeder” schools in the book.

This mom pointed out that parents pay tuition to get access to the preschool director’s contacts at “feeder” preschools so again, why would they need a book or an education consultant to help them? Did she realize, I asked, that even at “feeder” preschools families get rejected from competitive private elementary schools? But, they are buying entree into top elementary schools by attending these preschools, she reiterated. I thought to myself, what if your child doesn’t get into one of the “feeder” preschools?

This, my friends, is the “insider” parent perspective on private elementary school admissions. We wrote Beyond The Brochure to give every parent the same information as the “insider” family. It doesn’t really matter where you get the information about private school admissions…from a friend or a book… the point is to get it–and use it!
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Reader Question: How Do I Find Out What Families At A School Are Really Like?

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The Willows Community School Yearbook 2009-10

Finding out what families at a particular school are really like is one of the most challenging and elusive parts of the private elementary school process. Of course you want the school where you send your child to be a great place for your child and you. But how can you be sure that will happen?

 

If you’ve been on a private elementary school tour, the tour guide may have been a parent at the school. Most likely, the school selected a friendly and knowledgeable person to lead the tours (this is a highly coveted volunteer job). But, not always. We went on one tour where the mom leading our tour was rude, snobbish, couldn’t discuss the school’s curriculum and wouldn’t make eye contact with us. But, we did find out that her husband was an important plastic surgeon (who, it was obvious, had done work on her face) and she was wearing Chanel! Not exactly what we were looking for. We passed on that “trophy” school. It was hard to ignore her behavior and look at the school beyond the tour guide. If we had like the school more, we would have gone back for a second tour.

 

So how can you find out more about what the families at a school are really like? It can be hard to ever really know until you’re actually a parent at the school, because you don’t know which families will be in your child’s class. But, here are a few tips to give you some ideas to sort it out:

 

Look at a school’s yearbook. You can get a feel for the school from the yearbook photos, theme and style.

 

Don’t be misled by the school’s location. Schools in very affluent areas can be warm and down-to-earth and schools in less affluent areas can be extremely pretentious.

 

Look at the “feeder” preschool to the elementary school. This can give you a clue about the families. If the elementary school accepts a lot of kids from a co-op school or a temple school that might help you understand the type of families your child will go to school with.

 

We’ve said this before, but if possible, try to go to school events like Book Fairs and other events where prospective parents can mingle with existing families.

 

Ask people you know about the parents at a school you might want to apply to. Be specific. If you’re concerned about a particular issue, ask a parent who is already there.

 

Each class and each grade is different. And, the economic cycle may impact who a school admits for financial reasons. Schools may change over the years and admit more families on financial aid in some years and wealthier families in other years.

 

If you want an ethnically diverse school and you don’t see diversity when you visit the school, it may not be the right school for you. Don’t assume it will diversify by the time you arrive…it takes years to build a diverse student body.

 

Sometimes you just know it’s going to be the right school. That’s a great feeling!

Reader Question: How Do Parents Deal With "Gap" Year When Public Schools End At 5th Grade and Most Private Middle Schools Start At 7th Grade?

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We pulled this reader question from our April 8, 2010 post, “Your Family’s Key Messages”. In case you missed this in the comments section…

Anonymous said…

 

I just discovered your blog and find it enormously informative and helpful. I am trying to decide if we should start our daughter in private K or for middle school. I am finding that many LAUSD elementary schools end in 5th grade while private schools have major entry points in 7th grade. Are there other schools that accept students for 6th grade? How do other making the switch to private for middle school deal with the gap year?

 

June 10, 2010 8:34 AM

Christina Simon said…

 

Dear Anonymous, thanks for reading our blog! We love writing it!

Your question brings up an issue lots of LA parents deal with. Here are my thoughts. If you start in public kindergarten, you will need to find a school for 6th grade, since public schools are K-5. Then, if you decide to move your child again for 7th grade, that could be 3 schools in 3 years. That’s a lot of transition…just something to think about.

 

Or, you could move your child to a private school that has a 6-12 or a 6-8th grade and create more stability for your child. Kids get admitted to private school from public schools regularly. Private schools are very well aware of the “gap” problem and tend to be understanding of it, if they have space.

 

Some private schools DO except students for 6th grade, Brentwood and Crossroads are two that I believe accept applications for 6th grade. At other schools, there are less spots, as I understand it for 6th grade. However, it can be done. Generally, points of entry are K, 3rd (limited spots), 7th, 9th (limited spots).

 

The “gap year” issue is a tough one for everyone. It’s something that certainly can be handled, it will just require some time and effort to plan ahead, knowing it’s coming up ahead for your child. You could also leave public school for 3rd grade, 5th grade, etc. Sometimes, this is a smart strategy that a lot of parents use. Openings occur every year in every grade, it’s just a question of numbers. If you prepare in advance, you will find a spot, I’m sure. Just remember, like kindergarten, you’ll need to apply to several schools, not just one. And, there is an exam your child will need to take to get into private middle school.

 

One last point. A very savvy educational consultant told me recently she tells her clients that if they have a “gap” year to go to public school for a year and then apply to private for 7th, since private schools don’t like to “poach” students from other private schools. In other words, if you go to a private for one year and then apply out to another private right away, that can be tricky, for the reason called “poaching”. Interesting advice.

 

Hope that helps!!! Good luck!- Christina

 

June 10, 2010 8:58 AM

Anonymous said…

 

Thanks again for this helpful advice!

 

Financial Woes Faced By Private Elementary Schools…Slight Improvement?

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As the economy recovers every so slowly, a very good source tells us that some private elementary schools expect to be able to offer more financial aid this year to incoming families. Last year, private schools were hit extremely hard by requests from both incoming and currently enrolled families for financial aid (some current families requested aid for the first time). With the economy improving slowly, many schools expect to be able to offer more aid to a wider number of incoming families than last year, according to our source. Still, don’t expect a boom year for financial aid just yet.
    The article below from the LA Times (3/23/09) highlights financial woes faced by private schools in LA…we don’t think much will change in terms of how schools plan their big fundraising events and annual giving campaigns for 2010-11…”challenging” and “moderation” will still be the operative words until the economy recovers from the recession, in our opinion. The jobless rate is still very high and some private school families are doing everything they can to keep their kids in school and make ends meet. We think most private elementary schools are trying to be sensitive to this reality and make sure all families feel welcome and included at fundraising events.

    From the LA Times, March 23, 2009:
    “Most solicitations don’t begin with the words “don’t give,” but that’s the approach being used this year by the private Oakwood School in a clever, celebrity-packed appeal timed to its annual fundraising drive.

    In the 3 1/2-minute video, Danny DeVito, Jason Alexander, Steve Carell and other Hollywood stars voice such sentiments as “The economy is in the toilet, so don’t give” and “You’d be stupid to give” before getting to the real point: “Unless you care about your children and their future,” and “Unless you care about families who had a hard year and need some help with tuition.”

    Created by parent volunteers, the video is an example of the inventive methods private schools are using this spring to generate giving at a time when traditional benefactors may be hard-pressed themselves.

    Oakwood’s “Don’t Give” campaign was a precursor to its major fundraiser, a star-studded event Saturday at The Lot in West Hollywood, featuring comedy, music and an auction. The video was meant to be an internal communication but was distributed on YouTube, said James Astman, Oakwood’s head of school.

    “The purpose was to communicate to our constituents a vital but easily misunderstood message: that in these challenging times, giving is more important than ever,” Astman said. “In the short run to support financial aid and in the long run to build our endowment.”

    Pricey tuition

    Many independent schools in Los Angeles are sending the same message as they deal with a faltering economy that is forcing middle- and even upper-income families to think twice about whether they can afford to pay annual tuitions that top $25,000 at some campuses.

    As a result, the proceeds of many fundraising appeals this year are earmarked for financial aid budgets, and more schools say they will use the money to help families who may not have needed assistance in the past but are now struggling. Other schools are taking a more direct route, asking donors to fund tuition scholarships for a year or more.

    And though schools are still holding gala fundraising dinners, many are cutting back on extravagances and trying to ensure that most of the proceeds are used to support student programs. Loyola High School’s annual auction next weekend is being coordinated by two parents with backgrounds in accounting.”

    click below to read the entire article:


    In tough times, private schools take innovative approaches to fundraising

    In tough times, private schools take innovative approaches to fundraising

    admin Leave a comment
    As the economy improves slightly, a very good source tells us that private elementary schools expect to be able to offer more financial aid this year to incoming families. Last year schools were hit extremely hard by requests from both incoming and enrolled families for financial aid. With the economy improving, many schools expect to be able to offer more aid to a wider number of incoming families than last year, according to our source.
      This article from the LA Times (3/23/09) highlights financial woes faced by private schools in LA…we don’t think much will change in terms of how schools plan their big fundraising events and annual giving campaigns for 2010-11…moderation will still be the operative word until the economy recovers from the recession.

      Most solicitations don’t begin with the words “don’t give,” but that’s the approach being used this year by the private Oakwood School in a clever, celebrity-packed appeal timed to its annual fundraising drive.

      In the 3 1/2-minute video, Danny DeVito, Jason Alexander, Steve Carell and other Hollywood stars voice such sentiments as “The economy is in the toilet, so don’t give” and “You’d be stupid to give” before getting to the real point: “Unless you care about your children and their future,” and “Unless you care about families who had a hard year and need some help with tuition.”

      Created by parent volunteers, the video is an example of the inventive methods private schools are using this spring to generate giving at a time when traditional benefactors may be hard-pressed themselves.

      Oakwood’s “Don’t Give” campaign was a precursor to its major fundraiser, a star-studded event Saturday at The Lot in West Hollywood, featuring comedy, music and an auction. The video was meant to be an internal communication but was distributed on YouTube, said James Astman, Oakwood’s head of school.

      “The purpose was to communicate to our constituents a vital but easily misunderstood message: that in these challenging times, giving is more important than ever,” Astman said. “In the short run to support financial aid and in the long run to build our endowment.”

      Pricey tuition

      Many independent schools in Los Angeles are sending the same message as they deal with a faltering economy that is forcing middle- and even upper-income families to think twice about whether they can afford to pay annual tuitions that top $25,000 at some campuses.

      As a result, the proceeds of many fundraising appeals this year are earmarked for financial aid budgets, and more schools say they will use the money to help families who may not have needed assistance in the past but are now struggling. Other schools are taking a more direct route, asking donors to fund tuition scholarships for a year or more.

      And though schools are still holding gala fundraising dinners, many are cutting back on extravagances and trying to ensure that most of the proceeds are used to support student programs. Loyola High School’s annual auction next weekend is being coordinated by two parents with backgrounds in accounting.

      click below to read the entire article:

      In tough times, private schools take innovative approaches to fundraising