How do schools decide who to admit in the first place?
Many factors go into determining whether or not a child will be offered admission to a school. Additionally, many factors go into creating an entering class of students. A school’s highest priority is to admit students who have the greatest chance at success in their educational environment and who will contribute the most to their school’s community. They also take into account the make-up of the class and will want to strike a balance between criteria that might include gender, birth date, geographic location, and more. Ultimately, the decision to admit – or not admit – a student takes into account individual characteristics as well as potential group dynamics.

Is being placed on a waitlist just a polite way for a school to deny admission?
If a school feels strongly that a child will not succeed in their environment, most admissions directors will not offer admission to the student. However, if the admissions director believes that the child could be successful but wasn’t admitted for another reason, perhaps a group factor as described above, the child could very well be placed on a waitlist. Then, if a space becomes available at some point in the future, a student from the waitlist will be offered admission.

If the school believes that my child could fit in well at their school, why was my child placed on the waitlist rather than someone else?
Many factors go into admitting students to private schools. For example, let’s say that two students – a boy and a girl – are both seen as potentially successful students at a given school, but the entering class has an overabundance of girls. If all other factors are equal, the school is more likely to admit the boy to better balance the class.

Is there anything I can do to improve my child’s chances of getting off of the waitlist and into the school?
If you receive a letter telling you that your child has been placed on a waitlist, you can call the school’s admissions office to affirm your commitment to enroll if your child is ultimately admitted. You may also ask how many children are currently on the waitlist and the likelihood that your child is in a position to move off of the list. If a spot does open up, the school will be more likely to offer admission to a family that is a “sure thing” over a family who might not commit. Be mindful, however, that there is a fine line between letting the school know that you remain interested and stalking the admissions office. One phone call should be sufficient.

What if my child doesn’t make it off of the waitlist but the school is still our first choice? Is there anything we can do to improve our chances in the future?
If you know for certain that your child will not be attending a school for the upcoming year, either because you did not make it off of the waitlist or you received a rejection letter, you really have nothing to lose by contacting the admissions officer and politely asking for feedback. Some admissions officers will even go as far as offering advice on how you might improve your child’s chances for admission in the future. For example, if the admissions officer thought there were issues of academic deficiencies, perhaps your child can spend the upcoming year building up the skills that are required to be successful at the school.

Learn more

Find out what parents outside of San Diego have to say about their experiences with waitlists on the following blogs and discussion forums:

AdmissionsQuest: Waitlisted at a Private School?
http://www.admissionsquest.com/~Resources/ShowArticle.cfm/ArticleID/90/ArticleTypeID/5/Topic/waitlisted-at-a-private-school

NYC Private Schools Blog: Waitlists for Private Schools; You’re Not Alone
http://nycprivateschoolsblog.com/education/waitlists-for-private-schools-youre-not-alone/03/03/2009/

Private School Review: Waitlisted? What next?
http://www.privateschoolreview.com/articles/66

The SF K Files: Private school wait lists
http://thesfkfiles.blogspot.com/2009/02/hot-topic-private-school-wait-lists.html

The private school admission season is in full swing around San Diego, and many schools have scheduled events for prospective families during January 2010. These events give families the opportunity to learn more about a school’s program, meet administrators, teachers and current parents, and get a feel for the campus and facilities.

Now is the time to RSVP for events coming up in January 2010. Be aware that some area private schools have completed their Open Houses for the current admission season. In addition, some private schools prefer to invite prospective families to visit their campuses for private tours rather than hosting large-scale events.

Below is a list of events from a sampling of private schools in and around San Diego. These dates were taken from the schools’ websites, so please check with the schools to confirm date and time, and to RSVP if appropriate. Also, please realize that this is by no means an exhaustive list of San Diego private schools. If you are interested in a school that you don’t see listed here, call or email the school to find out if you can schedule a private tour or if they have any upcoming events for you to attend.

• 

  The Bishop's School

  The Bishop’s School
  http://www.bishops.com/
  January 15, 2010, 9:00-10:00am
  Admission Information Coffee
  

• Francis Parker School
  http://www.francisparker.org/
  January 7, 2010
  Shadow Day for Sixth through Eighth grade applicants
  January 7, 2010
  Neighborhood coffee in Mission Hills
  January 12, 2010, 3:30-5:30pm
  Middle School Open House, Sixth through Eighth Grade
  January 19, 2010, 3:30-5:30pm
  Upper School Open House, Ninth through Twelfth Grade
  January 26, 2010
  Shadow Day for Ninth through Twelfth grade applicants
  January 27, 2010, 3:15-5:30 pm
  Lower School Open House, JK through Fifth Grade
  January 28, 2010
  Neighborhood coffee in Rancho Santa Fe

• La Jolla Country Day School
  http://www.ljcds.org/
  January 14, 2010, 6:30-8:30pm
  Middle and Upper School Open House, Fifth through Twelfth Grade
  January 19, 2010, 8:15-10:15am
  Lower School Open House, Kindergarten through Fourth Grade

• Pacific Ridge School
  http://www.pacificridge.org/
  January 9, 2010, 2:00pm
  Middle School Open House, Seventh and Eighth Grade
  January 14, 2010, 1:00pm
  Upper School Open House, Ninth through Twelfth Grade
  January 25, 2010
  Applicant Visit Day

• Sanderling Waldorf School
  http://www.sanderlingschool.org/
  January 13, 2010, 3:30pm
  Parent-Education Open House
  January 19, 2010, 9:00am
  Classroom Observation Day

• San Diego Jewish Academy
  January 19, 2010, 7:00-8:30pm
  http:// www.sdja.com/
  Maimonides Upper School Science and Math Exploration, Sixth through Twelfth Grade

• Santa Fe Christian Schools
  http://www.sfcs.net/
  January 13, 2010, 10:00am-12:00pm
  Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade Open House

• Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School
  http://www.hebrewday.org/
  January 7, 2010, 10:15-11:15am
  Kindergarten and First Grade Sneak Peek

• Stella Maris Academy
  http://www.stellamarisacademy.org/
  January 31, 2010, 10:00am-1:00pm
  Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Open House

• Warren-Walker School
  http://www.warren-walker.com/
  January 13, 2010, 4:00-5:30pm
  Point Loma Campus Open House, PK – Fifth Grade
  January 14, 2010, 4:00-5:30pm
  La Mesa Campus Open House, PK – Fifth Grade
  January 21, 2010, 4:00-5:30pm
  Middle School Campus Open House, Sixth through Eighth Grade
  

Below is a collection of links to websites, articles and videos that tell the story of High Tech High. I encourage you to investigate and find out more about what sets the schools apart. Then, if you want to know more, contact HTH and arrange a visit. I have no doubt you’ll be surprised and excited by the learning that takes place and the effect they are having on education not only in San Diego, but around the world. And if you want to enter your name in the lottery for admission for 2010-11, you may do so online on their website. But don’t wait around; the deadline is a very strict February 27, 2010.

• High Tech High
  The organization’s website, including information on admissions and an online application

• The Vision Behind the High Tech Journey
  Three part series by SDNN.com that takes “a look into how one of the most successful U.S. schools began.”

• Transformed by Technology: High Tech High Overview
  Edutopia, produced by the George Lucas Foundation, has a series of videos that highlight High Tech High

• Real World, San Diego: Hands-On Learning at High Tech High
  An article by Edutopia that discusses how students prepare for the real world through technology-enabled projects

• Connectivity at High Tech High
  An online portfolio from the What Kids Can Do website

• San Diego Unified information on High Tech High
  Includes links to California Standards Test (CST) results, School Accountability Report Cards, and more

• High Tech’s Hiring Bonanza
  Describes the somewhat unconventional process by which High Tech High interviews and hires teachers

• The High Tech High Way
  University of San Diego (USD) alumni are helping charter school students thrive under a new educational paradigm

• 8’s Cool School: High Tech High North County
  High Tech High’s innovative project-based learning program helped them become local CBS affiliate KFMB-TV Channel 8’s Cool School of the Week

In the interest of full disclosure, I do want to share that this year is my child’s first year as a student at one of the High Tech High schools. After attending a private school since kindergarten, we decided to try the High Tech lottery for middle school. When we received the letter last spring informing us that our child had secured a spot for the 2009-10 school year, we were thrilled and thought we knew what to expect. I am very happy to report that the school has far exceeded our expectations. Our child is learning, motivated, and happy to go to school each day. The small class and school sizes help teachers and staff maintain a positive, respectful learning environment where children feel safe. Most important for me, our child is academically challenged at just the right level in a way that is interesting and connects learning experiences to the real world.

One of the nicest surprises this year has been that the homework load has not been overwhelming. In addition, as a parent I have not been expected to teach new skills through the homework, which was something that happened regularly at a previous school. When homework is assigned at HTH, it has a purpose and a reason, and it relates directly back to work done in the classroom. Not only am I thrilled with the homework policy as a parent, but also as an educator.

I realize that homework can definitely be a controversial topic for parents, educators and especially children! A book that I enjoyed reading and that helped me clarify my own opinion is The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing by Alfie Kohn. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is struggling over how much homework is enough or too much.

Shopping for a private school is much like shopping for shoes. You pick your favorite school based on the website and brochure because it looks so appealing. You have no problem picturing your child on campus, and the admissions director is quick to give you all of the reasons why this school is the best of the bunch. But wouldn’t it be great if you could try on the school before making a commitment?

Many private schools offer shadow days for students just for that reason. Shadow days allow children to try on the schools and see how they fit as they experience  “a day in the life.” A prospective student is usually paired with a current student and, depending upon the age of the child and policies of the school, will attend a half- or full-day of classes and activities.

While a shadow day is meant as a way for your child to learn more about a school, you should also realize that the school will be observing your child to see how well he/she will fit in as a student. This evaluation is somewhat informal, meaning that your child will probably not need to worry about taking a test or being interviewed on a shadow day. However, check with the school’s admission staff to make sure that you and your child understand what the expectations are for the day. Also, most schools will limit the number of shadow students that they will accommodate, so let them know as early in the admissions process as possible if you would like for your child to participate.

If your child is feeling stressed about attending a shadow day, prepare for the day by discussing the things that he will want to notice during his visit. How was he greeted upon arrival at the school? Did he feel welcomed? Was the school ready for the visit? How do the current students feel about the school? Are they happy there? What do they like the most/least? What do the interactions with teachers feel like? Are they approachable and easy to talk to? Finally – is this a place where he feels he can be happy and learn?

* Lesson learned from a client: If you’ve scheduled a shadow day for your child, give the school a call or send them an email the day before to confirm that you are still on the schedule. One client recently showed up at a San Diego private school on the scheduled shadow day only to discover that the school had no record of their information. Because the school was at their limit for shadow students for the day, the prospective family had to reschedule for a later date.

San Diego Cooperative Charter School

Selecting a Charter School

If you are interested in learning more about charter schools, I highly suggest you approach the process in much the same way you would approach the search for a private school. Learn about the charter schools in your area and find out about their missions and how they approach education. Your goal is to find schools that fit with your educational philosophy and that will be a good fit for your child and your family.

A good place to start your research is by visiting the schools’ websites. Charter school directories are maintained by both San Diego Unified School District and the San Diego County Office of Education. Links to the online directories may be found at the end of this post.

Albert Einstein Charter School

The Application Process

While charter schools are public schools, each school defines and coordinates their own application process. For some schools the process simply involves completing an application. However, other schools may have additional requirements such as a school visit, attendance at an Open House, or meeting with an administrator. These requirements will vary by school.

Once you have decided on the school(s) to which you would like to apply, visit their web sites and carefully review the requirements for applying and enrolling. Pay particular attention to the dates that their applications will become available and the deadlines for returning the applications. Some schools provide a simple online form that you complete for application while others might require you to download, complete and then mail or fax the application form.

High Tech High Schools

What Are the Odds of Getting In?

Estimating the odds of getting in to a charter school depend upon many factors, not the least of which is the school’s reputation within the community and the resulting demand. While some schools have enough room to accommodate every student who wishes to attend, others are overwhelmed by applications, even by as many as 100 applications for every available seat. This phenomenon will continue to occur with greater frequency as charter schools become more popular with families looking for innovative educational choices.

If a charter school receives applications that exceed the number of available seats, the school might institute a lottery for student selection. Sometimes a student’s placement in the lottery will be determined by priorities. For example, a school may draw the first group of students based upon their home addresses and give priority to certain zip codes.

Often schools will institute waitlists for students who are not admitted during the lottery or who turn in their applications after the deadline has passed. If and when spaces do become available at some point in the future, schools can offer admission to students on the waitlist.

To find out more about the application process and the likelihood that you will (or will not) be able to enroll in the charter school of your choice, schedule a visit with the school and ask them about it. But remember, you will definitely NOT be admitted to a charter school if you don’t apply. After all, someone has to win the lottery.

If you are not admitted to the school of your choice, find out how to get on the waitlist. A lot of changes can take place over the summer – families move or new classes may be added. Charter schools often have spaces that become available at the beginning of the new school year and if you are on the waitlist, your child might be the one selected.

Links to More Info

Center for Education Reform, Charter School FAQs
http://www.edreform.com/Fast_Facts/Ed_Reform_FAQs/?Just_the_FAQs_Charter_Schools

US Charter Schools
http://www.uscharterschools.org/pub/uscs_docs/index.htm

San Diego Unified School District, Charter Schools
http://old.sandi.net/school/charter/index.html

San Diego County Office of Education, Charter Schools 2009-10
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/business2/dfs/charter/sdcoecharter.html

The interview is often the most anxiety-ridden hurdle for families, but it doesn’t need to be. Just as you would never show up for a job interview without doing your homework (so to speak), preparation is key for a successful school interview. Therefore, we’ve compiled our TOP TEN NO-NOs FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL INTERVIEWS to help you prepare. (Just to be clear – these are things that you should NOT do!)

1. Call and schedule your interview two days before the application deadline. Usually a completed application file includes an interview, so make the interview appointment as early as possible to ensure that you are able to complete the requirement well before the deadline, even if something comes up and you need to reschedule.
2. When you call to schedule your interview, demand that the school accommodate your request for a meeting the next day. Admissions season is busy – and even hectic – for admissions offices, and it gets even busier as you get closer to the application deadline. When you call for your appointment, have a couple of possible days and times to offer within the next couple of weeks. Calling with the expectation of booking an appointment for the next day is not only unrealistic but it can also make a bad first impression with the admissions office.
3. Be prepared to stonewall any questions that try to get to know more about your family, or simply give yes or no answers to questions. The school wants to know more about you and your family so that they can determine if you are a good fit for each other. They may ask you, the parents, to describe your child, share your educational goals for your child, and explain why you think the school is a good match.
4. Answer any and all questions directed at your child, especially if she is older than six or seven years old. While the school definitely wants to learn more about your hopes and dreams for your child, they will probably also want to hear from your child. If she is old enough, the school may ask about hopes, dreams, goals and aspirations, previous educational experiences, personal strengths and weaknesses, and why this school is a good fit.
5. Let the admissions officer know that your best friend’s cousin lives next door to someone who is VERY well-connected to the school. A school’s number one goal is to find students who can succeed and contribute as a member of their learning community. Whether a child is or is not a good fit, the connections should not matter. However, if you think that it is important that the school know about your connection, a more subtle approach would be to bring it to their attention through a reference letter from the connected person addressed to the school.
6. Mention that you might be interested in making a significant donation toward their new gymnasium construction project. Schools take their reputations very seriously. The last thing they want is the appearance of impropriety when it comes to their admissions process. And if you try to buy your way in to one school, they will assume that you’ve tried it at others. If you are serious about wanting to make a donation, wait until your child has been accepted. The school will be thrilled to have a new family making such a financial commitment toward the future.
7. Don’t tell the admissions officer that your child has a significant learning disability. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: admissions officers at private schools are looking for students who can succeed at their schools. Many parents don’t share this information, thinking that once the child is accepted the school will take care of things. In reality, though, if a school is not equipped with the specialized staff or facilities that your child needs, they’re probably not going to build a program just for your child. Since you want what’s best for your child, keep looking until you find the right program.
8. Wear your sweaty gym gear to the interview. You raced over directly from your spinning class, and you’re only ten minutes late. This is San Diego, after all. Dressing for success is key to a school interview, no matter the location. While there is no need to pull out the tuxedo or the cocktail dress, this is the time to look smart and pulled together, much as you would for a business interview. Remember, private school admissions is a business and you only get one chance to make that all-important first impression. Let your external appearance enhance the substance of what you and your child bring to the interview. And do we really need to mention that you should arrive on time, no matter what? If something unforeseen does happen that might cause you to be late – like an accident on the 5 freeway – give the school a call and let them know.
9. Answer your cell phone and send texts during your interview. Admissions offices are busy places, yet they have cleared their calendar for the duration of your interview so that they can focus on you and your family. Return the favor and give them your undivided attention. After all, most interviews only last 20-30 minutes. Unless you’re expecting a call from a patient awaiting a transplant, turn the electronic devices off. Wait a minute – why aren’t you at the hospital?
10. Let the admissions officer know that this school is your back-up option in case you don’t get in to your first (or second or third) choice. When you make your short list of schools that you are considering for your child, try to keep an open mind when you go in to the interviews. Listen to what each of the schools has to say. You never know – the school that was originally at the bottom of your list may quickly move up based upon what you learn. The last thing you want to do is hurt your chances of getting in because the school thinks that you aren’t seriously considering them.

If you are considering a San Diego-area private school for your child for the 2010-11 school year, chances are you are immersed in research on not only area schools, but also the admissions process itself. The excerpt above is from a 2007 article in the Los Angeles Times entitled, “Admission to private schools is a stress test.” The piece provides a behind-the-scenes look at the admissions process for a Southern California private school. It’s well worth a read if you’ve always wondered what goes into a school’s decision to admit – or deny admittance – to a student.

Read the full article here.

The month of October is the time that a family can begin thinking about the types of schools that might be a good fit for them and their child. Learning more about the traits and personalities of each school are vital to this process. For families who are new to private schools or who want expert help and advice on navigating the abundance of school choices that are available in San Diego, you might consider using an educational consultancy such as An Educated Choice.

Whether you use a consultant or not, your first step might be visiting web sites – both general school review sites and the web sites of the individual schools. Make your first list of schools that seem most interesting as potential choices. Contact these schools by phone or via email to request an admissions packet or catalog, and inquire about any open house events or tours that are available for prospective families.