Friday, January 31, 2003

Private School Application Process Begins Now for Fall 2003 School Year

Ready or not, now is the time for families to be researching their children's education options for fall.

Christmas is past and the children are back in school. Some families may have discovered, with time for reflection during the holidays, that their children's current school no longer fulfills the family's needs and goals.

Perhaps parents are looking for smaller class sizes and more individualized attention for their students. Maybe they would prefer a preparatory-type private school, where nearly 100 percent of students enter college after graduation. Some families are looking for more input into what subjects their children learn and when.

Ready or not, now is the time for families to be researching their children's education options for next fall. Private Christian schools in the area are already re-enrolling their current students and planning January and February open houses for prospective families.

Parents who are considering private school for their children should begin the process now. Most schools have a limited number of available spaces each year (some, like Montessori Counterpane in Fayetteville, may already be full). The sooner families get the ball rolling, the better.

Here's how the process typically flows.

First, parents should contact the school that interests them and request an application information packet. They should also schedule a tour of the school or attend an open house. Most schools begin their tours and open houses in January for the following fall term.

At an open house, parents can expect one-on-one interaction with teachers, a chance to meet current students and parents and get their perspective, according to Susanne Seitz, director of admissions and financial aid for The Heritage School in Sharpsburg. Often there are refreshments, multimedia presentations and even student speakers or performances. Parents will be able to tour the campus, and learn about the school's academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, clubs and other special programs. The important thing is to ask lots of questions.

"Whatever the prospective parent puts into it, that's what they get out of it," Seitz said of the open house experience. Plan on it taking about two hours. She also noted, "As a parent, I would want to know what percentage of their graduates go on to college, and what their college counseling process consists of.

"A great question for parents to ask is, 'What is a typical day of school like in x grade?'" she added. Ask about class size and overall enrollment. What foreign languages are taught?

"One of the biggest things you hear these days is character development," Seitz said. "'Tell me what you do to instill character and values in your students?' I do get that question quite a bit."

Some families may not think that they can afford a private school. Don't automatically disregard it as an option, though, encourage admissions counselors. Talk to the admission officers about tuition assistance programs.

"A lot of families say there's no way," Seitz said. But go ahead and tell them your particular situation, she urged.

Funds are often available from the school to help families in need of tuition assistance. Financial aid is need-based and may be applied for by completing a financial aid application, which may usually be obtained by contacting the school's business office. The application for admissions and application for financial aid are separate processes.

Once a family has narrowed the field of potential schools, the next step is to complete the application.

There is typically a small registration fee, and several forms will likely be required (varies by school): A transcript from the current school, including test scores, report cards, and possibly discipline records; birth certificate and Georgia certificate of immunization; and written letters of recommendation from the pastor of the church the child attends, teachers and possibly guidance counselors at the current school.

Kathy Taussig, the admissions director at Landmark Christian School, indicated that the pastor recommendations and family participation in church life are especially important aspects of Landmark's admission's process. Landmark is interested in knowing what the student and parents are looking for when they apply.

Taussig commented that Landmark is not looking for students who are running from anything in the public school system. Rather, they are looking for students who are running to Christian education. They are specifically interested in Christian families who want to partner with the school in preparing students to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

Once the completed application is received by the school, students are scheduled to take standardized entrance tests administered by the school.

Test dates are usually set in February, March and April. At some schools, like Landmark Christian, pre-Kindergarten candidates are asked to visit the school and spend the day so the teacher can know more about the student's pattern of emotional academic, and social development. At Mt. Zion, on the other hand, parents or guardians of pre-K candidates are asked to complete a checklist of entrance requirements for the purpose of proper grade placement.

Interviews are granted to applicants whose qualifications meet the school's admission standards. After the interview is completed, the applicant's file is reviewed by the principal. At Landmark Christian, the Admissions Committee meets every week during March, April, and May to consider those candidates who have completed the full admissions process.

The process itself, because of the paper flow, can take from four to six weeks. Each applicant is notified concerning status of acceptance, and some students may end up on a waiting list.

Once the application is approved and any financial aid paperwork is completed, an annual enrollment contract is signed by the financially responsible parties and by the school.

Then, depending on the school's dress code, it may be off to the uniform store for back-to-school shopping. That may be tough to think about while shivering in January; but, if you hope to enroll a student in private school this fall, now is the time to make those initial calls and check out school Web sites.