Eleanor Munson, PhD

Dallas Educational Consultants

Dallas Private School Preview

A Dallas Private School Must-Do

by


If you’re considering a private school for your child next year, I highly recommend you attend the Dallas Private School Preview this Sunday at The Hockaday School. This event runs from 1 to 3pm and is followed by an Admission and Financial Aid Panel at 3pm. Admission is free.

The Preview is an annual event, and the location rotates among the Independent Schools Admission Association of Dallas (ISAAD) schools, with each school hosting for two concurrent years. The event attracts more than 100 private day and boarding schools. I’ve written about the preview in the past. It’s a great place to begin your private school search. If you need assistance afterward, I can help answer your questions about specific schools & the admissions process, as well as help you narrow your list and support you through the process. Please don’t hesitate to contact me.

© Eleanor Munson, Ph.D. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Eleanor Munson, Ph.D. is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Eleanor Munson, Ph.D. with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

5 Ways to Kickstart Your Dallas Private School Search

by

Are you thinking about applying your child to a Dallas private school this fall? If so, you’ve landed at the right place. And, rest assured, it’s very early in the process, so you have plenty of time to come up with a game plan. I’ve put together some tips to help get you started.

  1. Identify your priorities and begin making your list accordingly. Consider what’s most important to you; Single-sex? A uniform? Religious environment? Full-time school nurse? Cast a wide net and think about different types of schools (Montessori, religious, international baccalaureate, cooperative, etc.).
  2. Scour school websites. You’ll be surprised how much important information private schools make available on their website. It’s not uncommon for schools to publish parent/student handbooks, curriculum guides, and course catalogs. Delve in to start narrowing your list of possible schools.
  3. Use my Dallas private school tour schedule to put dates on the calendar for school visits. Schools typically have several events, some for parents only, some for the entire family. Be sure to follow their guidelines and rsvp, if required. I highly recommend you visit each school on your list.  You can quickly rule a school in or out by simply seeing it yourself in person.  Nothing can replace that experience.
  4. Attend the Dallas Private School Preview, September 10th, from 1-3pm at The Hockaday School and stay for the either ‘Navigating the Private School Admissions Process’ or ‘Navigating the Boarding School Admissions Process’ panels afterward, at 3pm. Read more about the preview here.
  5. Read application instructions carefully and make a calendar or spreadsheet of deadlines, testing requirements, etc. If you’re applying to several schools, everything may overlap…or not. It’s critical to get materials in on time, so come up with a system that works for you.

If you need help forming your list or want to discuss private schools and the admissions process, please don’t hesitate to contact me for assistance. Good luck on this journey!

© Eleanor Munson, Ph.D. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Eleanor Munson, Ph.D. is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Eleanor Munson, Ph.D. with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

The Dallas Private School Preview….What it is and Why you should attend.

by

eleanor munson private schoolIf you’re thinking about a private school for your child anytime in the future, I highly recommend that you attend the Dallas Private School Preview tomorrow at the Episcopal School of Dallas. This event runs from 1 – 3pm. Parking is available on campus (4100 Merrell Road) and at three nearby locations (Walnut Hill Rec Center, Walnut Hill Church of Christ, and John Calvin Presbyterian Church). The three auxiliary locations provide shuttle service to the event and will have an on-duty police officer in each parking lot. Admission is free and adults and children are welcome. Each participating school has a booth staffed with either an admissions person or school administrator. You are invited to ask questions, or you may simply pick up an information packet.

The private school preview is sponsored by the Independent Schools Admission Association of Dallas (ISAAD). Sixteen area schools are members of ISAAD and the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS). The location of the private school preview rotates among these sixteen schools. Each school hosts the preview for two years so this event will be held at the Episcopal School of Dallas next year as well.

Right now, ninety private day and boarding schools from around the country will be in attendance tomorrow. While this doesn’t cover all of the private schools in Dallas (!!), this is a large percentage and includes independent schools, religious schools (Christian, Catholic, and Jewish), schools for children with learning differences, preschools, therapeutic schools, classical schools, non-traditional schools, and boarding schools.

Lastly…
I’ve visited a number of schools in the last month and have been very impressed by the quality of education at some of the smaller, less well-known private schools in our area. Finding a school can be overwhelming and it’s easy to just consider schools you’re familiar with. I want you to know, however, that there are wonderful private schools that offer innovative and unique programs with affordable tuition. Contact me if you’d like to discuss some of these options.

For information about the 2015 Private School Preview, see my latest post.

© Eleanor Munson, PhD. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Eleanor Munson, PhD is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Eleanor Munson, PhD with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.