Every year is the same, but different. As I watch these annual events unravel, I have to stop and remind myself of the very first client that I had who has ever asked me about the process of private school admissions in Atlanta. The question that she asked was, "Do you think that my daughter will be accepted into this private school?" My naive self had responded with an astute and confident, "Yes, why not?". That was my first mistake and one that I have learned from since.
Navigating parents and families through making informed decisions about private schools in Atlanta has been one of my favorite and most exciting skills in my career as an educational consultant. The only drawback of this is that clients are unaware of the emotional changes they will undergo during the process. Most people would like to say, "Ignorance is bliss" whereas I have to tell them, "Knowledge is power!". The more information that parents have at their disposal, the better prepared they are during certain pivotal points of the process.
Families need to be reminded that schooling, especially private school schooling comes with a degree of pressure and performance that one needs to understand and be able to handle. It is important to know a certain amount of information from the school and take into account how your particular family would fit into the institution. The more information that you can obtain, the better off you will be (and hopefully this will save you at least one trip to the doctor).
If you are in the midst of making decisions about private schools or would like consulting about private school, keep the following in mind:
1. Private Schools in Atlanta are extremely competitive. Outside of another major metropolitan city, we are the 2nd most competitive market for private education.
2. Private Schools in Atlanta have cultural shifts that change as frequently as the weather. In order to adapt to certain demographics or commercial interests, private schools become quite malleable in how they approach their persona and may not be the same school that your colleague may have remembered.
3. Private Schools Are Great at Marketing. They know how to sell their program (product).
4. Private Schools in Atlanta Tend to Function Like Professional Sports Team Managers. It is important that schools look at their portfolio of families and see who becomes part of their school and what their school community reflects. Even though one of your children attends the school, that does not necessarily mean that all of them will attend. They might "trade" a sibling for another family to boost their community pool of resources.
Whatever the outcome of your particular situation may be, remember to relax. It is not the end of the world and there are a number of wonderful schools in the Metro Atlanta area for your child to flourish in. Focus on the goal (a great education) and not the place (school) and your child will thrive!
If you would like information about our programs, feel free to contact me at christine@learningridge.com or you can call me at (404) 964-8533.
