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We parents are in a rather difficult position when it comes to finding out information about private schools. Because they are private schools, they are not subject to the usual sunshine or freedom of information laws. They are just like a privately-held company. They are under no legal obligation to tell you or the general public anything. You need to know exactly what is lurking behind those gorgeous web photos and enthusiastic classroom shots. You need to know the condition of the school from reliable sources. That's where hiring comes in. These professionals know their schools from the arts curriculum to the vintage of the Zamboni machine used on the hockey rink. This is information which you need in order to permit you to make the informed decisions you need to make about finding the right private school for your child.

One caveat, and it is a major one: there are educational consultants who claim to be able to get you into a school. Be careful. The sign of the genuine article is an educational consultant who will offer to help you find the best match for you and your child's requirements. Just be aware.

Questions to Ask Your Educational Consultant

The following questions are ones you might want to ask but probably feel uncomfortable asking. That's why it's a good thing to hire an educational consultant. She can ask such questions with relative impunity. Plus she will think of dozens of other

Athletic programs in private schools are an integral part of school life. They are not 鈥渙ptional.鈥� All students participate in some athletic activity weekly while school is in session. Most private schools set aside a weekday afternoon, generally Wednesday, for athletics. There are no classes. Everybody is involved in some athletic activity somewhere on campus. In boarding schools, part of each Saturday is also given over to sports. Throughout this article, quotations from private school websites offer insight into how schools view competitive and recreational athletics.

鈥淐ompetitive or recreational sports at are valued for fostering individual skills and strengths. Sports do not conflict with art activities, so there is no need to choose between one or the other.鈥� 鈥� The Putney School, Vermont

This is also a fundamental difference between many private and public schools. Public schools often face difficult budget decisions, and athletic funding can sometimes be reduced when districts must prioritize staffing and academic resources. Most private schools, however, continue to treat athletics as a core part of student development.

鈥淭he Gunnery's sports program cultivates competition and cooperation in the context of organized athletics. This is a tradition that stretches back, unbroken, to Mr. Gunn's era. A staunch advocate of physical fitness, he created the school's first athletic teams.鈥� 鈥� The Gunnery, Connecticut

So, why the emphasis on athletics? And what is the point of making every student participate?

Most private school athletic programs teach students invaluable lessons about teamwork, resilience, discipline, and

Admissions tests in private schools are supposed to measure your child's aptitude and readiness for the work in a serious private prep school. They are merely one tool for assessing a child's progress to date. Some children have learned their lessons well. Some children take tests well. Other children have deficiencies in certain skill areas. Still, others do not test well.

Long-term Test Preparation

In a perfect world, every child would master all the skills necessary to succeed academically. But children learn differently. Their teachers teach the same material differently. The school expects certain results in certain subject areas. That's why a standardized admissions test is a critical part of most private school admissions requirements.

If you can take the long-term approach to admissions test preparation, it certainly is the ideal. But you need to start a few years out from the actual admissions test itself. Here's what to do:

1. Monitor your child's progress carefully.

   Identify any deficiencies and remediate them. Hire tutors if necessary. Create and maintain a climate for academic success. Set expectations accordingly.

2. About eighteen months before the admissions test date, purchase the test preparation materials which are so widely available.

   Read about the test your child will be taking. Understand what is required. Then have your child take at least 2 practice tests six months before the actual test date. That will give you enough time to tweak any parts of the test

The point of this article is to make the case for applying for financial aid, even if you think you might not need it. If you can afford to pay private school tuition, you have several payment options available to you. If you cannot afford the cost of a private school education, review Financial Aid 101. It will show you what to do. In every case, ask about financial aid. Private schools have generous financial aid programs. Financial aid is a tool that private schools use to make their school more diverse. Yes, many years ago, private schools had a less than positive reputation for being elitist. But thankfully, times have changed. Being able to pay for a private school education is no longer the only thing that matters. If your child has the qualifications which the school is looking for but you cannot afford to send her, then financial aid is certainly an option which you need to explore.

Le Rosey

, which bills itself as 'the prestigious international boarding school', tops the scale at a princely $114,000 in tuition for 2019-20. Boarding and sundries are not included. The school is located in Switzerland and is owned by a Swiss couple who are 'Les Directeurs'. What sort of clientele enjoys Le Rosey's proximity to some of the best skiing in the world? You guessed it: children of the rich and famous from every corner of the globe. The school does offer some

Most parents expect to see a progress report with grades on it. The standard letter grades tell where your child stands at a glance, or at least, that's what we have been led to believe. More important than the grades are your child's teacher's comments and the discussions you have concerning your child's progress. This is particularly important in the primary grades when learning difficulties surface. For example, our youngest daughter began struggling with math in 4th grade. We monitored her progress closely and did our best to help. Finally, it was obvious to us that some tutoring would be helpful. We arranged several months of math tutoring, which developed our daughter's confidence in understanding math concepts. Put another way, a grade is simply an indicator. Always look beneath the surface to determine what the real issue is.

Standardized grades. Common grading schemes.

Most schools use letter grades these days. But not every school uses the same letter grade scheme. This can cause problems when sending your child's transcripts to college admissions offices. For example, the A at one school may not be equivalent to the A at another school.

The most common grade scheme is the following:

• A+ 97-100
• A 93-96
• A- 90-92
• B+ 87-89
• B 83-86
• B- 80-82
• C+ 77-79
• C 73-76
• C- 70-72
• D+ 67-69
• D 63-66
• D- 60-62
• F Below 60

If your school uses a variation of this scheme, then be sure to send a key or explanation sheet attached to each transcript.