Should You Hire an Education Consultant in COVID? 7 Questions to Consider
Wow. What a year for independent school admissions. With the collision of COVID-19 impacting the private school admissions process like never before, parents are scrambling for answers.
Whatever educational context you find your family in this next chapter (looking at new K-12 school for next year, moving across town or even across the country, or looking ahead to college planning), perhaps someone has mentioned working with or knowing of an educational consultant. According to an article highlighted in the Atlanta Business Chronicle just last summer, “the growth of such [educational] consulting firms in the metro area attests to the fact that more parents are employing outside assistance to make decisions about where their kids should go to school, what courses they should take, and whether or not they need to hone test-taking, interviewing, and essay-writing skills” (Cauley, H.M., “Consultants help parents, children navigate the modern education landscape.” Atlanta Business Chronicle. [Atlanta] 21 July 2018, Pg. 1-4, Print). With a 300% increase in education consultants in the Atlanta market within just the past decade, it’s evident that education has changed a lot since parents were in school and, for good reason, families want to become more informed about their private, public, and charter options. It’s no longer “one size fits all” when it comes to schools. In fact, it’s becoming more and more common to send different children to different schools—within the same household. This is a testament to the realization that each child learns differently and our city’s ever-changing educational landscape is better equipped to support that—than say, 20 or 30 years ago when parents themselves were in school.
Ok, so how do you know if you need to work with an educational consultant? Will you automatically position your child at a disadvantage if you don’t use one? Is working with an expert really necessary?
Below, we’ve compiled the 7 most frequently asked questions we’ve fielded about Atlanta’s ever-changing school landscape, working with an educational consultant, and how families can determine if they need to pursue outside expertise because everyone’s educational story is different.
“We’re moving to Atlanta! Our realtor helped us find houses around the “best schools.” But, what exactly does that mean?”
We hear this one a lot. But, just like we outlined here, it’s important to read between the lines so you know exactly what you’re looking at—including what data to skip. All too often we’ve seen families move into a particular neighborhood because “the elementary schools are so great,” but then middle school rolls around and sometimes, they’re choosing independent schools as a default or looking at moving altogether. We want parents to be informed about what their options are. And that starts with understanding the ranking and rating system lauded by realtors.
We have two very different learners—one self-motivated, the other one needs more affirmation. One child is kinetic and tactile while the other prefers to listen to audio books and keep color-coded notes. One is social, charismatic, and outgoing while the other is more shy and reserved. We have a STEM kid and an orchestra kid who both love playing sports. Can we find a school that would be a “good fit” for both?
Another popular question! This one seems to trip parents up because it’s still such a foreign concept—20 or 30 years ago, every child in the same family attended the same school (unless your family moved). Whether you’re a public school kid or grew up attending your neighborhood day school, it was more common just a couple decades ago for a school home to be home to the entire family. Now, as parents, pediatricians, teachers, and other educational professionals are recognizing the potential of unique learning, more schools are equipping teachers to have the resources to reach students exactly where they are. Now, that might mean that your oldest child would thrive in an entirely different learning environment (or even school!) than your youngest (or vice versa), and we want to start the conversation with parents that learning is no longer “one size fits all.” Just because the next child is line is nothing like the oldest, doesn’t meant that we need to feel anxious about the school search process. We've worked with families who would rather each child be in a different learning environment—one that is better suited to each’s niche needs and supportive of their personalities and passions—and we’ve helped parents navigate broadening their perspective of their current school home becoming a “good fit” for their very different learner, as well. While the former arranges around discussions of carpool logistics, finding new friends, helping the learner “own” their new and individual learning environment, the latter sets itself up for identifying unique learning within the same school—accelerated or one with more small group instruction and other learning accommodations, depending upon that child’s particular set of needs.
We’ve tried our public school option and our student is now a rising 5th-grader. Middle school options are overwhelming. Now what?
APS middle schools are “feeder” schools—the given middle school that upwards of 6 elementary schools “feed” into. For example, in the North Atlanta district, Sutton Middle School accepts students from Bolton Academy, Brandon/Brandon Primary, Garden Hills, Jackson/Jackson Primary, E. Rivers, and Smith/Smith Primary. Inman Middle school will accept students from Hope-Hill, Mary Lin, Morningside, and Springdale Park. That means big middle schools and big classes. Stacked on top of that is the fact that 6th-grade is what we term a “traditional entry point.” This means that as students are graduating lower school, more and more families are considering independent schools when it comes to the next step in their child’s educational journey.
APS Demographic Studies are conducted decennially and the most recent report (2010) showed that with a Full Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollment of of 48,696, APS is the sixth largest school district in Georgia based on total students. The estimated 5,830 Atlanta resident students enrolled in private schools (in September of 2009) is also the sixth largest number among all Georgia school districts. Residents of the Fulton County School District had the largest number of residents enrolled in private schools with 10,884, followed by Cobb (8,262), Gwinnett (8,016), DeKalb (7,949) and Chatham County (6,423). It is not surprising that the State’s larger school districts would also have the greatest availability of private school options and therefore the largest number of students enrolled in private schools. As a proportion of total students participating in public, private or home study programs, 10.6% of APS student population was enrolled in private schools last year. Among Georgia’s 37 school districts which have 10,000 or more students, APS’ percentage of private school attendees to total student population was the fifth highest in the State.
4. We're just so busy! All of these private schools that require Ravenna, student portfolios, observation visits, interviews, JATP, SSAT, Open Houses, teacher recommendations, etc—we just need a coach to help us stay on top of everything we have to do so nothing falls through the cracks.
Absolutely! Our services run the gamut—from hourly consultations to a more comprehensive package. We work with families who opt to use us as a sounding board as well as parents who’d prefer we take the reins on the process to help alleviate the stress and anxiety as best we can. With common deadlines and a personalized calendar for your family and child, we pinpoint regular goals to check off together—so that your to-do list becomes a “ta-da!” list.
5. Over 70 schools within AAAIS?! Just where do we start? And how to know to seek outside expertise?
We are so blessed to have such a vibrant city that boasts such a variety in learning environments. But, with overwhelming options, can come confusion. It’s important to understand that each school has an ethos or mission statement. For example, some schools lean more towards collaboration and design thinking, while others boast international travel and global diversity, while still others are STEM and STEAM-focused. It’s important to first identify your family’s mission statement and then cross reference with each school’s mission statement.
6. COVID Question: How can we really tell if a school is a “good fit” if we can’t even get on campus?!
This year is when things get real. Parents are relying on guidance from experts who have actually spent time in the schools, observing students in classrooms, and interacting with admissions. Regardless of the professional you partner with, be sure to confirm that your guide has spent recent time on campus (as in, Fall Semester 2019).
7. COVID Question: How will an education consultant’s role look different in COVID?
At the time of this post, most AAAIS-member schools are not allowing outside personnel to tour classrooms or observe students. This applies to our firm, as well. However, we pride ourselves in visiting each and every Metro Atlanta school (private and public) twice a year—Spring and Fall semesters. We believe this is essential to building relationships with admissions and teachers but also, we want an opportunity to highlight some oft the exciting changes happening in the schools! When COVID-19 hit and schools began closing their doors in early March, we were working our way through our school visit schedule for Spring Semester 2020. However, we had just visited schools in person, touring classrooms and observing new initiatives, and meeting with admissions committees in Fall Semester 2019. You can read more about how we’ve augmented this year’s process here.
School looks a lot different than it used to—and that’s true for the admissions process. We think of it not as merely hiring a consultant, but working with a conversation partner, a trusted advisor, a mentor, a matchmaker, a coach, and a cheerleader who’s going to be on your child’s advocacy team. You can read more of my conversations with Atlanta parents here. Throughout all these examples, the act of recruiting an advocate, cheerleader, or coach to your family’s team unit bolsters your child’s experience. Not only do you as the parent get the benefit of a sounding board, but your child gets another leader on his/her team and is able to be the recipient of advocacy and support in the guided confines of experience. Why would you go through life alone on an island? After all, “he who is taught only by himself has a fool for his master” (Ben Jonson). If that were the case, simple website searches for how-to’s and tutorials would suffice. Instead, I’ve had coffee with Atlanta moms who are looking for someone to come alongside them during these periods of high stress and anxiety—typically during seasons of transition (school placement and college planning, I’m looking at you!). I’ve had phone calls with parents who just want to “download” after school tours, meetings with teachers, psychologists, and counselors, or even after scouring open houses with realtors. Parents are looking for someone to climb into the weeds with them. If we’re honest with ourselves, there’s something innate in all of us that wants just that. Being able to process issues at work, questions about next steps, or even download relationships/friendships with a trusted other is invaluable—and it just highlights the truth that we were built for community and never designed to do life alone.