Additional Admissions Resources

The following articles and organizations may be of interest to you as you consider admission at a private school.

General Sources of School Information

Your state or local associations of independent schools may be able to provide you with more information about schools with rolling admissions, serving students with special needs, and more.

Information about Different Types of Schools

Boarding schools

The Association of Boarding Schools-TABS (https://www.boardingschools.com/) offers helpful resources about all types of boarding schools (military, junior boarding, pre-professional arts, etc.) See especially the sections called “For Parents,” “For Students,” and “Find a School.”
Junior Boarding Schools Association (www.jbsa.org) represents 12 schools in the Northeast and in Illinois that specialize in elementary and middle school children. The site offers direct links to member schools.

Western Boarding Schools Association (www.wbsa.net) represents more than three dozen college-preparatory schools in the western United States and Canada. The site provides a school finder, a calendar of school fairs, and application materials.

Boys’ schools

International Boys’ School Coalition (www.boysschoolscoalition.org/) represents 150 independent, parochial, and public boys’ schools worldwide. Note the link called “Searching for a Boys’ School.”

Girls’ schools

National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (www.ncgs.org). On the home page, see especially the tab called “Why a Girls’ School,” and under that, the links called “Resources for Parents” and “Resources for Girls.” You can also use its “Find a Girls School” search tool.

International Schools

Canadian Association of Independent Schools (http://www.cais.ca)
Council of International Schools (www.cois.org/). See especially the International School Directory.

Professional Advice on Choosing a School

The Independent Educational Consultants Association offers advice for students and families about hiring a counselor to help families choose a school. The website lists different types of consultants (for international schools, boarding schools, schools for students with learning disabilities, etc.). It also has a “Find a Consultant” feature. https://www.iecaonline.com/

Admissions Practices at Their Best

The NAIS Principles of Good Practice: NAIS member schools strive to uphold Principles of Good Practice, guidelines that set high standards and define ethical behavior in more than a dozen important areas of independent school operations. Each set of principles was drafted by an NAIS committee of practitioners in that professional area and submitted to the NAIS board of trustees for approval.

Two of the areas the Principles of Good Practice cover are especially relevant to families who want to learn more about how schools operate.

• Principles of Good Practice for Admission guide the admission staff’s dealings with parents, schools, colleagues, and the general public. The principles cover issues including nondiscrimination, financial aid, confidentiality, and more.
• Principles of Good Practice for Equity and Justice provide a foundation for communities that are inclusive, diverse, and multicultural.