I often say the real measure of my educational consulting work is not what happens during admissions. It is how families feel about their decisions once they are on the other side. Today a former client introduced me to close friends whose child is entering the kindergarten process this fall. She wrote:We shared how much … Continue reading What NYC Families Say After Working with a Private School Admissions Consultant
What NYC Private School Teachers Actually Earn
Rikki Schlott in The New York Post highlights something that surprises almost every family I work with: in some NYC private schools, teachers are earning less than the tuition being paid by the students sitting in their classrooms. I was quoted in the article about this perception gap, and it’s one I see constantly. Families … Continue reading What NYC Private School Teachers Actually Earn
Classical Education Is Growing in NYC Private Schools
There’s an interesting development on the Upper West Side that says a lot about where things are heading. Nearly a year after Manhattan Country School closed, its building may be taken over by the Geneva School of Manhattan, a growing Classical Christian school. Erin Hudson at Bloomberg covered the proposed $20M deal. I said: Classical … Continue reading Classical Education Is Growing in NYC Private Schools
NYC Private Schools Left Behind: NYT Highlights Gaps in NYC Emergency Alerts
Matthew Haag of The New York Times reports on a critical gap in New York City’s emergency communication system that leaves NYC private schools without timely safety alerts. Read the full article here: A Text System Sent Safety Alerts to Private Schools. Now, It’s Silent. As a parent and educational consultant deeply invested in school … Continue reading NYC Private Schools Left Behind: NYT Highlights Gaps in NYC Emergency Alerts
Private Parent Advisory Sessions for Thoughtful Educational Decision‑Making
One of the most common things parents say to me is: We want to make the right decision, but it's very hard to see clearly when it's your own child. That’s exactly where my parent advisory sessions come in. Last night, after a one‑on‑one session with a family navigating some complex educational decisions, I received … Continue reading Private Parent Advisory Sessions for Thoughtful Educational Decision‑Making
Navigating the Future of Education: AI’s Role in Schools
A thought-provoking NY Post article by Katie Warren explores the rapid rise of AI-driven schools like Alpha, where students spend just a couple of hours a day on academics with AI tutors and the rest on life skills. The promise is compelling: highly personalized learning, faster academic progress, and more engaged students. And some families … Continue reading Navigating the Future of Education: AI’s Role in Schools
Brooklyn Preschool Embezzlement Shocks Parents
The recent KinderHaus preschool scandal in Brooklyn—where a former director is accused of embezzling millions in tuition—has understandably shaken parents. In 27 years of practice, I told Erin Hudson at Bloomberg, I’ve never seen a case quite like this: a school director indicted for embezzlement. It’s extraordinary—and unsettling. But it also highlights something families need … Continue reading Brooklyn Preschool Embezzlement Shocks Parents
NYC Families Navigate a System That No Longer Works for Everyone
Troy Closson’s New York Times piece, Rising Costs and Competition at NY Private Schools Have Parents on Edge, offers a clear view of how New York’s school system actually works. Families with resources move smoothly through the process, while everyone else is left navigating a system that is opaque and uneven. There is no exaggeration … Continue reading NYC Families Navigate a System That No Longer Works for Everyone
The End of the “Common Calendar”? What It Means That Top NYC Schools Have Left ISAAGNY
In a meaningful shift that hasn’t gotten enough attention, Horace Mann, Ethical Culture Fieldston, Riverdale, Collegiate and Brearley have left ISAAGNY and are no longer following the shared admissions calendar. That calendar used to create some order in an otherwise stressful process—everyone applied, heard back, and decided on roughly the same timeline. Now, these schools … Continue reading The End of the “Common Calendar”? What It Means That Top NYC Schools Have Left ISAAGNY
Success Stories: Middle School Admissions Triumph
From a successful middle school applicant family today: Emily, I hope you are well. We wanted to share the good news that <Child> has been accepted to both <top Brooklyn> and <top Manhattan school> for the coming year. At this point, <top Manhattan school> feels like the strongest fit for <Child>, and he is genuinely … Continue reading Success Stories: Middle School Admissions Triumph