School research
Start with where you live.
Pick a city or region first. How admissions work, how long the commute is, and what school choice means can change a lot from one place to the next.
New York City
Independent and public schools, grouped by the choices families face.
Explore this section →Boarding schools
What boarding life is like, how admissions work, and profiles of individual schools.
Explore this section →Charter schools
How charter lotteries work, how one campus can differ from its network, and what to ask.
Explore this section →Los Angeles
Schools across the Los Angeles area, by location, teaching approach, and where families can join.
Explore this section →Washington, D.C.
Schools across the District, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
Explore this section →Bay Area
San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Silicon Valley.
Explore this section →Boston
City and suburban day schools, plus the boarding schools nearby.
Explore this section →Dallas–Fort Worth
Schools in Dallas, Collin County, and Fort Worth, which each work a little differently.
Explore this section →Houston
Where families can join, how schools differ, what they cost, and how to plan a route that works.
Explore this section →Chicago
City and suburban choices, including where public and private options meet at Grade 9.
Explore this section →Atlanta
City and suburban schools, with common application dates and the different paths families take.
Explore this section →Seattle
Schools in Seattle, the Eastside, and around Puget Sound, where bridges and ferries can shape the school day.
Explore this section →Upper East Side Modern Orthodox school
Ramaz: the dual curriculum and the life around it
Learn how entry works at each division and what general and Judaic studies, Hebrew, religious practice, and workload ask of a family.
Read the Ramaz guide →Lincoln Square pluralistic Jewish school
Heschel: whether your family wants the whole rhythm
Covers entry at K, Grade 6, and Grade 9, and what pluralistic, egalitarian Jewish life and Hebrew add to the school week. Also looks at workload, commute, and cost.
Read the Heschel guide →Riverdale Modern Orthodox school path
SAR: one community does not mean one admissions decision
The Academy and the High School have separate entry points. The guide covers what each asks of families, including religious life, the Grade 9 application, transportation, and cost.
Read the SAR guide →Westchester day and five-day boarding school
Hackley: a day school with a weekday boarding option
Looks at K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 openings, workload, and cost. It also explains how commuting, weekday residence, and seven-day boarding differ.
Read the Hackley guide →Tacoma day and boarding school
Annie Wright: one IB school, several different student lives
Compares the coed younger divisions with the Upper Schools, and the day, five-day, and seven-day options. Weekends, travel, and cost matter as much as the classroom.
Read the Annie Wright guide →Massachusetts boarding and day school
NMH: see how the course schedule works before relying on the name
Covers entry at Grade 9, transfer, one-year senior, and postgraduate levels, and the school’s College-Model Academic Program. Also looks at dorm life, how day and boarding students mix, weekends, travel, and cost.
Read the Northfield Mount Hermon guide →Pacific Palisades charter high school
Palisades Charter High: getting in and recovering from the fire are separate questions
Explains who can enroll and how the lottery works, then where campus reopening and wildfire recovery stand. Also covers transportation, programs, and student support.
Read the Palisades Charter guide →Chicago Academic Center and high school
Lane Tech: a huge range of choices, and how your child would use it
Grade 7 and Grade 9 entry work differently under GoCPS rules. The guide also covers programs, workload, arts, athletics, and the commute.
Read the Lane Tech guide →Boston university-linked high school
BU Academy: university access begins with a high-school core
Covers Grade 9 and transfer entry and how Boston University courses fit into a student’s schedule. Also looks at workload, campus logistics, and cost.
Read the BU Academy guide →Braintree Grades 5–12 independent school
Thayer Academy: Grade 6 and Grade 9 begin differently
Middle School and Upper School entry work differently. The guide also covers workload, support, transportation, and what the full cost adds up to.
Read the Thayer guide →Calabasas K–12 independent school
Viewpoint: think through your family’s daily route first
Covers entry at K, Grade 6, and Grade 9, along with buses, nearby construction, and full cost. Also looks at academics, arts, and athletics.
Read the Viewpoint guide →Wilmette coeducational Jesuit high school
Loyola Academy: Jesuit life and daily logistics go together
Covers Grade 9 and transfer entry, the HSPT, and what Jesuit life at the school involves. Also looks at commute, athletics, and cost.
Read the Loyola Academy guide →Chicago Academic Center and high school
Whitney Young: Grade 7 and Grade 9 are different decisions
Academic Center entry and selective-enrollment entry follow different paths. The guide also covers scoring, programs, workload, arts, and the commute.
Read the Whitney Young guide →Wellesley girls’ day and boarding school
Dana Hall: choosing the school, and whether to board
Grade 6 entry is for day students, while Grade 9 entry covers day and boarding. The guide also looks at academics, riding, travel, and cost.
Read the Dana Hall guide →Palos Verdes Peninsula K–12 school
Chadwick: look at the South Bay school itself, not just its global name
Covers entry at K, Grade 6, and Grade 9, and what life in the Village and Upper School looks like. Also looks at workload, transportation, outdoor and global programs, and cost.
Read the Chadwick guide →Chicago selective-enrollment high school
Walter Payton: use the rules, not last year’s cutoff lore
Separates the confirmed Fall 2027 GoCPS rules from details still pending. Also covers scoring, tiers, what transfer really looks like, workload, and the commute.
Read the Walter Payton guide →Back Bay independent high school
Commonwealth: small size helps only if the whole model works for you
Covers Grade 9 and transfer entry, academic intensity, tutorials, and the limits of support. Also looks at the brownstone school day and cost.
Read the Commonwealth guide →Los Angeles girls’ secondary school
Archer: how the school’s approach shows up in daily life
Grade 6 entry is clear, while Grade 9 space is uncertain. The guide also covers academics, arts, athletics, transportation, and cost.
Read the Archer guide →Boston boys’ day and five-day boarding school
Belmont Hill: weekday-only boarding changes the family decision
Covers Grade 7 and Grade 9 entry, the Middle School, and what a boys’ school with weekday boarding means in practice. Also looks at workload, transportation, and cost.
Read the Belmont Hill guide →Peninsula Grades 6–12 independent school
Crystal Springs Uplands: one school, two campuses, two different weeks
The Middle School is in Belmont and the Upper School is in Hillsborough. The guide looks at each, along with entry, workload, buses, and cost.
Read the Crystal guide →Los Angeles PK–12 independent school
Sierra Canyon: the school is larger than its athletics profile
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry and life across two campuses. Elite athletics is only one part, alongside academics, arts, transportation, and cost.
Read the Sierra Canyon guide →Los Angeles independent-school research
Windward: the Grade 7 and Grade 9 processes are not the same door
Grade 7 is a large planned intake, while upper-grade entry works through screened interviews. The guide also covers workload, required transportation, arts, athletics, and cost.
Read the Windward guide →Bay Area independent-school research
College Prep: seminar-style classes and the Rockridge school week
Covers Grade 9 entry, limited transfer spots, and the interview and testing dates. Also looks at workload, advisory, transit, and cost.
Read the College Prep guide →Washington, DC day-and-boarding research
St. Albans: mostly a day school, with a small boarding program
Grade 4, 6, and 9 entry work separately. The guide also covers Episcopal and all-boys life, how the school works with National Cathedral School, workload, commute, and cost.
Read the St. Albans guide →NYC-metro day-and-boarding research
The Masters School: choose the kind of week before the school
Compares commuting from home each night, boarding Sunday to Friday, and full boarding. Then covers Grade 9 entry, Harkness classes, weekends, support, and cost.
Read the Masters guide →New York City shortlist tool
NYC private schools with Kindergarten, filtered by what matters to your family
Search a starting set of schools by borough, grade range, enrollment model, and current admissions status, then follow the links to each school and its Niche page.
Build a shortlist →Grade 6 and Grade 9 explorer
Compare real entry points, not reputations or guessed odds
See grade-specific openings, testing, visit formats, and file and aid dates, plus where sources disagree and what each school still needs to answer.
Explore entry points →NYC boys-school research
Compare how the schools actually teach, not the lore around the name
Start with a parent guide to five all-boys schools, then read profiles of Buckley, St. Bernard’s, and Allen-Stevenson. Entry points, where each school ends, what families are expected to take part in, support, and cost come up throughout.
Compare NYC boys’ schools →Upper East Side girls-school research
Compare the classroom, entry year, and school day, not a prestige list
Put Brearley, Chapin, Spence, Nightingale, and Hewitt side by side, then read a profile of each school or the guide for your child’s entry year.
Compare NYC girls' schools →NYC progressive-school research
Look past the label and compare what children actually do
See how six progressive schools and one more structured school handle inquiry, direct teaching, assessment, homework, learning support, and entry points, with the differences left in.
Compare progressive schools →Morningside Heights · Progressive K–8
Bank Street: see whether the method fits the whole family
Explains the school’s developmental-interaction approach and how it shows up in the Fall 2027 application, literacy and math, and sample schedules. Also covers support limits, the move after Grade 8, cost, and transportation.
Read the Bank Street guide →Columbus Circle · Gifted K–8 research
Speyer: what “no ceiling” means in practice
Covers K and space-dependent Grade 6 entry, acceleration, and a math ceiling that is unusually high while ceilings in other subjects are less defined. Also looks at support for twice-exceptional students, cost, and Grade 8 placement.
Read the Speyer guide →West Village · Progressive K–8
City and Country: understand what the Jobs Program really does
Looks at the Jobs Program alongside the school’s teaching of foundational skills, and at Fall 2027 admissions, which still have unknowns. Also covers the high-school transition, cost, and logistics.
Read the City and Country guide →Upper West Side independent school
CGPS: what a large school’s breadth means for your child
Covers Grade 9 expansion, the Grade 6 bridge, and uncertainty around Kindergarten. Also looks at early literacy, workload, cost, and the questions public materials can’t answer.
Read the CGPS guide →Upper West Side progressive school
Calhoun: understand the current program, not an old reputation
Describes the Montessori Lower School and the progressive Middle and Upper School, along with entry points and workload. Also covers the leadership change, the two-building day, cost, and financial context.
Read the Calhoun guide →NYC international-school research
UNIS: the international education and the daily logistics
Covers UN-linked priority, K entry that depends on space, and Grade 6 and Grade 9 entry. Also looks at languages, the eventual IB Diploma, learning support, cost, and the East River commute.
Read the UNIS guide →French bilingual school research
Lycée Français: French language requirements and diploma choices
Explains entry at K, Grade 6, and Grade 9, French grade equivalents, and language thresholds. Also covers the Bac and BFI pathways, the planned IB launch, cost, and commute.
Read the Lycée Français guide →Brooklyn bilingual-school research
ISB: the language life, and what comes after Grade 8
Covers French and Spanish immersion and entry at Kindergarten and Grade 6. The school teaches PYP and MYP without a Diploma Programme, so the guide also looks at the move to the next school, support limits, aftercare, and cost.
Read the International School of Brooklyn guide →Flatiron French-American school
The École: the dual curriculum, and what comes after Grade 8
Explains the language rules for beginners and later entrants, how the two curricula work, and the two-building logistics. Also covers cost, French recognition, and high-school planning.
Read The École guide →Waterside Plaza British international school
BIS-NY: follow the curriculum beyond the IB label
Traces PYP and partial MYP into IGCSEs and A Levels. Also covers entry, support, high-school specialization, cost, and commute.
Read the BIS-NY guide →White Plains German international school
GISNY: German-language readiness and the diploma path
Explains what German readiness is expected, the academic tracks, and Abitur and U.S. credentials. Also covers tuition, aid, and the fact that parents arrange transportation.
Read the GISNY guide →Manhattan day and boarding school
Léman: the day school and the boarding program together
Compares K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry and IB pathways. Also looks at how day students and boarders mix, weekends, travel, and cost.
Read the Léman guide →Upper East Side independent school
Birch Wathen Lenox: what a small school offers, and where its limits are
Covers its explicit foundations, the Grade 6 transition, and depth in the Upper School. Also looks at EXCEL support, workload, tuition and aid, and school finances.
Read the Birch Wathen Lenox guide →NYC inquiry-driven school research
Trevor: what “inquiry” looks like in a student’s actual work
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry, curriculum, assessment, and workload. Also looks at logistics across two campuses, afterschool, and cost.
Read the Trevor guide →Upper East Side Catholic girls’ school
Marymount: Catholic school life and a two-campus day
Covers K, Class VI, and Class IX entry, Catholic school life, and academics. Also notes where public statistics conflict and which questions remain open.
Read the Marymount guide →Upper East Side Catholic girls’ school
Sacred Heart: know what the school stands for before you apply
Covers Kindergarten and Class IX growth, uncertain Class VI space, and Catholic practice. Also looks at academics, workload, two-campus logistics, and cost.
Read the Sacred Heart guide →NYC boys’ school research
Collegiate: applying is not the same as having an entry point
Kindergarten expands by approximately 50 boys, and Grade 9 admission depends on attrition. Grade 6 is an application, not a true entry point, and moves only if a vacancy appears.
Read the Collegiate guide →San Francisco independent high-school research
Lick-Wilmerding: making things is part of the core, not an elective
Covers Grade 9 entry and transfers that depend on vacancies, plus required technical arts and public purpose work and AP-free academics. Also looks at workload, transit, and flexible tuition.
Read the Lick-Wilmerding guide →San Francisco public arts-school research
Ruth Asawa SOTA: choose the art and the four-year week together
Walks through the Fall 2027 application and audition, the arts pathways, and the commitment to one strand. Also covers academics, support, commute, and cost.
Read the Ruth Asawa SOTA guide →San Francisco selective-public research
Lowell: look at the actual school, not the reputation
Covers confirmed Fall 2027 dates, admission ranges from the prior cycle, and what transfer really looks like. Also looks at Grade 9 courses, workload, commute, and school climate.
Read the Lowell High School guide →San Francisco high-school research
University High School: test the whole city-school week
Covers Grade 9 and later entry, group admissions, workload, and mentoring. Also looks at city transit, cost, aid, arts, and athletics.
Read the University High School guide →Peninsula independent-school research
Menlo School: Grade 6 or Grade 9, and what the week looks like
Covers published openings for 6th and 9th grade and conflicting transfer language. Also looks at STAR, continuing from Middle to Upper School, included buses, 2026–27 tuition, and aid timing.
Read the Menlo School guide →Bay Area day-and-boarding research
Woodside Priory: choose the school day and home life together
A small Benedictine school with day and boarding students. Compares Grade 6 and Grade 9 entry, the Peninsula commute, dorm routines, local guardians, and cost, including whether a residence of roughly 50 students feels close or confining.
Read the Woodside Priory guide →East Bay independent-school research
Head-Royce: choose the child’s week, not the school’s résumé
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry, along with uncertainty about assessment and the ISEE. Also looks at workload, Oakland Hills logistics, and cost.
Read the Head-Royce guide →Palo Alto girls’ school research
Castilleja: evaluate the school during a changing campus
Covers Grade 6 and Grade 9 entry and conflicting admissions information. Also looks at how construction, traffic, and buses affect the school day, plus cost and aid.
Read the Castilleja guide →NYC global-school research
Avenues New York: understand the model before applying early
Covers binding First Choice and K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 admissions, plus Mandarin and Spanish immersion. Also looks at tuition, aid, and the actual commute to Chelsea.
Read the Avenues guide →NYC CUNY laboratory-school research
Hunter College High School: one way in, with many 2027 details still missing
Covers Grade 7 eligibility, approved score paths, and AIP, plus the prior exam pilot and HCES continuation. Also looks at support, open-campus independence, commute, and the lack of later entry.
Read the Hunter guide →Brooklyn Citywide G&T research
Brooklyn School of Inquiry: eligibility is only the first gate
Being eligible for Kindergarten is not the same as having priority for an offer, and Grade 6 seats go heavily to continuing students. The guide also covers inquiry-led acceleration, workload, aftercare, co-location, and the commute.
Read the BSI guide →District 3 middle-school research
Booker T. Washington: open admissions, serious work
Admission now uses an open and random method with priorities, so look at how that works before judging the academic reputation. The guide also covers workload, honors and Regents paths, support, after-school, and the building’s 1/10 accessibility rating.
Read the Booker T. guide →Queens early-college research
Bard Queens: the AA is a pathway, not a guarantee that credits transfer
Separates live Fall 2027 dates from the prior assessment rubric. Also covers the writing load, the four-year sequence, degree completion, how colleges decide on credit transfer, and the commute.
Read the Bard Queens guide →Brooklyn progressive-school research
Saint Ann’s: autonomy is the model, and the thing to ask about
Covers limited outside seats, narrative evaluations, teacher-led curriculum, and how much parents get to see. Also looks at support limits, open-campus life, cost, and the school’s reforms around student safety.
Read the Saint Ann’s guide →Gramercy Quaker-school research
Friends Seminary: look at what the Quaker values mean in practice
Covers the K and Grade 9 entry routes and Grade 6 attrition, plus Meeting for Worship and the school’s approach to inquiry. Also looks at workload, tuition, aftercare, and the Union Square commute.
Read the Friends Seminary guide →Upper East Side boys-school research
Browning: a boys’ school across two buildings
A look at KinderFirst, classroom projects, study habits, and homework. The guide also covers applications, tuition assistance, and the school day across two buildings.
Read the Browning guide →Downtown progressive Episcopal research
Grace Church: three entry grades, no published seat counts
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry without guessing at odds. Also looks at the progressive Episcopal approach, two campuses, unclear Grade 6 testing language, and cost.
Read the Grace Church guide →Upper West Side international-school research
Dwight: the IB approach, not only the name
Covers binding Early Decision and space-dependent K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 admission. Also looks at the full IB sequence, Quest support, added costs, and multiple buildings.
Read the Dwight guide →NYC learning-differences school research
Churchill: your child’s learning profile matters more than the label
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 admissions and language-based support. Also explains evaluations, therapies, IEP versus IESP, and how families pay for tuition.
Read the Churchill guide →NYC learning-differences school research
Windward Manhattan: targeted help now, with another school in mind next
Looks at which language-based learning profile the school serves, how much daily instruction students get, and the annual readiness review for moving on. Also covers support limits, cost, and commute.
Read the Windward Manhattan guide →NYC learning-differences school research
Gateway: your child’s class group is part of the fit
Covers literacy and math instruction, built-in therapy, and how classes are grouped. Also looks at the Grade 8 transition, tuition and funding risk, and commute.
Read the Gateway guide →NYC learning-differences school research
Stephen Gaynor: ask how much help your child will get, not just which method
The school’s Orton-Gillingham accreditation is not the same as a promise about services for your child. Ask about grouping, specialists, progress, high-school placement, cost, and commute.
Read the Stephen Gaynor guide →NYC learning-differences school research
Mary McDowell Friends: look at the whole K–12 path
Covers explicit instruction, built-in support, Quaker practice, life across three campuses, and K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry. Also looks at the academic ceiling, cost, and commute, and notes where the evidence has gaps.
Read the Mary McDowell Friends guide →NYC learning-differences school research
Aaron: one name does not guarantee one continuous program
The K–7 and Grades 8–12 campuses are separate. The guide covers who each serves, academics, clinical support, course paths, and the move between them, plus tuition and commute.
Read the Aaron School guide →NYC twice-exceptional school research
Quad Prep: check both the academic challenge and the support
Covers advanced challenge, peer match, and how much clinical and executive-function help students get. Also looks at the Zenith high school, outcomes, cost, and commute.
Read the Quad Prep guide →NYC inclusive-school research
IDEAL: understand what inclusion promises—and what it does not
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 availability, mixed and grouped classrooms, and three levels of support. Also looks at diploma and transition paths, tuition and reimbursement risk, and what to ask about services.
Read the IDEAL School guide →NYC adaptive and transition-school research
Cooke: school is also practice for adult life
Covers academics, adaptive and vocational learning, K–12 entry, and the SKILLs transition program. Also looks at credentials, cost and funding, and commute.
Read the Cooke guide →NYC twice-exceptional school research
Lang: can one school meet both sides of a twice-exceptional child?
Looks at academic challenge and support together, including Grade 6 and Grade 9 entry, executive-function support, and peer fit. Also covers high-school pathways, cost, and outcomes.
Read the Lang School guide →NYC learning-differences school research
Winston Prep NYC: one-to-one instruction within a full school day
Covers the daily Focus Program, academics, and how progress is shown. Also looks at admissions, tuition and funding, commute, and how the NYC campus differs from the wider network.
Read the Winston Prep NYC guide →NYC progressive-school research
LREI: what the philosophy means in a child’s actual week
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry, classroom practice, assessment, and workload. Also looks at high-school pathways, buildings, afterschool, and cost.
Read the LREI guide →Bronx charter campus research
Icahn 6: check the lottery district and both campuses
Looks at a conflict over CSD preference, K and vacancy entry, and accessibility at the Fulton campus. Also covers the Grade 5 move to another campus, academic outcomes, aftercare, and transportation.
Read the Icahn 6 guide →Bronx charter campus research
Bronx Excellence 1: one legal school, two physical sites
Covers Kindergarten and vacancy entry, how the lottery works, and logistics across two sites. Also looks at the structured school culture, discipline, services, and which campus-level results parents should ask to see.
Read the Bronx Excellence 1 guide →NYC charter Grade 6 research
KIPP Beyond: evaluate the campus, charter, and network separately
Covers a rare Grade 6 opening, Fall 2027 lottery rules that aren’t settled yet, and workload. Also looks at conduct grading, services, accessibility, transportation, and KIPP high-school continuity.
Read the KIPP Beyond guide →NYC charter Grade 9 research
Achievement First Brooklyn High: confirm there is a seat, and who runs what
Covers outside Grade 9 availability, a long structured day, and discipline. Also explains how the campus, K–12 charter, authorizer, and network differ, plus transport and co-location.
Read the Achievement First Brooklyn High guide →NYC progressive charter research
Renaissance: the main opening for the middle grades is Grade 5
Covers a rare Queens K–12 path with project and experiential learning, a small Kindergarten intake, and a published Grade 5 expansion. Also looks at variable Grade 9 vacancies and the TRCS/TRCS2 boundary.
Read the Renaissance guide →Bronx charter transition research
Bronx Excellence 8: the public records are still catching up
Explains the difference between the new public name and the legal charter. Also looks at the new campus, new network management, single-gender classrooms, and lottery evidence.
Read the Bronx Excellence 8 guide →Brooklyn charter Grade 9 research
Uncommon High: a real route, but not a promised outside seat
Covers Grade 9 entry and continuing students from the feeder school, plus structured academics, workload, and discipline. Also looks at college outcomes, commute, and how the high school campus, K–12 charter, and Uncommon network differ.
Read the Uncommon Charter High School guide →Brooklyn private-school research
Poly Prep: the biggest openings are not in Kindergarten
Entry at K is limited, while Grades 5, 6, and 9 have real expansion. The guide also covers the two-campus commute, buses, cost, and actual access.
Read the Poly Prep guide →NYC charter campus research
Success Academy Upper West: evaluate this campus, not a network average
Covers the K–4 reconfiguration, Fall 2027 lottery unknowns, and the schedule. Also looks at family commitments, discipline, results, co-location, transport, and Wednesday care.
Read the Success Upper West guide →NYC screened high-school research
Townsend Harris: verify the new rubric, then test the workload
Separates the confirmed Fall 2027 calendar from the prior admissions model. Also covers classics, STEM, Queens College credits, the two to three hours of homework the school suggests, and the commute.
Read the Townsend Harris guide →NYC public Grade 6 research
Mark Twain: apply to a talent, not a school name
Compares ten talent programs and the November 2 registration deadline. Also looks at historical demand, prior-cycle assessments, accessibility, and the Coney Island commute.
Read the Mark Twain guide →NYC public K–8 research
The Anderson School: two entry points, very different odds
Covers Citywide G&T Kindergarten and Grade 6, where continuing students have priority and the outside seat pool is small. Also looks at accelerated academics, ICT, workload, and the cross-town commute.
Read the Anderson guide →NYC public K–12 research
NEST+m: one school, three admissions systems
Citywide G&T Kindergarten, the Grade 6 screen with continuing priority, and the Grade 9 screened assessment each work differently. The guide also covers pace, support, accessibility, and the Lower East Side commute.
Read the NEST+m guide →Two-year international boarding research
UWC-USA: joining for the last two years is a deliberate move
Compares applying through a national committee with full-fee admission. Also covers the full IB Diploma, a very international residential community, travel, cost, and outcomes.
Read the UWC-USA guide →California boarding-school research
Thacher: horses and wilderness trips are part of the commitment, not scenery
Covers horsemanship, wilderness travel, workload, and dorm supervision. Also looks at the school’s reforms around student safety, Ojai hazard planning, travel, and cost.
Read the Thacher guide →Chicago Hyde Park school research
University of Chicago Lab: follow the child’s actual week
Covers Nursery, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry and the school’s university ties. Also looks at workload, logistics across two campuses, cost, arts, and athletics.
Read the University of Chicago Lab guide →Chicago city-school research
Latin: one urban campus, three very different entry questions
Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten work differently, as do Grade 6 attrition and Grade 9 growth. The guide also covers testing, workload, commute, and cost.
Read the Latin School guide →Chicago progressive-school research
Francis Parker: freedom within real structure
Covers JK, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry, plus projects, civic work, and advanced study without AP labels. Also looks at workload, Lincoln Park logistics, and cost.
Read the Francis W. Parker guide →Chicago selective-enrollment research
Northside: understand the score before the cutoff lore
Explains the Fall 2027 GoCPS rules, how ranking and tier selection work, and Grade 9 entry. Also covers transfer limits, workload, commute, and outcomes shown with the number of students behind them.
Read the Northside College Prep guide →Specialized STEM boarding research
PRISMS: a research program inside a very small boarding school
Covers confirmed Grade 9 entry, uncertain transfer, and four years of research. Also looks at dorm size, staffing, international logistics, and cost.
Read the PRISMS guide →Connecticut boarding-school research
Taft: test the structured week and the trip home
Covers entry by grade, academic expectations, dorm life, Saturdays, and phones. Also looks at cost, travel for international and other families, and the school’s history on student safety.
Read the Taft guide →Connecticut girls’ boarding research
Miss Porter’s: leadership, structure, and travel go together
Covers entry by grade, academics built around mastery, dorms, phones, and the required global experience. Also looks at cost and international logistics.
Read the Miss Porter’s guide →Brooklyn specialized-school research
BASIS Brooklyn: eligibility does not prove an opening
Being eligible to apply is different from having a seat open. The guide looks at planned cohort growth, two-campus logistics, acceleration, workload, ownership, and cost.
Read the BASIS Brooklyn guide →Park Slope independent-school research
Berkeley Carroll: three grades, two kinds of opening
Main entry is at Kindergarten and Grade 9, while Grade 6 opens only through attrition. The guide also covers inquiry, workload, four-building logistics, and cost.
Read the Berkeley Carroll guide →Brooklyn Heights independent-school research
Packer: two planned entry points and one attrition question
Kindergarten and Grade 9 are the planned intake points, and Grade 6 opens only through attrition. The guide also covers academics, workload, aftercare, the commute without buses, and cost.
Read the Packer guide →Downtown Brooklyn Quaker-school research
Brooklyn Friends: verify the seat before debating the model
Kindergarten has stronger entry evidence, while Grade 6 and 9 expansion is unproven. The guide also covers Quaker practice, progressive learning, IB workload, transit, aftercare, and cost.
Read the Brooklyn Friends guide →Queens independent-school research
Kew-Forest: a small school’s closeness comes with tradeoffs
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry evidence and the IB transition. Also looks at support limits, international families, subway and school-bus logistics, aftercare, cost, and school finances.
Read the Kew-Forest guide →Staten Island independent-school research
Staten Island Academy: eligibility is not a seat count
Entry at K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 is uncertain. The guide covers assessment, academics, Todt Hill logistics, cross-borough transportation limits, aftercare, scholarships, and cost.
Read the Staten Island Academy guide →Cambridge day-school research
BB&N: three campuses are part of the educational model
Covers Beginner, Kindergarten, Grade 6, and Grade 9 openings, plus cross-campus transportation and after-school care. Also looks at workload, support, arts, athletics, cost, and aid.
Read the BB&N guide →Boston girls’ school research
Winsor: Grades 5, 6, and 9 are three different decisions
Covers entry in each cohort, group interviews, testing, and academic pace. Also looks at all-girls life, Longwood transportation, after-school coverage, and cost.
Read The Winsor School guide →Boston boys’ day-school research
Roxbury Latin: Grade 7 is the center of the decision
Grade 7 is the main intake, with smaller openings later. The guide also covers boys-school culture, workload, commute, cost, and aid.
Read the Roxbury Latin guide →Boston five-day boarding research
Nobles: a mostly day school with a small weekday boarding option
Compares Grade 7 and Grade 9 entry, required testing, and the long school day. Also looks at Dedham transportation, weekday dorm supervision, weekends at home, phones, and cost.
Read the Noble and Greenough guide →Boston exam-school research
Boston Latin: understand the formula before the cutoff lore
Covers Grade 7 and Grade 9 invitations and the Fall 2027 rules, including the GPA and test components and residency. Also looks at access, workload, commute, and outcomes with the numbers behind them.
Read the Boston Latin School guide →Los Angeles Jesuit boys’ high-school research
Loyola: test the whole week, not only the offer
Covers Grade 9 and transfer entry, the HSPT, and required theology and service. Also looks at academics, the regional commute, cost, and student protections.
Read the Loyola guide →Los Angeles girls-school research
Marlborough: the New York pattern of K, 6, and 9 entry doesn’t apply
The real doors are Grade 7 and Grade 9. The guide also covers girls-school life, workload, buses, late-day logistics, the Hancock Park commute, and cost.
Read the Marlborough guide →Pasadena independent-school research
Polytechnic: the entry point and what the week looks like
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry evidence, academics, and workload. Also looks at buses, aftercare, and cost.
Read the Polytechnic School guide →Mid-Atlantic boarding-school research
Mercersburg: the postgraduate year is a separate decision
Covers Grade 9, transfer, and PG entry, plus workload, dorms, and weekends. Also looks at arts and athletics, travel, cost, and international logistics.
Read the Mercersburg guide →New Jersey boarding-school research
Blair: decide whether the structure suits your child
Covers Grades 9–12 and PG application routes, Saturday classes, dorm supervision, weekends, and phones. Also notes the official figures Blair still needs to reconcile.
Read the Blair Academy guide →Southern boarding-school research
Indian Springs: do not force it into a New England template
Covers entry, the boarding and day community, student voice, and dorm supervision. Also looks at academics, weekends, cost, travel, and Alabama logistics.
Read the Indian Springs guide →Virginia boys’ boarding-school research
Woodberry Forest: look at the whole boarding experience
Covers entry, boys-school culture, dorm supervision, weekends, and phones. Also looks at academics, workload, travel, cost, and health.
Read the Woodberry Forest guide →Virginia coed boarding-school research
Episcopal: understand the full-boarding week near D.C.
Covers Grades 9–11 entry, dorm supervision, study hall, phones, and leave. Also looks at Washington access, family travel, and cost at the Alexandria school.
Read the Episcopal High School, Virginia guide →Indiana leadership boarding-school research
Culver: test the structure beyond the uniform
Covers entry, the corps and academy structures, dorm supervision, weekends, and phones. Also looks at academics, horsemanship, travel, and cost.
Read the Culver Academies guide →Atlanta independent-school research
Atlanta International: language changes the whole school day
Covers 5K, Grade 6, Grade 9, and Grade 11 entry separately, along with language placement and the IB sequence. Also looks at screening, two campuses, buses, and cost.
Read the Atlanta International School guide →Atlanta independent-school research
Lovett: more to weigh than the campus
Covers Kindergarten, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry, faith, workload, and the Paces Ferry commute. Also looks at cost and aid, arts, and athletics.
Read The Lovett School guide →Atlanta independent-school research
Woodward: two campuses make the family route part of the fit
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry at the College Park and Johns Creek campuses. Also looks at academic levels, Transition support, the regional bus network, and cost.
Read the Woodward Academy guide →Atlanta independent-school research
Westminster: three entry years and a demanding school
Covers Pre-First, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry, Christian daily life, workload, and the 180-acre campus. Also looks at cost and the Fall 2027 details still to be published.
Read the Westminster guide →Atlanta public charter research
Atlanta Classical: the lottery is only the first decision
Covers the planned Kindergarten cohort and vacancy-only entry in Grades 6 and 9. Also looks at the classical curriculum, discipline, services, transportation, aftercare, and family costs.
Read the Atlanta Classical guide →Washington, DC independent-school research
Washington International: the language path comes first
Separates true beginner entry from admission that depends on language. Also covers the PYP, school-designed middle years, IB Diploma, two campuses, transportation, and cost.
Read the Washington International School guide →Washington, DC independent-school research
National Cathedral: the all-girls core is the point
Covers Grade 4, 6, and 9 entry and Episcopal life, plus access to St. Albans courses. Also looks at workload, the Woodley Road commute, cost, and the school’s history on student safety.
Read the National Cathedral School guide →Washington, DC independent-school research
Georgetown Day: what the school’s freedom looks like day to day
Covers five main entry grades, division-by-division admissions, and the inquiry and social justice approach. Also looks at workload, transportation, and cost.
Read the Georgetown Day guide →Washington, DC independent-school research
Maret: a small school with three different ways in
Kindergarten, Grade 6, and Grade 9 admissions each work differently. The guide also covers the school week, academic approach, commute, cost, and a leadership transition.
Read the Maret School guide →Northern Virginia independent-school research
Potomac: the bus belongs in the family decision
Compares Kindergarten, Grades 4 and 6, and Grade 9 entry across four academic divisions. Also looks at the school week, McLean transportation, and cost.
Read the Potomac School guide →DC-area boys’ boarding and day research
Georgetown Prep: understand how the day and boarding communities overlap
Covers entry, Jesuit and all-boys identity, how day students and boarders mix, and dorm supervision. Also looks at weekends, phones, workload, commute, and cost.
Read the Georgetown Prep guide →Houston international-school research
Awty: the language path is the family decision
Compares K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry and the French and International pathways. Also covers language placement, testing, workload, commute, and cost.
Read the Awty guide →Houston K–12 independent-school research
St. John’s: three real entry doors, three different plans
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 intake, testing, and interviews. Also looks at academics, workload, traffic, construction, and cost.
Read the St. John’s guide →Houston Episcopal high-school research
EHS Houston: see how the Four Pillars show up in the whole week
Covers Grade 9 entry, what transfer really looks like, and daily chapel. Also looks at academics, workload, Bellaire traffic, cost, arts, and athletics.
Read the EHS Houston guide →Houston selective public-school research
Carnegie Vanguard: advanced work is the whole school
Covers Fall 2027 GT and matrix eligibility, Grade 9 and 10 entry, and how the lottery works. Also looks at the required AP and research path, workload, hub transportation, and costs.
Read the Carnegie Vanguard guide →Houston independent-school research
Kinkaid: your family’s weekly logistics are part of the decision
Covers entry-year evidence, admissions, academics, and workload. Also looks at commute, buses, aftercare, weather planning, and cost.
Read the Kinkaid guide →Dallas coeducational school research
Greenhill: the entry grade changes the admissions picture
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 openings and admissions. Also looks at academics, workload, Addison driving, cost, aid, arts, and athletics.
Read the Greenhill School guide →Dallas boys’ school research
St. Mark’s: grade eligibility is not seat reality
Eligible grades are not the same as open seats. The guide covers entry points, boys-school culture, chapel, academics, workload, commute, and cost.
Read the St. Mark’s School of Texas guide →Dallas Catholic boys’ school research
Cistercian: Grade 5 is the wide door
Grade 6 and Grade 9 transfer paths are limited. The guide covers the admissions exam, Catholic monastic life, an all-honors workload, Form support, the Irving commute, and cost.
Read the Cistercian Preparatory School guide →Dallas Jesuit high-school research
Jesuit Dallas: the whole four years, not just the application
Covers Grade 9 and limited transfer entry, the rotating day, and Catholic all-boys life. Also looks at service, workload, the North Dallas commute, and cost.
Read the Jesuit Dallas guide →Dallas girls’ school research
Hockaday: the wider doors are not K and Grade 6
Covers K, Grade 5, 6, and 9 entry reality and all-girls academics. Also looks at the former boarding program, Dallas logistics, workload, and cost.
Read The Hockaday School guide →Washington, DC selective-public research
Banneker: a structured four-year commitment
Covers Grade 9 and restricted Grade 10 entry, admissions scoring, and workload. Also looks at Community Lab, optional IB, commute, and official outcomes.
Read the Banneker guide →Washington, DC selective-public research
School Without Walls: choose the daily experience
Covers Grade 9 and transfer admission, the scored rubric and citywide match, and limited GW pathways. Also looks at required work, commute, and official outcomes.
Read the School Without Walls guide →Washington, DC public charter research
Washington Latin: one charter, two campus pathways
Covers Grade 5, 6, and 9 lottery evidence and how continuing students affect openings. Also looks at classical academics, differences between the campuses, discipline, transportation, and family costs.
Read the Washington Latin guide →Upper West Side school research
Compare pathways before comparing school names
Start with the neighborhood private-school guide, or look at PS 9, PS 87, and PS 452 through current zoning, curriculum, support, accessibility, and afterschool.
Explore Upper West Side schools →California girls’ boarding research
Santa Catalina: closeness is the appeal, and what to check
Covers Fall 2027 entry, girls’ and Catholic identity, how boarding and day students mix, and dorm life. Also looks at weekends, Monterey travel, regional emergency planning, and cost.
Read the Santa Catalina guide →Specialized arts boarding research
Interlochen: the arts intensity extends beyond the classroom
Covers auditions by major, arts and academic workload, and residential care. Also looks at winter travel, hidden costs, and outcomes.
Read the Interlochen guide →Junior boarding research
Eaglebrook: readiness matters more than precocity
Covers Grades 6–9 entry, boys’ middle-school culture, dorm supervision, and day access. Also looks at academics, phones, travel, cost, secondary placement, and how to think about whether a young child is ready to live away.
Read the Eaglebrook guide →Coeducational junior boarding research
Fay: the decision begins with readiness to live away
Covers Grades 7–9 boarding entry and how to think about readiness to live away. Also looks at dorm supervision, how day and boarding students mix, weekends, phones, travel, and cost.
Read the Fay guide →Seattle independent-school research
Bush: three real entry doors and a learn-by-doing education
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 openings, student visits, and testing. Also looks at academics, workload, transportation, construction, and cost.
Read The Bush School guide →Seattle independent-school research
University Prep: all-honors does not answer every fit question
Covers planned Grade 6 and Grade 9 entry, conflicting admissions information, and workload. Also looks at transport, the late-day plan, and cost.
Read the University Prep guide →Seattle independent-school research
Seattle Academy: creative breadth comes with a busy week
Covers Grade 6 and Grade 9 entry, visits and testing, and the arts and innovation curriculum. Also looks at workload, Capitol Hill transportation, and cost.
Read the Seattle Academy guide →Atlanta independent-school research
Pace Academy: documented expansion, and a daily routine to check
Covers Pre-First, Grade 6, and Grade 9 newcomer counts and visits. Also looks at academics, workload, the commute with no bus, and cost.
Read the Pace Academy guide →Los Angeles public-Magnet research
LACES: Grade 6 is the real door; Grade 9 depends on departures
Covers Fall 2027 Choices dates, Magnet points, and a seven-year Grades 6–12 campus. Also looks at transportation, workload, and the questions the October brochure still needs to answer.
Read the LACES guide →Studio City Episcopal-school research
Campbell Hall: test the commute and after-school load
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry, chapel, and academics. Also looks at buses, arts, athletics, traffic safety, and cost.
Read the Campbell Hall guide →North Hollywood independent-school research
Oakwood: Grade 7 is the doorway many families miss
Covers K, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 9 entry and progressive academics. Also looks at learning support, two-campus logistics, and cost.
Read the Oakwood School guide →Santa Monica independent-school research
Crossroads: what progressive learning looks like in a day
Covers K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 entry, small-group admissions, and serious arts. Also looks at workload, transportation, and cost.
Read the Crossroads guide →