What K-12 Schools Are Looking For In Admissions

Parents applying to K-12 schools are often left staring at a blank box, wondering, how does admissions choose the children each year, especially at schools with many more applicants than spots. Should they enroll their children in supplemental academic programs, should they donate to the school, what should they do? I’ve broken down the application process to three stages for the three main entry points at the start of elementary (kindergarten), middle (6th grade), and high school (9th grade). 

Other articles discuss in more detail: neurodiverse students, gifted students, middle school, high school, public vs. private school, summer applications, and my school profile series. 

Kindergarten – Elementary School Entry Point

For elementary school applications, the parents and child are both assessed for fit with the school through parent essays, parent interview, teacher evaluations, and student assessments onsite in a “play date” or activity session. 

For parents, schools consider whether the parents are seeking the type of education that the school offers, and how the parents have worked with prior schools. For K-8 or K-12 schools, schools also consider whether parents are likely to support the school’s upper divisions. Examples include the parent’s views on the school’s level of structure, curriculum philosophy, and homework and testing policies.

For children applying to kindergarten, schools consider primarily their social skills, including how they’ve interacted with other children at their preschool, as evidenced in their preschool teacher’s evaluation forms. During the activity sessions, schools typically assess basic skills for kindergarten, for instance writing their name, drawing a person, and drawing a circle, square, or triangle. The children also participate in a group activity, which often includes circle time and a fun game, such as a scavenger hunt. 

For shy children, these activities can be challenging. If your child is slow to warm or has difficulty separating with new people, ask your preschool director if they can reach out to your favorite private schools and discuss your child’s interpersonal skills at preschool. Because preschool is the most similar environment to kindergarten, the preschool team is best equipped to opine on your child’s social emotional skills.

The best preparation for school applications is attending preschool and other group activities, such as gymnastics, music, sports, or art. Drop in activities at parks or in your community can expose your child to new people in a similar way that the play date does. Developing gross and fine motor skills would happen in any of these settings, which is an excellent bonus.

6th Grade – Middle School Entry Point

For middle school, the parent and child are assessed for fit with the school through parent essays, parent interview, student essays, (sometimes) student interview, teacher evaluation forms, and (often) an onsite student visit day.

For parents, admissions teams consider how parents have interacted with their elementary school team and whether parents mesh with the school’s educational philosophy, such as the level of testing, the amount of projects, homework policy, and approach to the curriculum. 

Unlike kindergarten applicants, middle school applicants write essays for the application, which are assessed for both writing skill and for fit with the school. During onsite visits, middle schools generally assess the child’s reading, writing, and math level, and whether the writing style of the student essays matches the proctored assessment. 

While academics matter, most schools are not looking for super geniuses, but rather for kids who love learning, can handle the level of academics at the school, and get along well with others. Students with extracurriculars that fit with the school’s sports and clubs are a plus. Some schools will request specific testing, such as the STAR, SSAT, ISEE, or a shared writing assessment. Taking a practice test at home under like-testing conditions can help predict performance, as can any school administered testing, if your school tests with state tests, ERB’s, STAR, or the like.

For interpersonal skills, schools consider both the teacher evaluations and the student behavior during the school visit days. 

9th Grade – High School Entry Point

For high school, more of the focus is on the student vs the parent; applications include parent essays, student essays, (often) student interview, teacher evaluation forms, and (often) an onsite student visit day. Parent interviews are infrequent in the high school admissions process.

For parents, admissions teams consider how parents have interacted with their middle school team and whether parents mesh with the school’s educational philosophy, such as the college prep approach, testing philosophy, projects, homework policy, and approach to the curriculum. 

High school applicants write essays for the application, which are assessed for both writing skill and for fit with the school. During onsite visits, high schools generally assess the student’s reading, writing, and math level, and whether the writing style of the student essays matches the proctored assessment. 

High schools are looking for strong performers who love learning, can handle the level of academics at the school, and get along well with others. While academics matter for high school, so do interpersonal skills, executive function skills, and extracurricular involvement. Private schools have clubs and teams to fill and want students who will be involved.

Some schools will request specific testing, such as the HSPT, STAR, SSAT, ISEE, or a shared writing assessment. Taking a practice test at home under like-testing conditions can help predict performance, as can any school administered testing, if your school tests with state tests, ERB’s, STAR, or the like.

For interpersonal skills, schools consider both the teacher evaluations and the student behavior during the school visit days. 

Takeaways 

Private schools that have more applicants than spots will look for overall fit with the school. Depending on the student's age, they may look at academics, but at all ages, they consider the social fit of the child, and what the family brings to the community. A hyper focus on academics is less attractive than a well balanced student and family.

Role of a K-12 Consultant 

A consultant can help you craft your school list to be sure of a balanced list offering a match of services with the student and parent’s interests. A consultant can also review all admissions materials, in particular student and parent essays, to help focus them to each school’s admissions goals. A consultant can directly work with your child to brainstorm, draft, and edit their own essays. The consultant can provide feedback on whether the essays read as genuine and how to shine during the application process. 

Want more input on K-12 schools?

Vicky consults with families to help select, apply to, and communicate with public and private schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Vicky maintains a principle of non-judgment. Hourly, VIP, and Season packages include a discussion to review school options, applications, essays, and key decisions. Vicky offers a limited number of packages each year to assure her availability. 

Vicky’s own children have attended both public and private schools, and have received both accommodations and curriculum changes; her elder is in high school, and her younger in middle school. New clients can email to learn more about her services, or see her website to learn about her packages.