Carolyn Means, M.Ed. 
Certified Educational Planner
713-851-2488 
cfmeans44@gmail.com

Middle High

Middle School/High School Consulting - Day and Boarding

Houston private middle schools and high schools are looking for candidates with strengths to offer their schools. SCHOOL SOLUTIONS is experienced with helping students realize their strengths and define themselves as highly desired applicants.

Getting the school fit right at middle and high school should be the result of a thoughtful process. Location, school philosophy, extra-curricular programs, college matriculations, social peers, as well as family fit are very important factors to consider in making a list of schools to apply to at these levels. Some Houston high schools get over 500 applications for 50 places while other high schools do not fill their 9th grade class until late in the summer. This may be due to the school’s location, curriculum, philosophy, lack of extra-curricular programs, or that it is a fairly new school. 

The costs of spending a year or two in the wrong middle or high schools can cause anxiety, expensive tutoring, or the feeling that the school is not up to the student’s potential. By investing in the services of a skilled, knowledgeable educational consultant, a family can avoid a lot of disappointment. 

Many private schools offer 8th grade families some high school admissions services, but sometimes these fall short. When I work with a student, I might suggest schools the family has never heard of – and they end up being just right. Sometimes a student is known to be a "nice guy" or a "sweet girl" but they haven't really stood out in their class. Through games and surveys, SCHOOL SOLUTIONS uncovers strengths and interests in students to form their unique admissions profiles. Or we may discover that a student has an unidentified deficit in working memory or processing speed which will allow them to qualify for extended time on entrance exams. 

A Guidance Plan  for middle and high school applicants offers significant time with the Consultant to determine the student’s academic and extra-curricular strengths, interests, and areas of potential development. Getting to know each student well, gathering school history and available testing enables SCHOOL SOLUTIONS to generate a right list of day schools.

A Placement Plan  offers the benefits of the Guidance Plan plus all the strategies for success in the highly competitive admission season. If we can begin work early in the year, we have greater opportunities for the student to grow during the summer and fall semester. SCHOOL SOLUTIONS is an objective, organized partner in the admission process and an encouraging coach for the student.

Boarding schools offer unique opportunities that sometimes can't be found in one local package. For students with a learning difference, boarding schools offer learning centers that can be accessed during the day or in the evening during study hall. It's not all about studying. These great schools offer outstanding athletic and academic facilities, fine arts and STEM centers, food for every diet preference, travel, diversity, and a chance to take on new responsibilities. Athletic students have the chance to play sports that Houston schools do not offer - ice hockey, downhill and cross-country skiing, mountain and rock climbing, sailing, crew and equine programs. Students who want to experience what boarding school life could be like can attend summer camps that combine athletic programs with academics. 

For many reasons, students decide to apply to grades other than natural entry points of Grade 5 or 6 for middle school and Grade 9 for high school. SCHOOL SOLUTIONS has years of strong relationships with day school admission directors and administrators to find openings at schools we identify as a right fit for our students.  







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