Services and Fees

Support from a qualified educational consultant is a wise investment when parents consider the wasted time and expense of applications that do not yield acceptance, another year at the wrong school, or enrollment at a school which turns out to be a disappointment. Past clients agree that SCHOOL SOLUTIONS helped them have, “Less stress. More success.”

SCHOOL SOLUTIONS offers a range of services to meet your family’s needs. The following options represent my standard fee schedule that gives families the most access to Consultant time and the best results of their applications. Discounts are given for families with more than one student applying to schools.  Fees paid at one level may be considered a deposit for services at a higher level.

A Consultation is the perfect option for parents who need help with a difficult current school issue or want to  map out an educational pathway for their child. Sometimes parents need a safe place and an objective listener to discuss their child's current school difficulty. SCHOOL SOLUTIONS has a network of excellent referrals in the child development/services community and can often point parents toward the right professional help. With the right SOLUTION, a student may not need to change schools. If doing so would improve the child's social/emotional/ academic well-being, why not begin a conversation with educational consultant Carolyn Means?

Other Consultation topics may be about the school admission process for public magnet and private day schools , general differences among types of schools, and entrance tests such as the WPPSI, WISC, and ISEE. If parents decide they need help identifying specific schools for their child or experienced support going through the admission process, the Consultation fee applies to the cost of a Guidance or Placement Plan.

HEAD START 2.2— $ 875

Head Start 2.2 service provides 2 hours of consulting for parents of children up to age 2.0, plus parent resources .   Parents may ask all of their questions about early childhood education, types of curriculum, the impact of summer birthdays, chances for admission at highly competitive schools, the private school admission process, HISD magnet schools,  activities to develop school ready skills, and how to help a child get a head start on having a good education.  One of the most frequently asked questions from parents is, "Where should we buy a house so we have the best options for our child's education?" At what grade should we consider applying to private school? I also have a list of excellent preschools to share with parents of children this age.

 The Guidance Plan is for parents of children five years and older who need  guidance selecting the right list of schools for their child to apply to.  Services include the initial Consultation with parents to determine their educational goals and priorities and at least one other meeting to get to know the student. By gathering all relevant information on the family and student, the Consultant will be able to provide the family with a valuable list of schools where their child has a true potential to be successful and to be accepted. This plan is a good option for parents who feel confident to manage the admission process on their own.

The Placement Plan goes well beyond the Guidance Plan  by providing comprehensive support through the complex, competitive admission process or for late applicants during rolling admissions when openings are hard to find.   In meeting with parents and the student, from student surveys, school records, and available testing, Mrs. Means is able to determine the best list of schools. Over the following months, she will help the student and parents prepare for tours/open houses/shadow days, entrance tests and complete applicant files prior to the due dates.  Placement services include referring families for educational testing if the consultant suspects the presence of a learning difference or if testing needs to be updated.

Each family receives a personalized Admissions Handbook,  with over 65 pages of valuable information to refer to as they work on strategies for success. During the admission season, parents receive  newsletters with recent articles and updates on schools.  The SCHOOL SOLUTIONS approach is individual, personal, thorough and confidential. Helping parents and students with applications and interviews is a SCHOOL SOLUTIONS specialty. Mrs. Means makes sure that students are appropriately prepared and registered for entrance tests. Students and parents report a high level of confidence following their interviews. 

Overall success rates attest to the fact that preparation yields results. If the unexpected happens such as sickness on an important day or low test scores, parents have an experienced Consultant to help address it. When enrollment contracts are offered, Mrs. Means helps parents and students evaluate their options for enrollment at their next school.  Because the best results come when parents take advantage of her experience and knowledge, Mrs. Means makes herself available for meetings and phone calls and reaches out to parents to make sure they are making progress on their responsibilities for tours, visits and applications.