How many privates do you apply to for middle/high school?

[Anonymous]

Twins will be entering into 7th at a 7 - 12 school. Currently in 5th. We are switching privates. They have been at current school since K. Not a good fit for middle and high. How many privates to apply to? Not in DMV area. Acceptance rate at the private that is our first choice is 50%. Kids have strong academics and ECs, and expect to have strong test scores. Will need financial aid.

[Anonymous]

3-5, with that acceptance rate maybe 3-4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Twins will be entering into 7th at a 7 - 12 school. Currently in 5th. We are switching privates. They have been at current school since K. Not a good fit for middle and high. How many privates to apply to? Not in DMV area. Acceptance rate at the private that is our first choice is 50%. Kids have strong academics and ECs, and expect to have strong test scores. Will need financial aid.

What do you expect their teacher recs to look like regarding behavior? You don't mention that. If behavior is in any way an issue, apply broadly.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks. Behavior not an issue at all. School will be sad to have us leave. Will do 3.

[Anonymous]

How much financial aid will you need? A school supporting 2 kids from 7-12 is a huge commitment. You may get in to some that offer little aid, that’s a lot for the school to take on.

[Anonymous]

We applied to five for high school.

I wouldn’t count on good letters of recommendation if you are full pay at your current school and leaving before the normal end point.

[Anonymous]

We applied to 2 for HS. We considered 2 others but pulled/did not complete applications after deciding that DC would be better off in public rather than those. Our k-8 recommended 3-6, no more than 8 (although they didn’t impose a limitation). I think most folks applied to 4-5.

[Anonymous]

We applied to 3 and that felt low compared to others applying the same time. Most others were around 5.

[Anonymous]

Applied to 4 schools for 7-12.

[Anonymous]

One.

Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

High school. 2 for the firstborn. Really only wanted 1 of those. If he didn't get in--might have just gone to public HS. Did everything in his power as a non-legacy to get in--test scores/grades, and spent a long time on essays.

Second born. Just 1.

[Anonymous]

5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We applied to five for high school.

I wouldn’t count on good letters of recommendation if you are full pay at your current school and leaving before the normal end point.

I don’t think I this is true. There’s no upside or downside for the teachers if a child chooses to leave before the “graduation” year. They have no incentive to deliberately try to tank a student’s eval and I believe teachers as a whole are far more professional than to do so.

[Anonymous]

How many schools do you like more than your current school and/or your public option?

[Anonymous]

We applied to just one for Middle School and got in. I would have liked to submit more applications, but my son knew what he wanted and wasn't interested in a backup.