²ÝÁñÉçÇø

Pathways to Elite Colleges

Navigate the journey to higher education with expert guidance. From academic preparation and testing to applications and financial planning, explore tailored insights to ensure a seamless transition from private school to elite institutions.

View the most popular articles in Pathways to Elite Colleges:

4 Best Studying Apps for Students and Teachers

Updated
|
4 Best Studying Apps for Students and Teachers
This article explores four top studying applications that benefit both students and teachers. It highlights how these digital tools enhance learning experiences, improve productivity, and facilitate better academic performance in the modern educational landscape.

This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.

The game has changed - studying is no longer relegated to just pen and paper but also to technology like mobile and online apps. Today, students can learn both in and out of the classroom better than ever before. Ubiquitous platforms for messaging, video conferencing, cloud-based collaboration, and learning management have crossed the boundary from personal tools to media that provide practical means to complete academic work. In 2026, AI-assisted learning, adaptive platforms, and digital collaboration tools have become increasingly common parts of the educational technology landscape. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø School Review's Technology in ²ÝÁñÉçÇø School Classrooms in 2026 explores these developments in more detail.

Brad Zomick, Content Manager at SkilledUp, said these changes had already become ingrained in education. Now, technology and apps are simply a way of life for matriculating students. "A virtual whiteboard is something that's becoming increasingly popular for teachers and students. You're able to access whiteboard notes from wherever you are. Textbooks, once a hallmark of high school and college students alike, are disappearing. Buying electronic textbooks is huge for students. Not only does it cut down on costs, but it saves you from carrying around a heavy backpack all day."

The tools have changed considerably since that observation was made, but the underlying shift toward digital learning has continued. In 2026, students routinely encounter learning management systems, cloud-based portfolios, interactive displays, one-to-one devices, and AI-powered educational tools. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø School Review's

. . .read more

How Tutoring Should Work

Updated
|
How Tutoring Should Work
The National Tutoring Association has laid out an effective roadmap for how tutoring should work.

has crafted a fine Code of Ethics for its members. While I am well aware that most tutors do not belong to a national organization such as the NTA, nonetheless the NTA's Code of Ethics presents a set of guidelines by which you and I as parents can evaluate the tutors we hire for our children. For sake of this discussion, I also include any teacher who primarily works on a 1 on 1 basis as a tutor. For example, piano, art, and dance instructors, as well as the math and English tutors you will expect to encounter.

Using the NTA's Code of Ethics I have offered comments on each of their tenets. Use these comments to help you assess and evaluate any tutor you hire.

Code of Ethics

The National Tutoring Association is dedicated to providing its members with opportunities to achieve and maintain high professional standards for tutors and administrators of tutoring programs and services.

I understand that my role as a tutor is to enable students to do their own work using the best learning approach possible.

RK: The extra time and attention which a tutor affords his students make it possible for them to understand the material presented. More importantly, a tutor can take time to explain the variations and possibilities inherent in the original problem so that his student is able to recognize them when they do occur. Equipping students to do their own work is vital.

. . .read more

The 21 Secrets of A+ Students

Updated
|
The 21 Secrets of A+ Students
Ever wish you could pick the brain of A+ students? Well, we did it for you — we spoke with dozens of students and educators to find out their secrets for success.

Ever wish you could pick the brain of A+ students? Well, we did it for you — we spoke with dozens of students and educators to find out their secrets for success.

Everything they had to say is compiled here. There’s short term techniques to get you started on your way as well as long term tips to maintain your achievements.

Happy studying! And remember — grades aren’t everything. Use them as a tool to measure your learning, not as a goal in and of themselves.

1. Know your learning style.

Different study strategies work better for different people, and knowing your learning style will help you understand which study methods work best for you. Take this 20 question quiz to find out your learning style!

  • Aaron Harris, Harvard alum and CEO of

2. Color code your notes.

If you write notes by hand, have a black pen, red pen, blue pen, and green pen handy. If you take notes on the computer be prepared to change the color of the text. When the teacher gets to a number or date you need to remember, write the numbers in red. If your professor throws out an important term or definition, put the term in blue. And if you need to remember places or famous names, put them in green. Everything else, keep in black.

When you study, memorize the important colored words and

. . .read more

College Counseling in ²ÝÁñÉçÇø High Schools

Updated
|
College Counseling in ²ÝÁñÉçÇø High Schools
This article explores the comprehensive college counseling services offered in private high schools. It highlights the dedicated resources, personalized guidance, and continuous support provided to students throughout their high school years, emphasizing the advantages of private school counseling over public school offerings

"Which colleges should I apply to, Mom?" That question will be very much on your child's mind as she begins her junior year of high school. Of course, you have been worrying about which college she should attend since she was a toddler. But now, this critical question is very much on her radar. Fortunately for both of you, this is another instance where sending your child to a private school will give her an advantage over most public high schools. Why? College counseling is a function and job responsibility that private schools take seriously. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø schools are not likely to cut staff in this area. Remember when you were choosing a private school for your child? You reviewed the colleges where various schools' graduates had been accepted and were attending. You remember thinking that the colleges listed for the graduates of the school where you decided to send your child were pretty much the kind of tertiary-level institutions you had in mind for her anyway.

There are several advantages a private school can offer over most public schools. For example, small class sizes and individual attention are given. Sports programs and extracurricular activities also make the list. But what about college advising? In the first place, getting a solid college education is probably one of the reasons you sent your child to a private school. You read the course catalog and approved of the breadth and depth of the school's academic offerings. But what about the skilled

. . .read more

The Safety Factor

Updated
|
The Safety Factor
Discover why private schools remain among the safest learning environments in 2026 by exploring discipline policies, student support, parental involvement, and the school culture that helps students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

As you well know, there are several reasons why you are considering private school for your child. Her safety is on your list, albeit somewhere below other considerations such as academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities when you first start thinking about schools. Safety continues to be one of the top concerns for families in 2026, particularly as schools address evolving issues such as cybersecurity, student mental health, and campus security. Safety is not usually an issue in private schools. Indeed, school violence is not often found in private schools. In fact, the only examples of which I am aware in recent years consist of a few scattered incidents of hazing and cyber-bullying. I won't scare you with examples of school violence in public schools. You see and read about these incidents every day, both at home and abroad. Instead, let's explore some of the reasons and factors that make private schools safe places for your child. You can check that box on your list of questions about private schools.

Families researching schools may also wish to read ²ÝÁñÉçÇø School Review's guide to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø School Safety Measures in 2026, which examines the security practices many independent schools have adopted in recent years.

Discipline Codes

One of the most important reasons why private schools tend to be safe places for your children is because they all have discipline codes. These discipline codes are enforceable and, indeed, are enforced simply because you and your child entered into a legal contract

. . .read more

Recent Articles

Ask Current Parents What Admissions Won't Answer
Ask Current Parents What Admissions Won't Answer
Learn how to ask current private school parents revealing questions about culture, academics, communication, costs, discipline, and community life before deciding whether a school truly fits your family well.
When School Anxiety Is Really a School Fit Problem
When School Anxiety Is Really a School Fit Problem
Learn when school anxiety may signal a poor school fit, how parents can identify academic or social mismatches, and when changing private schools deserves serious consideration for families today.
Will My Child Find Their People? Evaluating School Culture
Will My Child Find Their People? Evaluating School Culture
Learn how to evaluate private school culture, student belonging, friendships, teacher relationships, social dynamics, and authentic community fit so your child can find the right place to thrive and connect.

Pathways to Elite Colleges

ACADEMIC READINESS
This section covers various standardized tests required for college admissions, offering insights into preparation strategies and the role these tests play in the application process.
COLLEGE PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING
This section offers advice on choosing the right college, financial planning for higher education, and making informed decisions about the college experience.
STANDARDIZED TESTING AND ADMISSIONS EXAMS
This section covers various standardized tests required for college admissions, offering insights into preparation strategies and the role these tests play in the application process.