Defining Excellence

Is your school’s definition of excellence aligned with your parents’?

Can you express it in a way that makes families say, “That’s exactly what I want for my child”?

If not, you likely have an enrollment challenge on your hands.

Brendan Schneider recently emphasized that excellence and safety are what matter most to parents. I’ve been thinking about this too, especially after hearing Tim Fish reflect on “old excellence,” “new excellence,” and “the jet stream.”

So—how do parents at your school define excellence?
Is it rooted in their own school experiences?
Or is it about measurable ROI—like college placement?

Educators sometimes resist making excellence measurable or succinct. But without some common language, we risk talking past our families.

We don’t have to give up our values—we just have to make sure families can see how those values deliver on what matters to them.

Because without alignment, the enrollment hurdle only gets higher.