Your Competition for Enrollment Is Not the Private Schools on the “Attending Instead” List in Your Board Report.
Your competition is the future....and here’s what to do about it.
Competitor #1: Any Organization That Builds Community and Creates ROI
Once upon a time, a private school was the beating heart of its families’ lives — the hub of friendship, belonging, and shared purpose. As the future unfolds, that’s not necessarily the case anymore as other organizations fill that need for our families. Here’s what to do about it.
Competitor #2: Schools That Customize Education and Redefine “School”
Alpha School leverages AI in its educational model and claims they are “...a school where kids crush academics in 2 hours, build life skills through workshops, and thrive beyond the classroom.” Why should that worry traditional private schools? Read More.
Competitor #3: Public Magnets That Provide Families with Exactly What They Are Looking For
When families apply to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia or Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia, they don’t think they settling for second best. Instead they are enrolling at a school that meets them where they want. Here’s how.
Competitor #4: Vouchers - Yes, the same vouchers that are supposedly an enrollment driver at many private schools
Voucher programs may initially appear to open new markets for independent schools, but from a financial-planning lens they introduce important risks. Here’s why.
What Private Schools Should Do: Build Your Strategic Plan Like Your Enrollment Matters
What Private Schools Should Do: Seven Strategic Shifts Private Schools Must Make to Remain Viable
Independent schools face a fundamental challenge: tuition has outpaced what many families perceive as reasonable, while public alternatives are improving rapidly. The question is no longer just how to fill seats, but how to justify the price in a market where families have credible, lower-cost options. Here are seven strategic shifts every private school should consider to remain viable—and valuable—in the years ahead.
