8:1
Student Counselor Ratio
100%
Dedication to Contracted Families
90%
of Students Accepted to Their First-Choice School
150+
School Connections
200+
Students Accepted to Desired Schools in Past Five Years
We Don't Package Children. We Reveal Them
Empower children to become their best selves - one school journey at a time.
Authentic Potential
We help children discover who they truly are -- their strengths, passions, and voice -- and present that authentically to schools. No scripts. No personas.
Child Empowerment
Every strategy, every coaching session, every practice interview is designed to build your child's confidence and self-awareness -- skills that serve them far beyond admissions.
Family Direction
Finding the right school is not just about rankings -- it is about fit, values, and long-term growth. We help families clarify what they truly want for their child's future.
WHAT WE DO
Comprehensive Admissions Support
From start to finish, we guide and support your family through every step of the admissions journey.
School Search & Strategy
We begin with a comprehensive assessment of your child’s academic profile, learning style, personality, and strengths to identify schools where they will thrive academically, socially, and personally. From there, we build a thoughtful, strategic school list tailored to your family’s goals—reducing guesswork and focusing your time and energy where it matters most.
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We Work as a Team
Our experienced consultants, former admissions officers, and progress tracking manager work closely together to support each family throughout the admissions journey. By collaborating as a team, we ensure every detail is thoughtfully managed, every deadline is met, and every family receives personalized guidance and strategic support at every stage of the process.
Application Coaching
Private school applications tell your child’s story—within a limited space and to highly discerning admissions readers. We guide families through every component of the process, including admissions events, parent statements, student essays, parent and student interviews, campus visits, and more—helping you present an authentic, compelling, and cohesive application.
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Out-of-State & International Family Support
For families relocating to a new state or moving internationally to the U.S., we provide personalized support throughout the private school admissions process. We help coordinate school tours, interviews, assessments, and other admissions events, creating an efficient and organized plan to make the process smoother.
Where Our Students Have Been Accepted 2023-2026
Our students have been accepted to top independent schools across the Washington, DC area, New York, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sidwell Friends School
National Cathedral School
The Primary Day School
Bullis School
Horace Mann School
UPrep
Georgetown Day School
St. Albans School
Beauvoir School
St. Andrew's Episcopal School
The Winsor School
UChicago Lab Schools
The Potomac School
Holton-Arms School
Flint Hill School
Georgetown Preparatory School
Dana Hall School
Germantown Friends School
Maret School
Landon School
Washington International School
The Bryn Mawr School
The Overlake School
Friends Select School
OUR TEAM
Led by Insiders. Guided by Experience.
From start to finish, we guide and support your family through every step of the admissions journey.
Ying Zhu
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Founder of Primary Education Group
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Founder of Primary Academy
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Lead Consultant for DMV area
Theodra Washington
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Chief Strategy Officer for K-12 Admissions Consulting
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Former Sidwell Friends Admissions
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Certified Educational Planner (CEP)
Lloyd Paradiso
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Chief Strategy Officer, Boarding School & College Admissions Consulting
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Founder and Past President of IECA
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Certified Educational Planner (CEP)
Dr. Ellen
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Director of Curriculum Design
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Writing Instructor
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Instructor for ISEE and SSAT Prep
CLIENT STORIES
Trusted by Families Nationwide and Internationally
I want to thank the PEG team for their support and patience through this experience. Ying and her team are very experienced and truly took the time to get to know our child and our family. Whenever we had questions, Ying always spent time listening and helping us. From discussing school options and how to prioritize admissions events, to parent and student essays and interviews, they guided us every step of the way and helped our son present his unique strengths and character. Looking back, what meant the most was seeing how much our son grew through the process. We’re thrilled with the final results, but more importantly, throughout this journey, our son learned more about himself and can’t wait to start at his next school.
— Parent in Northern Virginia, whose child was accepted to all three schools applied (The Potomac School, Sidwell Friends School, Landon School) in the DC area in 2026
We had an excellent experience working with Ying and her team throughout the private school application process. She was straightforward, honest, responsive, and always available when we needed her. What helped us most was her ability to help us present our child in an authentic and compelling way, while keeping us focused on the right priorities at each stage. They were consistently responsive, detail-oriented, and provided clear, honest advice, which gave us confidence throughout the process. With their support, our child was admitted to all of the schools she applied to. We are truly grateful for the role they played in this outcome and would highly recommend them to any family navigating a similar journey.
— Parent in Northern Virginia, whose child was accepted to all three schools they applied to (The Potomac School, Holton-Arms School, and The Langley School) in 2026
HOW IT WORKS
Three Steps to the Right School
1
Discovery Call
A free 30-minute conversation to understand your family's goals, your child's strengths, and the schools on your radar.
2
Strategy Plan
We build a personalized roadmap: target schools, timeline, application components, and preparation milestones.
3
Application Support
End-to-end guidance through essays, interviews, school visits, and every decision point until acceptance day.