FAQs

Families who are interested in working with us are welcome to schedule a free 30-minute Zoom consultation. During this meeting, we get to know the family and the student, discuss possible school options and admissions pathways, and introduce our services and how we work. After the consultation, if we feel that we are a good fit for each other and the family would like to move forward, we will provide a consulting agreement. If a family would like additional consultation time before making a final decision, they are welcome to schedule another meeting at $300 per hour.

Over the past few years, approximately 90% of our students have been accepted to one of their top-choice schools, including highly competitive independent schools such as Horace Mann School in New York, Sidwell Friends School and Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC, The Potomac School in McLean, VA, The Overlake School in Redmond, WA, Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, and many more.While admissions outcomes can never be guaranteed, our goal is to guide each family through the process with care and strategy, helping them build a thoughtful, authentic, and strategic application that highlights their child’s strengths and supports them in finding the right school fit — a school environment where they can feel challenged, supported, and truly thrive.

Most of the students we work with are between 3 and 15 years old, from children applying to Pre-K through students applying to 9th grade. We also occasionally work with students applying to 10th or 11th grade, depending on the school and the family’s needs.Pre-K is one of the first major entry points at many private and independent schools in the Washington, D.C. area. Some schools begin even earlier, offering programs for 2-year-olds, Preschool 3s, or Pre-K 3.For families considering private school beginning in Pre-K, we often start working with parents when their child is around 2½ to 3 years old, typically about one to one and a half years before the intended enrollment year. Starting early gives families time to learn about different schools, understand the admissions process, and thoughtfully consider which school environments may be the best fit for their child and family.

There are so many factors to consider when looking at schools for your child, including the school’s approach and mission, school model, single-sex or co-ed environment, academic program, social and emotional support, faculty, student support, main entry points, parent community, location, and more.For our contracted families, we spend time getting to know each family and student and develop a list of recommended schools based on the student’s learning profile, personality, strengths, interests, and needs, as well as the family’s priorities, values, and preferences.To help families in the DMV area become more familiar with the different types of schools and school models available, we host free webinars every year and invite Heads of School, Directors of Admission, and other school leaders to share information about their schools directly with parents. These webinars are open to all families.Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive information about future webinars and other events.

Our comprehensive consulting packages for families applying to K–12 day schools typically range from $8,000 to $15,000, depending on each family’s specific needs and the scope of support involved. For families applying to boarding schools, our package fees are typically a little higher due to the broader scope of work and additional layers of planning involved, but they remain comparable to other experienced consultants in the field. During the busiest part of the admissions season (typically September through December), our consultants usually meet with families weekly or every other week for 30–60 minutes, depending on their needs. Before September and after December, meetings are typically less frequent and adjusted based on each family’s timeline and goals.Our package also includes unlimited referrals to trusted educational professionals and specialists when needed, including psychologists, learning specialists, testing providers, tutors, and therapists, to support each child’s academic progress, emotional well-being, and overall development. For families who may need financial assistance, we offer a limited number of discounted services each year for qualified families. In addition, we host free live webinars several times a year to help parents better understand the K–12 private school admissions landscape and navigate the process with greater clarity and confidence. Please visit our Workshops & Webinars page for upcoming events and details. To discuss your family’s specific needs, please contact us at info@primaryedugroup.com.

Our team brings together experienced educators with a wide range of perspectives, including former admissions officers at leading K–12 private schools, former private school administrators and teachers, and other education professionals.We also believe that good school consulting requires staying closely connected to schools. Our team regularly visits private schools, meets with admissions professionals and school leaders, attends education conferences, and keeps up with changes in admissions trends and school communities. These connections help us give families current, thoughtful guidance rather than relying only on information found online.Another important part of PEG is the network we have built over the years. Families often need support beyond the application itself, so our services include referrals to trusted educational professionals and specialists when needed. For us, the goal is not simply to help a child get into a private school. We hope to support each child’s long-term growth and development by helping families make thoughtful decisions and find a school community where their child can learn, grow, and thrive.

Yes, we offer additional services such as one-on-one writing classes with our writing instructors, art portfolio development, and other enrichment support based on each student’s needs. Each consulting package already includes access to our ISEE/SSAT test prep system, which provides unlimited practice tests, mock exams, and practice materials. This means most families do NOT need to purchase additional ISEE/SSAT test prep services elsewhere. In fact, about 98% of our families prepare for the ISEE/SSAT using our system alone without needing to hire outside tutors. For students who need additional support, we also offer one-on-one private tutoring for ISEE/SSAT preparation.

Each family is assigned a lead consultant and supported by a progress tracking manager and a former admissions officer. Our team works closely together to provide thoughtful and efficient guidance throughout the admissions process.

Most of our families sign up for our services between January and June of the year before their child applies to school. For example, if your child is applying to enter school in Fall 2027, the ideal time to start working with us would be between January and June 2026.Starting during this time allows us to focus on pre-planning and help families understand what students and parents can do during the spring and summer before the application season begins in the fall. However, some families don’t start thinking about school applications until the new school year begins, so every year we also welcome new clients in September, October and November.

Yes! Every year, we work with international families who are applying to K–12 private schools in the U.S. Over the years, we have worked with families from Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand, and other parts of the world, with children ranging from preschool through high school.We understand that choosing a school can feel especially overwhelming when your family is also preparing for a move to a new country and adjusting to a new environment. Our team helps families understand the U.S. private school system, explore their options, and identify schools that may be a good fit for their child academically, socially, and personally.Our team includes consultants who come from diverse backgrounds, and many have lived, studied, or worked outside the U.S. and are familiar with different educational systems and cultures. International families often tell us how helpful it is to work with someone who understands both where they are coming from and what they can expect from U.S. schools.

Our team coordinates school tours and interviews directly with schools and helps create a clear visit schedule for families traveling to attend admissions events. Since many families spend one to two weeks visiting schools, we help plan a well-organized and balanced schedule so they can make the most of their time in the area. We also advise families on which events to prioritize when time is limited, and we aim to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible.

Yes! Every year, we work with families who plan to apply for financial aid as part of the private school admissions process.Our consultants can help families understand how financial aid works, think strategically about their school list, navigate the application process, and understand what schools may consider when evaluating financial need. We also believe in being transparent with families about what to expect and what factors may affect their financial aid application.It's important to keep in mind that financial aid policies vary from school to school, and not all schools are need-blind in their admissions process. If financial aid will be an important part of your family's decision, we encourage you to discuss it with your consultant early so it can be considered as part of your overall admissions strategy.

Yes, we do offer a sibling discount. For more details, please contact us at info@primaryedugroup.com to schedule a time to discuss your family’s specific situation.