Independent schools are independently governed by a board of trustees. These schools define their own mission and design a curriculum that is consistent with the mission. Independent schools are financed through tuition fees and charitable contributions, rather than through taxes or church funds.

Independent schools have many outstanding qualities which make them unique, including an emphasis on critical thinking; greater percentage of students participating in the arts, athletics and extracurricular activities; increased teacher-student interaction inside and outside the classroom; open communication between school and home; strong sense of community and a safe learning environment.

Finding the "right school" is not an easy process and parents should gather as much information as possible. It is recommended that parents begin the process in the fall prior to the year they wish to enroll their daughter/son. Parents should also consider a number of schools, since many schools receive more applications than the number of spaces available. College First Consulting is here to simplify the education search and help you to find the "right school"!

The ISEE is a standardized assessment test used by independent schools to evaluate the reasoning and achievement of all applicants. The ISEE consists of three levels for students in grades 4 through 11 who wish to enroll in grades 5 through 12. Each level of the ISEE consists of three parts: (1) verbal and quantitative reasoning tests that measure a student's capability for learning; (2) reading comprehension and mathematics achievement tests that provide specific information about a student's strengths and weaknesses in those areas; and (3) an essay section. The essay is timed and written in response to a prompt. It is photocopied, mailed only to the schools requested, and is not scored.

Affording a quality education takes planning. Families have the primary responsibility for financing their child's education. Among the most common financial options is tuition assistance/financial aid. These awards are based on a family's needs, and unlike a loan, they are not paid back to the school. The money for the financial awards comes directly from the school's budget and demonstrates the school's commitment to having a diverse student population. Another common option is a monthly payment plan. These plans are arranged through the schools and allow families to spread out their tuition payments over a period of 8 to 10 months. In most cases, payments start before the school year begins. It is very important to be familiar with any financial aid deadlines and to carefully follow all instructions for applying. College First Consulting offers assistance with the tuition assistance application process.

The California Department of Education offers a California School Directory with information about all California private schools, public schools, school districts and county offices of education. Families can use the directory to search for schools by county, district, name, city, zip code and type.

No. The API, by law, applies only to public schools.