Friday, May 1, 2015

Determining the right "fit"

            Registration Day for the incoming Class of 2019(!) took place only two months ago, but the time since has been so hectic that it feels like it was yesterday. It is a stressful time for private high schools because the admission and enrollment process is increasingly taking on the look and feel of what has been happening for years at the college and university level: multiple applications are sent to a variety of schools in the hopes of landing on one’s “Plan A or B” college/university.
Here are some startling statistics: the National Association of College Admission Counselors reports that, although the number of high school graduates has begun to decline (and will continue to do so until 2020), growth in the number of applications per student has increased. NACAC reports that 87% of fall 2010 freshmen submitted three or more applications, and 25% submitted seven or more applications. In addition, a large majority of colleges (73%) reported increased application volume for fall 2010 compared to fall 2009. With few exceptions, approximately three-quarters of colleges have reported increases each year for the past decade.
Unhappily, a similar dynamic is unfolding at the secondary school level; particularly here in the Pasadena area. As the number of school-age children continues to shrink (students going on to high school next fall will be 50% fewer than students who graduated from Pasadena-area high schools in May and June), family angst around private high school placements increases. For example, even though La Salle is the largest private high school in the Pasadena area and we received over 400 applications for the Class of 2019, these students were applying, on average, to three other private high schools; meaning that at least a third of those students would end up enrolling at another school.
Happily, the Class of 2019 frustrated the statistical prediction inherent in the data: the incoming freshman class is a mere 9% smaller in number than the senior class who will be graduating in May. And, equally happily, the characteristics of the incoming class are consistent with their older counterparts:
Ø  male/female ratio is 47%/53%
Ø  29/40 applicants who qualified for Regents Merit Scholarships (scoring at or above the 96th percentile on the Entrance Exam) enrolled
Ø  29% of enrolled students received need-based financial aid (12 students on full tuition-assistance; 11 students on 50% tuition assistance; 24 students on partial tuition-assistance)
Ø  The Class of 2019 came from 50 elementary schools (the largest number of schools in ten years) with 53% coming from 10 schools (7 were private/Catholic schools)
Ø  40% of schools sending students to La Salle are Catholic
Ø  For the first time, three of the top ten “feeder” schools were public middle schools
Ø  54% of students identify as Catholic
Ø  60% of the Class of 2019 identify as other than European descent
Ø  The freshman parent pledge program was wildly successful; bringing in well over $131,000 - the second largest outcome in four out of the last five years
Ø  The average gift from parents of the Class of 2019 was just shy of $1,000 - the best performance in 9 years
These statistics boldly proclaim that La Salle is doing just fine in the often chaotic scramble parents endure in achieving their objective of finding the “right” school for their child; which causes me to revisit an interesting finding of the NACAC study. The researchers note that:
Technology also makes it easier for students to apply to multiple colleges, complicating the job of both secondary school counselors and admission officers. The ease of applying to multiple colleges creates disincentives for students to spend time evaluating the “fit” of their college options. And the increased application volume that results makes it more difficult for institutions to predict yield.
So, while the greater Pasadena area continues to experience college-like dynamics in managing their recruitment and enrollment processes and, La Salle, like its private high school counterparts, is increasingly reliant upon technology to facilitate the application process; I am pleased to report that, based on the overwhelming pleasure parents of the Class of 2019 expressed throughout registration day, our School continues to enjoy a home/school dynamic which clearly illustrates that our newest families understand why we are the right “fit” for them.
            I guess the stress of the last two months was worth it…
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment