What a private kindergarten assessment or child visit is like
There's no right answer here. Which school fits depends on your child and your family: how your child learns, their temperament, your schedule and budget, and what you value. This guide lays out what LA parents and educators weigh and what to look for, so you can make the call with more to go on.
A private kindergarten child visit can look like a group activity, a teacher observing play, or an individual screening. There is no single format across schools. Ask admissions what your child will do, who will be there, whether you stay, and what the school hopes to learn.
- A group visit can include a story, play choices, movement, or small-group activities.
- An individual screening can involve a teacher or specialist working with your child one to one.
- Schools may observe how a child joins activities, communicates, responds to directions, or moves between tasks. The school decides what it considers.
- Explain the visit in simple terms. You can describe where your child is going and who they will meet without rehearsing answers or practicing tasks.
What might happen during the visit?
Formats differ. The National Association of Independent Schools says elementary admissions can use teacher observation, group assessments, or individual diagnostic assessments. Los Angeles school materials also show that a kindergarten session can combine a story, movement, small-group activities, and play. These examples show possible formats, not a standard used by every school. National association admissions overview · Los Angeles kindergarten assessment example · Local school visit description
Some schools separate the child's visit from the parent conversation. Ask whether the child attends the parent meeting, whether caregivers remain nearby, and how long the child portion lasts. A local admissions page describes separate parent and child steps, while another invites children to a family tour. Local admissions process example · Local tour FAQ
What might staff observe?
A school may describe observing play, curiosity, comfort, participation, or interaction with peers and adults. Those are examples published by individual schools. They do not establish a shared admissions rubric. Ask the school which activities are planned and what it expects children to do. Local visit description · National association admissions overview
A school admissions visit is not the same thing as a healthcare developmental screening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes developmental monitoring as watching how a child grows and changes over time. ZERO TO THREE describes observation, screening, and assessment as processes aimed at supporting development. These sources provide context about early childhood, not a way to interpret an admissions decision. CDC developmental monitoring and screening · ZERO TO THREE overview
How can we prepare without coaching?
Tell your child the basic plan: where they will go, that they will meet adults and other children, and who will bring them. Keep the explanation true to the school's description. Avoid turning the visit into a test to pass or drilling answers; ask admissions for the schedule and any practical instructions instead.
If your child is slow to warm up, uses a language other than English, or needs support with transitions, tell admissions ahead of time and ask what would help the visit go smoothly. The school can explain how it handles those circumstances. Do not assume that one short visit captures how your child acts in every setting.
What do parents report?
Parents' accounts, anecdotal: A Los Angeles parent contributor's account of applying to private elementary schools describes child visiting days in mock classroom and outdoor settings, and says some schools observe children at preschool. This is one contributor's description, not a survey or a guarantee about current school practices. Los Angeles parent account
Admissions and early-childhood guidance: The national association and local school examples above describe several possible visit formats. Early-childhood organizations discuss observation and screening in developmental-support contexts. These sources answer different questions; neither establishes how any particular school weighs an applicant's visit.
What should we ask admissions?
- What activities will the child do, and how long will the visit last?
- Will children be in a group or meet with an adult individually?
- Should a caregiver stay, wait nearby, or leave?
- What should we tell the child in advance? Is there anything they should bring?
- How can we share relevant context about language, transitions, or support needs?
- Who can answer questions after the visit, and when should we expect to hear from the school?
Use the private school tour guide for questions about campus visits and the private school application checklist to track each school's published admissions steps.
Reviewed October 2026. Parent material is anecdotal; school and expert material is labeled by source and scope.