Prepare for a private school parent interview

Prepare a few honest examples about your child, agree with your co-parent on the essentials, and bring questions that help you understand the school. Interviews vary by school and age: published Los Angeles accounts describe parent conversations, while admissions guidance describes other formats too. Follow the instructions you receive and ask the admissions office what to expect.

• Choose true examples of your child’s interests, needs, and response to difficulty.
• Explain what draws your family to the school, using details you can stand behind.
• Agree with your co-parent on shared priorities and how to handle differences.
• Bring questions about communication, classroom support, and next steps.

What might the conversation look like?

Formats differ. One parent or both may meet with the school, during a visit or separately. Los Angeles parent reporting describes meetings without children; an admissions adviser says families can bring questions. These accounts show options, not a standard practice. (Local parent account of elementary admissions; Interview with an LA admissions adviser)

Before the meeting, ask whether both parents should attend, whether your child will join, how long to plan for, and whether the conversation is individual or shared with other families. Use the admissions office’s answer to prepare; do not assume one family’s experience predicts yours.

What questions might parents be asked?

In one Los Angeles parent account, families recall questions about children, family interests, parenting challenges, and questions they wanted to ask. Admissions advice also suggests reflecting on why the school interests you. Treat these as preparation prompts, not a script or forecast. (Parent account of elementary admissions; Adviser’s interview advice)

Think through a few examples:

• What does your child choose to do when they have time to play or explore?
• What happens when a task is difficult, and what kind of support helps?
• What do you hope your child will gain from a school community?
• What prompted your interest in this school, based on what you have learned so far?
• What would help the school understand how your family approaches learning and support?

Use an ordinary moment rather than a polished label. “She loves science” says less than a short example of what she notices, asks, or tries. A national education report on kindergarten readiness describes development across several areas. Experts quoted in it caution against reducing readiness to one skill. That broader lens can help parents describe a whole child without treating the interview as a test. (Associated Press report on kindergarten readiness and expert perspectives)

How can you talk about your child honestly?

Share strengths and challenges with a concrete example and its context. If transitions are hard, explain what you have observed and what tends to help. Do not hide a support need or turn a strength into a promise.

Expert perspectives: A WNYC interview argues that a realistic account of difficulties is more useful than presenting a perfect child. Research by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) examines families’ reasons for seeking independent schools through parent interviews. These sources offer perspectives on candor and priorities, not a universal admissions formula. (WNYC interview on discussing a child’s challenges; NAIS parent research)

What if you and your co-parent disagree?

Agree on what you have observed and the questions you both need answered. You do not need identical opinions. If your views differ, explain them calmly and say what you are still working out together.

Before the conversation, compare notes on what each of you has observed, what matters most in a school, and where you have open questions. If a disagreement comes up, describe the difference accurately rather than correcting or embarrassing each other in front of the interviewer. This keeps the focus on understanding your child and making a considered decision.

What can you ask in return?

Use questions to learn how the school works with children and families. National Association of Independent Schools parent guidance emphasizes identifying family priorities and asking questions when comparing schools. Local admissions advice also recommends bringing questions. (NAIS parent guidance and research; LA adviser interview)

Choose a few questions that are still unanswered after reading the school’s published materials:

• How do teachers share a child’s progress or concerns with parents?
• What support is available when a child is having difficulty?
• How do teachers help children settle into a new classroom or routine?
• What does communication between school and home usually look like?
• What is the next step, and where should we look for instructions?

Ask about the school’s actual practices rather than what it thinks a family wants to hear. If the answer is broad, ask for an example or who can explain the details.

What should you skip?

Skip memorized speeches, claims that your child has no challenges, and answers designed to guess what an interviewer wants. Avoid criticizing a current teacher or comparing your child with peers. The local adviser interviewed above recommends against blaming a child’s current school or teachers when discussing a concern.

You also do not need to ask questions already answered clearly in the school’s materials. Save the meeting for what remains unclear about your child’s experience, the school’s approach, or the next step.

How should you prepare?

Spend a short block of time together listing a few true examples and the questions you need answered. Review the school’s own admissions information, confirm the format with its admissions office, and decide who will cover each question if both parents attend. Then let the conversation be a conversation.

For more preparation, read what to look for on a private school tour, writing the parent statement, and what happens during a kindergarten assessment visit.

Reviewed October 2026.