Polls_Data Mania

Columns 107I have created this page for you to grab some quick insights and information that might help you to best think about enrollment management of full-pay families.  It will be made of polls that you complete and then, receive instant feedback about what others report.  These polls will have two focuses.  First, it is a chance to see what is happening in rest of the world related to full-pay families.  Second it is about looking for clues that might strengthen your position in enrollment management of full-pay families.  I will present commentary to bring a little relevance to the poll.

HOW DOES THE HEAD OF SCHOOL FAIR WITH THESE 7 MEASUREMENTS FOR RECRUITING FULL-PAY FAMILIES?

Evaluate how effective the head of school or principal does with each of the 7 measurements for recruiting full-pay families?  The rating is any whole number from 1 (extremely poor) to 10 (highly effective) inclusive.  Then add up the total and complete the instant survey below.  This is a confidential survey and only the cumulative results are being shown.  The 7 areas are:

1.Does your school have a uniqueness that defines your brand?  1 – 10
2.Does the head ensure the quality of the student experience? 1- 10
3.Is the school customer centric or school centric? 1- 10
4.Are the employees supporting the work to enroll and re-enroll students? 1- 10
5.Have the right people been hired to do the marketing, communications, and sales work? 1  -10
6.Does the enrollment office have adequate resources to pursue an effective strategy? 1- 10
7.Is the head interested in the composition of the student body? 1- 10
[polldaddy poll=8109560]
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How many different types of on or off campus admission events does your school offer to prospective families?

Parents don’t necessarily comprehend your school’s excellence from their first engagement with your school.  Offering multiple types of event increases the chances for your finicky full-pay parents to get the full experience of your school.  This includes open house, class visit days, athletic receptions, dinner/theater, current families’ admission events at their homes, webinars, student panels, and more.

[polldaddy poll=7794576]

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How Many Full-pay Applicants Did You Have for Each Open Space last admission season?

Commentary: Tracking your full-pay applications over time and understanding how many are available by grade from one year to the next is important in the process of managing your numbers.  One helpful example is knowing whether you can put a greater number in one grade so you don’t have to take weaker students from another grade. This takes timely planning with the principal or division head.   I recently met with a director of admission who swung an entire section of students moving from three to two sections in kindergarten and  from three to four sections in 1st grade.   To make that work, she brought in students who were wait listed in kindergarten during the previous year and encouraged them to apply to first grade, giving her enough to complete a section in first grade with the additional applicants.  It’s now a bulge in first but she felt the alternative was not as good which was to take weaker students into the kindergarten and live with them until they were counseled out, or keep the spaces empty and lose the income.  It was a well-planned, collaborative decision.  This is only one example.  Will you share yours?

[polldaddy poll=7751217]