Self-Study: Enrollment Management

The Enrollment Management section asks schools to describe and evaluate their processes for recruiting, accepting, and enrolling students. Since ISP does not have selective admissions, our admissions activities are based on two main concepts. First, we focus our events and communications to attract families who are interested in language, a diverse cultural environment, and inquiry-based learning. Second, since we value families with a variety of schedules, needs and questions, we offer a lot of personal communication and varied opportunities: daytime and evening open houses, structured information sessions, flexible tours, a robust web presence, electronic communication, and print-based materials.

An equally important piece of our Enrollment Management program supports reenrollment of current families. Since 2007 enrollment has risen by more than 100 students; most of that increase has come from retention. In 2004 there was close to a 20 percent annual attrition rate averaged over four years; that same rate has now dropped to below 7 percent. We attribute this to significant advancements in the school program with the International Baccalaureate (authorized in 2010), professionalism of school operations (reference administration section below), and facilities improvements (Stearns Hall opened in 2007, numerous renovations of the Hilltop building, etc). The admissions department supports reenrollment with Moving Up sessions for parents in preschool and kindergarten, information for all parents about their child’s next grade, and by managing the significant information flow for the reenrollment process.

The school’s financial assistance program is also a critical part of enrollment management. ISP financial aid is entirely need-based, and 15 to 20 percent of students receive financial assistance each year. Financial aid is capped at 30 percent of each student’s tuition costs for preschool, and 60 percent for K – 5. This differential helps with retention in the elementary grades where we are unable to enroll new students easily. These caps also enable the school to offer assistance to all qualifying families while still keeping within budget. The school has never had to deny a family that followed the application process and qualified for aid.

Overall, the school is targeting an eventual total enrollment of 525 students, as established by the 2008 Strategic Plan. That represents only 30 additional students than are enrolled today, an increase we expect to come partly from retention and partly from preschool enrollment at the ISP Early Childhood Center in John’s Landing.