The winter holiday season occupies so much of our mind space that sometime major other “To Do” items fall off our radar. This time of year also signals school application deadlines for the 2026-27 school year for some area independent and private schools, like Parish Episcopal School’s on January 9, 2026. Here are five things to keep in mind when you move from decorating and wrapping paper to completing school applications.
1. Know what you’re getting in a school and that it meets your family’s educational expectations. For instance, does it offer your child a place to explore possibilities that will prepare them throughout their educational journey and beyond? Does it have different experiences that might spark a passion in your child – whether that’s arts, athletics or academics, or something you haven’t even considered? Do the faculty and staff teach students to be principled people who strive to positively impact those around them? And, do they intentionally partner with families to foster the best experience for your child?
2. Check the application deadlines for every school to which you’re applying. Even if the process is similar or school X and school Y use the same system for applying, deadlines vary across the many school choices in DFW.
3. Have your supplemental documents ready to go. While some schools like Parish have an early January deadline for applying and a later deadline for supplemental documents such as teacher recommendations and records from your current school, it’s important that you know all the deadline dates and follow the instructions for each step of the process.
4. Schedule testing, student observation visits, parent interviews, etc. as early as possible. Many schools require one or more of these and some need to be completed by the beginning of February.
5. Be familiar with financial obligations and offerings, from application fees and tuition payment plans to tuition assistance programs and student life experiences. Like deadlines, schools vary on these items. At Parish, for example, to fulfill a student’s experience, tuition covers math and writing labs, college guidance and planning, access to learning specialists, daily all-you-can-eat lunch, supplies for most grade-levels and so much more. Parish also offers a variety of payment and installment plans to suit families’ preferences and needs as well as a robust, need-based tuition assistance program to ensure that the most qualified candidates have the opportunity to attend Parish regardless of financial circumstances.
Of course, this list doesn’t cover everything for applying to a new school. To learn more, Parish Episcopal School invites you to reach out or apply online at parish.org/admission.
