A practical starting point for families.
Find the people, information, and next steps that support a student’s everyday experience.
The rhythm of school life.
Classroom learning
Seminars, problem solving, laboratories, and creative work make up the academic experience. Preparation and revision are part of the routine.
Compass Advisory
Small groups meet twice each week to reflect on progress, set goals, and think through the practical challenges of school life.
Language every day
Daily ATLAS study develops one language concentration over four years, connecting communication with culture and independent work.
Beyond the classroom
Clubs, the monthly Ideal Colloquium, and selected City Lab Fridays create opportunities to participate in the wider community.
Start with the person closest to the question.
Classwork or academic progress
Begin with the classroom teacher. For concerns across classes or questions about placement, contact the advisor or assistant principal.
Student experience or school arrangements
The school office can direct attendance, scheduling, visit, and day-to-day questions to the appropriate person.
College and life after high school
Contact Nia Okafor for questions about planning, applications, school materials, and next steps.
Before the first day.
Ask the school office for the current family handbook, daily schedule, and any required forms. Confirm the details below before making arrangements.
- Arrival and dismissal times, attendance reporting, and authorized pickup.
- Transportation options and procedures for arriving at school.
- Meal arrangements, allergies, medication procedures, and required health information.
- Dress expectations, supplies, technology, and any device requirements.
- How families receive progress updates and time-sensitive school notices.
- Learning needs or accommodations that should be discussed in advance.
Contact the office directly about personal student information and the appropriate way to provide records.
Keep the conversation concrete.
Ask your student to show you a piece of work they revised, describe an idea raised in a seminar, or explain what they are practicing in ATLAS. Specific questions often open a more useful conversation than a general question about the school day.
If a concern persists, bring examples to the teacher or advisor. A shared understanding of what is happening makes it easier to discuss a next step.
Frequently asked questions.
Where can I find school dates?
Use the interactive calendar to browse by month or event type. The current entries are proposed and must be confirmed by the school.
Does the school provide transportation or meals?
Contact the office for current arrangements, availability, and any associated costs. These services are not confirmed on this website.
How do I report an absence or a change in pickup?
Call (202) 269-3186 for the school’s current reporting procedure.
Who should know about a learning or health need?
Contact the school office before enrollment or as soon as a concern arises. Ask to speak with the appropriate staff member and confirm how records should be provided.
Keep communication useful and timely.
For a question about an assignment, begin with the teacher and include the class, the task, and what your student has already tried. If the issue appears across classes, ask the advisor or assistant principal to help connect the pattern.
Before a meeting, choose the main concern and bring a few examples. Leave with an agreed next step and a time to check in. A short follow-up note can help everyone remember who is doing what.
A useful opening
“We have noticed that starting longer assignments is difficult. Could we look at how the work is being broken into stages?”
Include the student
Ask your student what they understand, what feels difficult, and what kind of help they have already requested.
Share relevant changes
Let the appropriate staff member know when a family change may affect attendance, workload, or participation.
Confirm the channel
Ask how the school communicates urgent notices and progress updates, and keep your contact details current.
Settle the everyday arrangements.
At the start of the year, confirm arrival and dismissal times, the attendance-reporting procedure, and what to do when plans change. For a late arrival, absence, or pickup change, use the school’s confirmed instructions rather than leaving the information in a general inquiry.
Discuss meal arrangements, allergies, medications, transportation, devices, and dress expectations directly with staff. Keep a copy of the current handbook and any individual arrangements you have agreed on.
Use the saved preparation checklist Read the daily-life guideSupport independence one task at a time.
Set a predictable time to review the week together. Ask your student to identify the task that needs the most time, the person they could ask for help, and any commitment outside class that affects the plan.
Offer structure without rewriting their work or managing every message. Practicing a respectful question to a teacher, preparing a meeting agenda, or checking a deadline themselves builds habits they will need after high school.
College planning is also a family conversation. Discuss practical and financial priorities early, then use the four-year counseling guide to keep expectations appropriate to the student’s stage.
College counseling for students & familiesA CLOSER LOOK
Keep communication practical and consistent
Parents and guardians can support learning by asking specific questions about the week: what required the most thought, which assignment needs a plan, and where help would be useful. These conversations can reveal concerns earlier than a broad question about whether everything is going well.
When reaching out, describe the issue, relevant dates, and the response you are seeking. Keep a record of agreed next steps and allow the student an appropriate role in the conversation. Use the directory for the right contact, the tuition page for published costs, and the calendar as a planning aid while proposed dates await confirmation.