You can take the SSAT or Secondary School Aptitude Test on several test dates throughout the year. But the December test date is typically the last one before the deadline for many private school applications. January 15 or February 1 are common application deadlines. The late online registration deadline for the December 12 SSAT is this Friday, November 27.

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I recently received a copy of Our Kids Go to School. It is Canada's Private School Guide and is also available online. What impressed me was how small Canada's private school community really is. The U.S. has over 29,000 private schools as opposed to a couple of thousand schools north of the border.

If you live in Canada and are thinking about private school, you will certainly want to read Our Kids Go to School from cover to cover. There's lots of good information. The school display ads are gorgeous.

If you live in the U.S. and are thinking about private school, why not add a Canadian school or two to your list? They offer great value, are an hour or two at most from most major American cities and just might give your kid an advantage when he goes to apply to college. After all, not many American high school students study abroad.

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The Times of London has once again published its listing of Schools of the Year which is worth a look for two reasons. First of all, it is always interesting to see what's going on back where private schools got their start. (The land of Harry Potter and all that...) Secondly, it makes me very envious to see that British parents have such a terrific searchable database of their top 2,000 public and private schools. Why do they rank their schools and we can't seem to rank ours? The reason, as far as I can tell, is that British students all have to take the same standardized national examinations. The results of those examinations are available for all to, well, examine. Parent Power 2009 explains in detail how it arrived at its rankings.

What do you think? Should we have a similar system over here? Would it be useful to rank private schools? You can leave a comment here or Tweet one to me at PRIVATESCHL.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. She will be on the plane home next weekend! So exciting! Unfortunately, you and I both know how problematic air travel is these days. So read my Travel Tips for Students. Like you I have experienced just about every kind of travel glitch you can think of. I have always coped with them because I had a credit card, lots of patience and a good book to read.

But kids are different. A teen with ear buds firmly implanted listening to Cold Play can miss a gate change announcement. A teen immersed in a video game or texting on his phone can miss a boarding call. Next thing you know he's being told that the plane is leaving without him. It happens.

Remind your children firmly, using that authoritative tone of voice only we parents understand when and how to use, that she must keep her wits about her at the airport. Total focus on what's going on is what is needed. Don't worry about her getting to the airport on time. The school will see to her timely arrival. Tell her that no matter how exhausted she is, she must not sleep at the gate. Board first. Then sleep. Oh, and happy Thanksgiving in advance!

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This week's spotlight takes us to Gould Academy in Maine. Gould is a small boarding school with about 250 students in 9th grade through PG year. Located a couple of hours north of Boston, the Academy offers some interesting programs which set it apart from other schools. The Point Programs, for example, offer experiential learning in each year a student is at Gould. Winter sports are another feature at which schools in the northern climes excel.

Read Gould Academy's profile. If you went to Gould, tell us about your experiences and what you thought of the school. Please post your response here.

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Recently I asked Jeff Wolfsberg to answer a few questions about teen substance abuse. The result was a splendid interview which I am honored to publish. Parents and educators alike need to read what Jeff has to say. He speaks with authority and eloquence on an issue about which he cares very deeply.

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Prep Schools Face Cuts in Student Aid confirms what most of us have suspected for some time now. Private school endowments have taken a hit in these tough economic times. The good news is that they have not taken as much of a hit as some major university endowments have. Why is that? I am convinced that it is the result of trustees charting a conservative fiscal course when it comes to their fiscal responsibilities and duties. You won't find any derivatives and other exotic investments in private school endowment portfolios. Their physical plants have been updated to save energy costs and make their programs more sustainable.

Supporting this cautious, conservative financial approach is the high regard and affection their graduates have for their alma maters. (Read the comments Peddie grads have left following a recent profile on this site of their beloved school.) If you are grateful to your school for what it has done for you, you will support it over the years. Perhaps you will even remember it in your will as Elizabeth Beckwith Nilsen did with her amazing gift of $31 million for Chatham Hall School. All these factors combine to make most private schools financially stable and poised to weather the economic storms we will face in the months and years ahead.

If you need financial aid, don't panic. Be proactive. If you are going through the applications process for admissions in fall 2010, don't delay. File the Financial Aid Forms as soon as you can. If you are one of those fortunate families who needs no financial aid, you might want to investigate schools which normally might have been a reach. If you don't need financial aid and everything else is what the school is looking for, you just might - no guarantees - get the acceptance you are looking for. Always hedge your bets when applying to private schools and colleges. Include a safe school or two on your list.

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This week's spotlight takes us to Peddie School in southern New Jersey. Perhaps Peddie School doesn't have the name recognition of Exeter or Andover, but it's got all kinds of good things going for it. Its finances are exceptionally strong. The buildings and facilities are state of the art. The academics, sports and extracurricular activities are extensive. The location between Philadelphia and New York in the Princeton area of New Jersey is wonderfully convenient. But there's a catch! Peddie is a selective school. Make sure you have what the school is looking for.

Read Peddie School's profile. If you went to Peddie School, tell us about your experiences and what you thought of the school. Please post your response here.

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This is not a blog topic I enjoy writing about. It hits too close to home for me as I have lost several friends over the years to suicide. The horrifying story in the NY Times, Anguish Over California Teen Suicides Spurs Action , reminds me once more that teen suicide can be prevented. The problem is that you have to be attentive to the warning signs and act on them. If your teen is a senior, she is going to feel enormous pressures at this time of year. College applications and financial strains in the family can create a tough scenario for many young people. Spend time with your teenager. Above all, be sure to listen. Listen carefully to everything she says. She has to know that you faced similar pressures. She has to know how you coped with them. Read Depression - A Leading Cause Of Teen Suicide.

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Thousands of brave private school graduates have served their country in the armed forces over the years. Many of those young people got their start at one of our private military high schools. These schools instill more that just patriotism and sterling leadership skills. They mold and shape character with solid core values like honor and integrity. 10 Facts About Military Schools offers some reasons why you might want to consider a military school for your child.

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