INTRODUCTION

I am one of 450 parents out of 600 whose child got rejected at Punahou for Kindergarten, so my experience is only with their Admissions process. Applying to Hawaii’s private schools is a stressful time for parents, especially for first-timers. There is little information on the admissions and selection process, especially to the larger, more prestigious private schools in Honolulu like Punahou. I searched online for parents’ experiences with applying to Punahou, but came up empty-handed. I’ve decided to share mine to help parents who are new to all of this. I hope this blog can help you make an informed decision regarding your child's education. 

Parents, if you happen to know friends who applied to Punahou, talk to them. The more information you get, the easier it will be to determine if Punahou is the right fit for your child. Everybody wants to apply to Punahou because it represents money, power, status and has some of the finest facilities in Hawaii, even better than some colleges. But it is important NOT to let your ego and the "Punahou Image" get in the way of making the best decision for your child. ALSO--apply to several private schools; don't put all your eggs in the Punahou basket.

Most people don’t want to admit their child failed to get into Punahou, and I understand completely. It still hurts to see how brutally my child was assessed, but the goal of this blog is to spare you from the same disappointment. Once you have an idea of what this school is looking for, then perhaps it will make your decision easier. Had I known beforehand what this school was looking for, I would have never applied. I could have saved myself $125.00 and a lot of time, stress and disappointment.

WHAT PUNAHOU WANTS FROM KINDERGARTNERS
I am not an expert at what this school wants in an applicant. I gleaned most of the information at my post-rejection conference. Each rejected applicant is invited to discuss his/her test results with one of the Assessors, and it is here when you do get an idea what this school wants. Their standards are extremely high. The impression I got is that they cherry pick applicants to get brainiacs with no social/disciplinary problems or learning disabilities. Their website gives you the impression that anybody has the chance of getting in. Not true.

For Kindergarten entry, your child has to score in the 90-95 percentile in the individual assessment, and we're talking about 4 1/2 year-old kids here. This means your child better be going to a good pre-school with a small student-teacher ratio that actually teaches a variety of subjects, and not one of those inexpensive pre-schools that are nothing more than glorified baby-sitting services. If your child is not attending pre-school at all, he or she will be at a tremendous disadvantage, unless you have been home-schooling.

Punahou Admissions should be more upfront in what they are looking for in a Kindergarten applicant. I didn't learn until we got rejected that for the individual assessment, Punahou looks for 90-95 percentile in: Verbal, Nonverbal (reasoning using nonverbal means to make predictions and solve problems), Spatial (visual perception and motor coordination), Memory (visual and auditory) and Quantitative (number concepts such as simple counting and word problems). For Memory, your child is told something, then asked about it later; they are tested to recall things; how well they remember, much like reading comprehension.

Punahou's website states they look for "above-average academic potential as indicated by individual cognitive tests administered by the school's assessment specialists", but 90-95% is way more than "above-average." Teacher recommendations have to be stellar, and reports cards very strong. Your child has to show maturity for his/her age, independence, self-discipline, perfect behavior, and be able to follow directions during his/her individual assessment. For group assessment, your child needs all the aforementioned traits plus be able to positively interact with other children and be able to participate appropriately during circle time or activities.

Your child cannot have a bad day for either assessment. Since Punahou has so many children to assess, even the smallest mistake or undesirable trait could eliminate your child. Even if your child scores in the 90-95 percentile, he or she may have other flaws that knocks them out of contention. If your child is sick, call to reschedule immediately.

To add to the pressure, Punahou also assesses, you, the parent, the moment you walk through the doors of Wilcox Hall. I suggest you dress as if you are going to a job interview.

Before you submit an application for your child, ask yourself these questions:

Is my 4 year-old child poised and mature for his/her age? Do they feel comfortable in the presence of a stranger (i.e.--Assessor)? Can they quickly adapt to new surroundings?

Can she go into a room with a stranger without crying, running out, throwing a tantrum or being afraid? Can he answer questions posed by this stranger? 

Does your child have learning disabilities? For example, Autism (ASD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), poor socialization skills? 

Can they sit for an extended period of time without losing concentration? Do they easily follow directions or do they get distracted? 

Do they possess self-discipline or do they have disciplinary problems (physically aggressive, quick to anger, throws tantrums)?

Does your child possess strong academic skills? Can they read? Write their name? Know the alphabet and count to 100? Do simple arithmetic and simple problem solving? How strong is their vocabulary? 

Is your child a self-starter? Or does he/she need lots or prompting to accomplish a task? Is your child independent? Or is he/she still very dependent on you?

Does your child make friends easily? Can he/she interact positively with children he or she have never met? Can he/she interact appropriately with adults?

If your child is asked a question, can he answer it directly or does he/she talk about something totally unrelated?

Does your child have a good memory and attention span?

Is your child involved in extracurricular activities? Punahou wants well-rounded applicants.

If your child has ASD (even mild autism), ADD, ADHD, Asperger's, LD, CAPD, NLD, Dyslexia, I strongly recommend you do not apply to this school! You will save yourself a lot of money, stress and disappointment. Under Federal Law, Section 504, Public Schools must provide teachers and facilities for Special Needs Students, which includes ASD children. Public school is a better place for your learning-challenged child, because they have teachers equipped in handling special needs kids.

Private schools are under no obligation to service ASD students, so most do not. They will not be able to provide for your autistic/learning-challenged child, even if he/she happen to get accepted. For a private school that does handle autistic students, please check out the Loveland Academy at www.lovelandacademyhawaii.com or Variety School of Hawaii at www.varietyschool.org. If your child is gifted, dyslexic or gifted-dyslexic, check out Assets School at http://www.assets-school.net/.

My son is mildly Autistic but extremely bright. I learned the hard way that cognitive I.Q. tests like Punahou's will not reflect an ASD child's true abilities, because these children cannot handle such tests. Universal Nonverbal Tests are administered to ASD children but even these tests don't always reveal their true abilities. Although I never did mention the word "Autistic" on my son's application to Punahou, I provided his IEPs and clearly stated he was attending a Special Education Pre-school and lacking in socialization skills. I didn't want the "Autistic" label influencing my son's application, because to me, my son is normal. In hindsight, I should have disclosed he was mildly autistic.

Punahou expects its applicants to excel in everything and fit the "Punahou profile" to be considered. Report cards or IEPs and pre-school teacher conferences should be a clear indicator of your child's abilities. If she/he are producing superb work and possess outstanding work habits/social skills, then chances of acceptance to Punahou will be much greater.

On Punahou's website under Admission Testing: Kingergarten: "Above-average academic potential as indicated by individual cognitive tests administered by the school's assessment specialists; a satisfactory group observation report by primary grade faculty members; a commendable report from the applicant's current school; and progress report or report card, if available."

Under Admission Decisions: "Student selection is based on academic and non-academic considerations. Admission criteria include scholastic performance, test scores, and reports of demonstrated talents and interests. Characteristics, such as initiative, independence, responsibility, self-discipline and creativity are desirable traits...Faculty and administration share the responsibility for student selection." (Italic mine). 

Punahou accepts only 150 applicants for Kindergarten, 75 boys and 75 girls. However, your chances might not be that great because, according to an article from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin dated 11/17/2000, a certain number of slots are reserved for "Priority Acceptances", according to Curtis Hagen, the former Director of Admissions. Here is the excerpt: 

"From the admissions director's point of view, there are no unimportant questions. Call us, don't rely on word of mouth," said Curtis Hagen, admissions director of Punahou School...Of the 150 kindergarten students admitted each year, about 70 are priority acceptances, he said." (Bolding mine.)

Back in 2000, this meant that approximately 70 spaces were already filled, leaving only 80 slots to contend for (40 boys and 40 girls). The amount of openings at Punahou might be smaller for applicants without connections than the advertised 150 slots, because of "Priority Acceptances." 

For the full article: http://archives.starbulletin.com/2000/11/17/news/story2.

STARTING THE APPLICATION PROCESS 
Punahou has an online application that is easy and straightforward. You will need to create an account, then you are set to go. You can edit and save until you are ready to submit. I would suggest you print out a draft and review it before submitting, because once submitted, you can't correct any errors. Print a draft first from Punahou's website to make sure all your characters print out correctly.

It is very important your application has no typos or grammatical errors. Punahou's first impression of you and your child will be this application, so take your time and fill it out carefully. Be sure to include a clear photo of your child. It will cost you $125.00 to apply, which is not cheap. Payment can be made by credit card online. For more detailed information about the application and required documents, please visit Punahou's website at www.punahou.org. You will receive a confirmation letter and a set of labels to affix to teacher references and report cards.

Punahou tests its applicants early. The application deadline is around October 15th and they start testing in October through March. Our son was tested in mid-December. I was told by Admissions that they test children "at a certain age." My son was 4 years, 8 months when he was tested, but I don't know the exact minimum age.

TEACHER REFERENCES
You will need to provide the reference form and a stamped envelope addressed to Punahou to each pre-school teacher assessing your child. You will not receive copies of these references; they will be sent to admissions only. Teacher References have to be outstanding. Any problems your child has in pre-school will be noted, be it social or scholastic. Take a look at the actual form Punahou uses to see what types of questions Punahou will ask your child's teacher.

THE INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT

It is very important to make a good first impression! Admissions will be assessing you the moment you and your child walk through the door. Most importantly, make sure your child gets enough rest and eats a good breakfast. You will receive a letter with a map, instructing you to go to Wilcox Hall in the Omidyar Neighborhood. Wilcox Hall is a large, spacious building with a soothing gray and white interior. Your child may not be the only one being assessed, so most likely there will be another set of parents in the waiting area.

Warning: the acoustics in this building are superb, and every word or whisper you say can be heard in the waiting area. Be careful what you say because it could get back to the Admissions staff. Keep conversation to a minimum.

Wilcox Hall

Interior, Wilcox Hall Assessment Rooms are on the right.

Waiting Area for Parents

Your child will meet with an Assessor and go into their office to be tested. If your child shows fear, starts to cry, refuses to go in, or throws a tantrum, this will be noted and count against him or her. Your child must be able to go right in, sit down and be ready to work with the Assessor.

My son initially went in, but flew out 5 minutes later and proceeded to have a minor meltdown. His assessment was over before it even started.
Parents will be interviewed by the Director of Admissions. Be very careful how you answer her questions. Answer them briefly and directly. This is easier said than done, because nerves sometimes get the best of the most poised parents. For me, I tend to babble when I'm nervous. Don't go off in tangents or offer information that she didn't ask for. I found the  Director of Admissions to be polite, but very cool and distant. She will first ask if you have any questions. I would suggest you come up with 1-2 questions to show you've done your homework. Always agree with what she says. If she says you are incorrect about something, immediately apologize. She will offer an "optional" tour of the school during your child's assessment. I strongly recommend you take the tour. Possibly you will take the tour with another set of parents.

Reception Desk

THE GROUP ASSESSMENT

Dress your child as if he is going to a regular day at pre-school. The clothes should be comfortable and familiar, but be sure they look nice with no wrinkles, stains or rips. The children will be doing a Movement Class, so be sure the clothes aren't too stiff, tight or uncomfortable.

Omidyar Building for Kindergarten and First Grade

The Cafeteria where Applicants and Parents gathered

Parents and applicants will meet at the cafeteria in Omidyar Building. Paper and markers or crayons will be provided, so your child can draw while waiting. The children will be divided into groups specified on their name tags. The teacher will call out your group number and you will join her, then accompany your child to the classroom.

While the children are in class, parents are taken to another classroom for a presentation by the Director of Admissions. You will view a brief video and have a Q & A session, then be assigned a student tour guide if you signed up for a tour of the school. (You will receive a letter about student tours and a reservation form in the mail about one week before the group assessment date.)

At our presentation the Director explained a lot of important information, such as how their Wait Pool works, how many slots available (75 for girls and 75 for boys for a total of 150). Although being accepted to the Wait Pool doesn't guarantee your child will get in for Kindergarten, what it does is allows you to re-apply for Grades 1 – 5 when openings become available. We were told how many applied and she was honest about the odds of getting accepted. I believe 300+ boys applied, substantially more than girls; at the time it was over 500 in all, but during our post-rejection conference, the number had increased to 600.

SIDEBAR: One couple brought their toddler with them and stood in the back of the room. The child was making so much noise that people in the back rows could not hear. The  parents allowed their child to be disruptive for 15 minutes until the Director paused and a bunch of parents (myself included) turned to glare at them. The father finally got the message and took his toddler outside. Note to parents with younger siblings:  
PLAN AHEAD AND FIND A BABYSITTER ON ASSESSMENT DAYS! Don't think your little darling will be quiet during the individual assessment period or during the interview with the Director of Admissions. SHE WILL NOT LIKE IT IF YOU BRING A CHILD WITH YOU DURING YOUR INTERVIEW, BECAUSE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A CHANCE OF DISRUPTION, AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GIVE HER YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.  Don't think your little one will sit quietly during the Director's presentation at the group assessment, because it is well over an hour long. Your lack of consideration will be noted, not to mention the ire of the other parents who did find babysitters for their younger offspring. Admissions notifies you of your child's assessment dates way in advance, so you have no excuse in not procuring a babysitter ahead of time for younger siblings.

After the group assessment, you will meet your child at one of the playgrounds, then go on the tour of the school with the student guide.

One of the Playgrounds

WAITING FOR THE RESULTS
If your child is accepted, you will receive a large manila envelope with the contract and various other documents. If your child is rejected, you will receive a #10 business envelope with the Punahou logo. We got the business envelope. Here's what the rejection form letter says:   

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. [your last name],

The Punahou Admission Committee has completed its review of applications for Kindergarten for the 2013-2014 school year. We sincerely regret to inform you that the Committee cannot offer placement for the fall. Though placement cannot be offered at this time, our records indicate that [your child's name] has considerable potential.

Should you wish to schedule a conference to discuss [your child's] application and what may be appropriate for the future, we will be happy to meet with you. To schedule an appointment, please call 944-5715 or 944-5714 beginning May__, 20__. Conferences will be scheduled until August __, 20__.

We are grateful for your interest in Punahou and appreciate your patience throughout the application process.

Sincerely,

Director of Admissions"

I don't know what you will get if your child is accepted, other than a contract and letter of acceptance, plus an invitation to meet with staff, faculty and parents at a tea. I recommend you attend this function. You will need to send an initial payment to secure your child's slot. Sorry I can't offer more information, since my child was rejected.

If you decide not to accept the invitation to attend Punahou, please be considerate and let the admissions office know asap so they can give the spot to a child in the wait pool.

THE POST-REJECTION CONFERENCE
As painful as this conference will be, I highly recommend any parent whose child was rejected by Punahou to go in and find out why. This way, you can get a good idea of your child's strengths and weaknesses and better prepare him/her for Kindergarten and beyond. The conference is held at Wilcox Hall in the same room where the Director of Admissions conducted your parent interview.

Be forewarned that the results might be shocking and disappointing. Understand that this is what your child produced on this day and that it is NOT an indicator of his/her failure or success at other private schools or in public school.Also realize that another school might test your child in a different way with totally different results. For example, my child got wait-listed at another prestigious private school, in spite of his ASD. While your child may not get in at Punahou, he or she may get in at another great school.

Be prepared that every little mistake or undesirable trait your child exhibited during his/her assessments will be noted and discussed in this conference. For example, my son did not follow the others kids when they did exercises during Movement Class. Instead he held the teacher's hand and watched. This was considered unacceptable by the Punahou assessors. Another "bad" trait was my son did not interact with the other children in the class, which is typical of an ASD child.

Before this conference, review your child's Report Cards or IEPs and note areas he needs work. What your child's pre-school might consider as minor problems most likely will count against him/her at the Punahou assessments.

The Assessor will show you a chart of your child's test results. You will not be able to get a copy, so be sure to bring a notebook and take detailed notes. You can use them for reference and note where your child needs work. Here is a rough idea of what the chart looks like:

After this, if your still feel your child could get accepted at a later time, ask the Assessor if you should reapply to Punahou in the 4th grade or whenever they have open admissions. If your child's scores were fairly close, I would say, go for it and try again. I didn't ask because once I found out Punahou does not have any autistic students, I knew this school was not right for my child. Our Assessor helpfully referred us to people in the DOE, which was very kind of her, but it was also a not-so-subtle message that public school is a better fit for my son. She is right, as public schools do have services that can help him; Punahou and most private schools do not, because they are not required by law to accommodate ASD children.

CLOSING THOUGHTS 
Punahou's standards are extremely high for entering Kindergartners. This is why so few get accepted, as they have a reputation of high scholastic achievement to uphold. Also, inasmuch as Punahou denies this, the school is donation-driven, so children of the very wealthy have better chances of getting accepted, no matter what their scores if the parents give a sizeable donation to the school. To balance out these wealthier but perhaps less academic students, there has to be a larger contingency of brainiacs to maintain the high GPAs and SAT scores. Money talks, and Punahou listens. To reiterate, Punahou reserves about 70 slots out of the 150 for "Priority Acceptances."

I also hope someday a large, wealthy institution like Punahou can accommodate students like my son. Right now they're missing out on a segment of bright, creative children that could really contribute to this school. I feel sorry for learning-challenged kids who do get accepted, because this school offers no extra support for them, should they need it.

Thank you for taking time out to read my blog. If you want a more detailed account of my experience with the admissions process, check out http://punahoupuns.blogspot.com or http://punahouadmission.blogspot.com. Good luck in applying to Punahou or whichever private schools you select.