There is no simple formula for finding the perfect high school. The importance of this decision has lifelong effects and warrants thoughtful consideration. No one school is best for all students; moreover, what families are looking for in a school will vary considerably. Some may be looking for a school that sends a good number of graduates to Ivy League universities; others may be interested in a spiritual environment, a good co-curricular program, or simply a well-rounded education. Whatever the goal, families need to research their options and understand the admission process to achieve the best fit for their child. This book offers extensive information about Bay Area high school choices and it is organized so that meaningful comparisons can be made (something school websites do not offer). As importantly, it provides expert advice from a former Bay Area admission director and a former head of school regarding the high school selection and admission process. Authors Betsy Little and Paula Molligan have more than 44 years of combined experience in education. Ms. Little has worked as director of admission, director of development, and director of financial aid endowment for a number of California independent schools. She is a former member of the Bay Area Directors of Admission. Ms. Molligan is a credentialed teacher and has taught in private and public schools in the East Bay and Marin. She served as a middle school administrator for an independent school as well as the head of a private school in Marin County. She is a former member of the Bay Area Independent School Heads Association. Both authors have their MBAs, as well as their MAs in Special Education. Little and Molligan(www.littleandmolligan.com) provide school placement consulting from preschool through high school for families in the Bay Area. They have assisted more than 1,000 Bay Area families with private school admissions. The authors are regular speakers throughout the Bay Area on private school admission and have been quoted in the national and local media.