How We Help
Helping Families Make Confident Decisions About U.S. Schools
The U.S. K–12 education system is more complex than it appears from the outside. Public and private options, district boundaries, grade placement, advanced coursework, private school admissions, language services, and local enrollment timelines — each varies significantly by state, city, and school.
When your family is relocating internationally and managing everything at once, education decisions deserve dedicated expertise. Fig Tree works alongside families to make sense of the options, clarify the process, and help you make informed decisions that are right for your children.
Families We Work With
You May Be Navigating More Than One Country’s System at Once
Fig Tree works with international and global families facing a range of school transition challenges. You may recognize yourself in one or more of these situations.
You’re relocating to the U.S. for the first time
Your family is moving from another country, and you need to understand how U.S. public and private schools work — from district assignments to enrollment timelines to what "K–12" actually means in practice.
You’re moving between U.S. cities
You’ve lived in the U.S. before, but every school district is different. You need to evaluate your options in a new city quickly, without starting from scratch.
Your child is entering a critical transition year
You’re changing schools at a moment that matters — entering high school, approaching college preparation, or transitioning between an international curriculum and the American school system.
You’re working with a short timeline
You’ve received a relocation assignment, your start date is confirmed, and school enrollment decisions cannot wait. You need clear answers and structured support on a defined schedule.
You’re evaluating private school admissions
You’re considering private or independent schools and need help understanding the admissions process, testing requirements, and how to identify options that fit your child’s academic background.
Your family is multilingual
Your children are entering U.S. schools from a non-English curriculum. You need guidance on language support programs, grade placement, and how to advocate effectively for your child’s educational needs.
Where We Begin
The Questions Families Bring to Fig Tree
You don’t need to arrive with a fully formed question. These are the conversations Fig Tree was built for.
"We don’t know whether our children belong in a public or private school in our destination city."
"We’re not sure how grade placement works for students who studied abroad or in a different system."
"We need to understand the difference between district assignment, school choice programs, and charter schools."
"Our child studied in an international or IB curriculum — we don’t know how that will transfer to a U.S. school."
"We need to compare school options in our destination city before we commit to a neighborhood."
"We don’t know how private school admissions work, what assessments are required, or how much lead time we need."
"Our child is entering high school and we’re concerned about college preparation in an unfamiliar system."
"We prefer to receive guidance in Portuguese or Spanish, and need an advisor who works in our language."
What We Help With
Expert Guidance Across the U.S. School Transition Journey
The following areas are addressed within the U.S. School Transition Advisory. Every engagement is scoped around your family’s specific situation, timeline, and questions.
Understanding the U.S. K–12 system
Public, charter, magnet, private, and independent school types; grade structure; academic calendars; and how systems, terminology, and expectations vary significantly by state and district.
School research and comparison
Identifying appropriate school options in your destination city or region, including academic fit, programs, extracurricular offerings, and practical logistics for your family.
District assignment and public school enrollment
Understanding how public school assignment works by geography, what documents are required at enrollment, typical timelines, and how to navigate the process step by step.
Grade placement guidance
Helping families understand how U.S. schools determine appropriate grade level, particularly for students transitioning from international, bilingual, or non-U.S. academic programs.
Private and independent school admissions
Explaining admissions calendars, application requirements, assessments, teacher recommendations, and how to organize and present a credible application for competitive schools.
Advanced and specialized academic programs
Identifying Honors, AP, IB, gifted and talented, dual-language, and other specialized programs; understanding eligibility, access pathways, and how to advocate for your child’s placement.
Language and academic support programs
Understanding ESL, ELL, and bilingual program availability in your district; knowing what services schools are required to provide; and learning how to advocate effectively for your child’s language support needs.
High school transition planning
Addressing credit transfer, course alignment, GPA implications, and college preparation concerns for students entering 9th through 12th grade — particularly those transitioning from non-U.S. systems.
School visits and decision support
Preparing families for productive school visits; helping you evaluate and compare school options using a clear, family-specific decision framework rather than generalized rankings.
Communication and family advocacy
Helping families navigate communications with school administrators, understand their rights within the U.S. school system, and advocate confidently for their children’s needs.
Important Clarity
What Fig Tree Does Not Do
Trust is built through honesty about scope. Fig Tree is an education navigation advisory — not a placement agency, tutoring provider, or school. The following are outside our scope.
Tutoring or academic instruction
Standardized test preparation
Legal, immigration, or visa advice
Financial aid or scholarship counseling
Guaranteed school acceptance or placement
Housing or real estate referrals
After-school or enrichment program provision
Psychological or learning assessments
Fig Tree provides expert guidance, structured research, and decision support. Final placement and enrollment decisions rest with schools, districts, and families.
Next Steps
The Advisory Begins With Your Family’s Situation
Every engagement starts with a structured conversation about your family’s context, timeline, destination, children’s ages and academic backgrounds, and most pressing questions.
Submit an inquiry
Tell us about your family’s situation, timeline, and destination at /start.
Receive a response within 48 hours
Fig Tree reviews your inquiry and replies with the appropriate recommended next step.
Begin with a consultation
An introductory conversation to understand your family’s needs in depth.
Receive your advisory roadmap
A tailored plan addressing your family’s specific transition questions and priorities.
Most Families Begin With a Single Question
Submit an inquiry and Fig Tree will respond within 48 hours to discuss your family’s situation and confirm whether this advisory is the right fit.