The Firat Guide · Free
The FIRAT Fit Method™
Based on The Firat Guide, the Houston area private school admissions book authored and updated by Ibrahim Firat since 2014.
The best school is not the highest-ranked one. It is the one that fits your child. The FIRAT Fit Method™ is how we measure that fit, honestly and consistently, across Greater Houston. We score every school on eight dimensions, you tell us which matter most to your family, and for older students we factor in your child's own perspective, to produce a personalized Fit Score™ for every school.
The method, in plain terms
Most rankings tell you which schools are "the best." That is the wrong question. The best school is the one that fits your child: their strengths, how they learn, what they need, and what your family values. You can gather facts from websites, rankings, and other families. We take it a step further. We are independent, we are not paid by any school, and we combine that information with your family's values, needs, and situation to find the best fit. It works in three steps: we score each school on eight things that matter, you tell us which of those matter most to your family, and for older students we factor in your child's own perspective.
The FIRAT Scorecard™: the 8 dimensions
The Scorecard is our at-a-glance snapshot of what a school is like, built from the eight dimensions below. Read it next to your family's priorities, and the schools that fit your child rise to the top.
| Dimension | What it describes |
|---|---|
| Academics & Rigor | How demanding the classes are: curriculum, honors, AP, and IB options, and how hard the school pushes. |
| College Readiness & Outcomes | How strongly the school orients toward college: the counseling students get and where graduates go. |
| Community, Culture & Belonging | The character and energy of the community, its values, and the clubs and student life that shape daily life. |
| Athletics | How central sports are, from casual teams to competitive, high-commitment programs. |
| Arts | How central the arts are: theater, music, and visual arts. |
| Student Support & Attention | How much individual attention and structure students get: class sizes, advising, and learning support. |
| Balance & Wellness | How much the school emphasizes balance, downtime, and well-being versus constant intensity. |
| Value & Affordability | How affordable the school is and how accessible its financial aid. |
How we score each one (the 1 to 7 scale)
Read this first. A higher number is not "better." It means "more of this." A 7 means the school leans heavily into that area; a 1 means it leans lightly. Neither is good or bad on its own. The right school is the one whose scores line up with what your family wants. A school that scores a 1 on Athletics is a perfect match for a family whose priorities lie elsewhere. Fit is the match, not the size of the number. We use three plain bands: Light (1 to 2), Moderate (3 to 5), and Intensive (6 to 7).
| Dimension | Light (1–2) | Moderate (3–5) | Intensive (6–7) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academics & Rigor | Gentler pace, lighter workload. | Balanced challenge, some honors/AP/IB. | Fast paced and highly demanding. |
| College Readiness | Lighter college focus. | Solid counseling, broad outcomes. | Strong, individualized, highly selective. |
| Community & Belonging | Smaller, quieter, fewer clubs. | Welcoming, active, good club range. | Vibrant, tightly knit, high energy. |
| Athletics | Not a central focus. | Good range of teams and rec options. | Competitive, high-commitment, central. |
| Arts | Lighter arts offering. | Solid theater, music, visual arts. | Deep, excellent, strong performing arts. |
| Student Support | Independent, larger classes. | Reasonable classes, support available. | Small classes, attentive built-in support. |
| Balance & Wellness | High intensity, less downtime. | Healthy mix of challenge and support. | Deliberate focus on wellness, lower pressure. |
| Value & Affordability | Premium price, limited aid. | Fair value, some financial aid. | Strong value, generous or accessible aid. |
What our scores are based on
These are the facts we gather to describe a school. They do not grade it. They tell us what a school is, so you can judge the fit.
| Dimension | Facts we gather |
|---|---|
| Academics & Rigor | Course catalog and count of honors/AP/IB; graduation requirements; class size; student-to-teacher ratio. |
| College Readiness | Matriculation list; share entering four-year colleges; counselor-to-student ratio; published SAT/ACT ranges. |
| Community & Belonging | Enrollment size and makeup; retention; number and variety of clubs; stated mission and values. |
| Athletics | Number of sports and teams; levels offered; level of competition; athletic facilities. |
| Arts | Theater, music, and visual arts offerings; performance opportunities; arts facilities. |
| Student Support | Class size; student-to-teacher ratio; advising structure; learning support and tutoring. |
| Balance & Wellness | Daily schedule and homework practices; counseling and wellness staffing; start times; wellness programs. |
| Value & Affordability | Published tuition and fees; share receiving aid; typical aid award. |
An independent read of each school
Firat is an independent educational consultancy. We are not owned by, affiliated with, or paid by any school, so our read is impartial. Ibrahim is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, and he has spent more than a decade inside these schools, meeting their leaders and their students. We do not judge schools, and we do not crown a single "best" one. Our scores are not verdicts. They describe who a school is, its strengths, its values, and the culture its leaders intentionally built, so you can see where it aligns with your family. The facts get us started, but numbers on paper do not tell the whole story. A school may list 22 AP courses and small classes; in person we may find those courses are tightly limited and few students take them. We reflect what we actually see, not only what is published. That firsthand, independent read is what a ranking website cannot offer.
Making it personal: the three-way match
A ranking site can only describe the school. We combine three things: the school's eight scores, your family's priorities (which of the eight matter most to you), and for older students, your child's own perspective. Together they produce a Fit Score™ that is about your child, not a generic "best."
When does your child's perspective count? We add your child's own perspective, their academic level, learning style, interests, and preferences, for high school applicants and up, roughly entering 9th grade. By that age a student's strengths and voice are formed enough to weigh directly. For younger children, elementary and middle school, the match uses the school's scores and your family's priorities, because at that age you know your child best.
The FIRAT Fit Diagram™
The Fit Diagram answers a different question from the Scorecard: how does a school decide who gets in? Every school weighs an application differently, and the diagram shows where a school places its emphasis.
The vertical, quantitative, axis is the measurable part of the application: grades (cumulative GPA), academic rigor (the difficulty of the courses taken, which to many admissions officers matters as much as the GPA), and test scores (most often the ISEE Upper Level, though many schools are now test optional). The horizontal, qualitative, axis is who your child is beyond the grades: essays (thoughtful, started early, in the student's own voice) and the interview, where officers look for character and demonstrated interest. Every school sits in a different place on these two axes, and that position is its fit zone. A school high on the quantitative axis expects strong grades and scores; a school that leans qualitative may look past a few B's when the essays and interview are strong. Knowing a school's Fit Diagram tells your family how to present your child's application to that school.
Frequently asked
Does a higher score mean a better school?
No. A higher number means "more of this," not "better." The right school is the one whose scores match what your family wants.
Is Firat paid by any school?
No. Firat is independent and is never paid by schools, so the read on each school is impartial.
When does my child's own perspective factor in?
For high school applicants and up (roughly entering 9th grade). For younger children the match uses the school's scores and your family's priorities.
By Ibrahim C. Firat, MBA. Author of The Firat Guide; Professional Member and Board Director, IECA. Guiding Houston families since 2014.
We are scoring every Greater Houston private school. Follow us, or drop your email, to hear the moment they launch.