Name
Cross Divisional Retention: Development, Implementation, and New Traditions
Date & Time
Friday, September 19, 2025, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Katherine Chapman Kristin Kuhn Gina Ehlers Elizabeth Pinkerton
Description
At Hathaway Brown School, we are fortunate to have one campus for our K-12 all-girls student body. Our Early Childhood is co-ed, and students progress to an all-girls Kindergarten through 4th grade (Primary School), 5th through 8th grade (Middle School), and 9th through 12th grade (Upper School). Each division has distinct spaces, offerings, and leadership, but they function in harmony, with Division Directors and Admission Directors working collaboratively. Maintaining strong retention rates requires a collective effort across all divisions, involving admissions, teachers, and administrators. Historically, our attrition rates have been strong and consistent over time but our Admission team felt there was more that could be done at the key transition points within our school. Three years ago, our Upper, Middle and Primary School Admission Directors embraced the challenge of developing a coordinated plan to target key transition points and standardize transition communication and efforts across divisions. This presentation will discuss how we addressed student retention by examining the key factors affecting retention and share strategies we used to build retention plans and the resulting events. By aligning the re-enrollment timeline with our admission season, we developed plans to enhance communication with families, strengthen bonds between divisions, create new traditions, and foster collaboration with families throughout these transitions. Embracing change—whether through evolving communication strategies, cultivating new traditions, or adapting to the needs of our families—has proven to be a powerful tool for ensuring that our school continues to thrive.
Location Name
302
Full Address
JW Marriott Austin
110 East 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
United States
Tags/Tracks
Day Schools, Mission and Brand, Culture and Belonging, Family Engagement and Retention