Strategic Educational Guidance for Families Navigating School Decisions
Journeys Edu provides strategic educational guidance for families navigating school decisions, educational fit, and independent school options with clarity and confidence.
Our work supports families considering independent schools, public and charter options, boarding schools, and alternative educational pathways. We also support longer-term planning through key transitions, including high school to college.
Educational Guidance for Families Facing Complex Choices
The Challenge Families Are Facing Today
Families are not short on school options. They are overwhelmed by choice.
Parents are asked to make complex decisions about:
Learning environments and school culture
Academic expectations and student well-being
Long-term outcomes and near-term tradeoffs
Prestige, proximity, philosophy, and fit
Often, these decisions are driven by urgency, comparison, or incomplete information.
Journeys Edu helps families slow the process down, ask better questions, and move forward with clarity.
For Educational Strategy Focused on Fit, Not Placement
Journeys Edu works with families at the decision-making stage, not just during applications.
We help parents and caretakers:
Understand how their child learns and develops
Clarify family priorities and educational goals
Interpret the school landscape honestly
Evaluate tradeoffs alongside opportunities
Sometimes the right answer is an independent school or private college. Other times, it is a public or alternative option.
Sometimes the best decision is to pause or stay put.
Clarity is the outcome; confidence follows.
Our Approach to Educational Fit and School Planning
Understanding the Child
We explore how a student learns, engages, and responds academically, socially, and emotionally across different school environments.Clarifying Family Priorities
We help families articulate values, expectations, lifestyle considerations, and long-term educational goals.Exploring School Options
We translate the educational landscape and identify realistic options, which may include:Independent schools
Public or public-charter schools
Boarding schools
Alternative or non-traditional programs
Supporting Informed Decisions
When families move forward, we provide grounded guidance through next steps, whether that includes applications or confirmation that their current path is appropriate.
How Journeys Edu Supports Families
Educational Fit and Family Strategy
For families seeking clarity before committing to a school path.
School Option Exploration and Decision Support
For families comparing multiple schools or educational models.
Independent School Admissions Support
For families pursuing independent schools and wanting thoughtful, values-aligned guidance.
Each engagement is tailored to the family and the path forward.
Who This Work Is For
This Work Is a Fit For Families Who:
Want to make intentional educational decisions
Are evaluating independent schools alongside other options
Care about long-term alignment, not just outcomes
Prefer candid guidance over sales-driven advice
Families looking for guarantees or shortcuts may not find this work helpful.
Families seeking clarity, perspective, and informed judgment often do.
About Journeys Edu
Led by an Admissions & Enrollment Expert
Journeys Educational Advising was founded by David Lazo, an educator with nearly two decades of experience across independent schools and higher education. His leadership roles at College Prep, Woodside Priory, Bentley, Stanford, and Vanderbilt shaped a unique perspective on how students grow, how schools make decisions, and how families navigate critical transitions.
David is known for his strategic clarity, whole-child lens, and ability to bring calm insight to complex educational choices. His work bridges the needs of students, families, and institutions, making Journeys Edu a trusted partner across all stages of the educational journey.
Begin a Conversation
Educational decisions carry long-term implications. You do not need to navigate them alone.
If you are considering school options and want thoughtful, experienced guidance, we invite you to begin with a conversation.