Henderson, at FAU, is a public school and runs a admittance lottery. This past year, the school received 1,000 applications for about 60 open spots. At Henry S. West Lab School in Coral Gables, a professional development school located at the University of Miami, a lottery system is used as well. Nova Southeastern's University School is a private school with its own admissions policy and testing requirements. When choosing a lab school, parents should compare schools carefully.
Lab schools vary widely.
Parents should visit the school, spend time in the classroom, and speak with administrators, teachers, students, and other parents to ensure that the program is right for their children. Lab schools are a good choice for parents who want their children to be independent, self-confident, flexible learners. They have the rich diversity of the university and can be a part of all that happens at a university. It is a model, cutting-edge setting. Robyn A. Freidman is a freelance writer and frequent contributor.