Tara Boland
School admissions consultant for Bay Area and boarding schools
| Hourly rate range | $170 to $310 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Parents and Students |
| Credentials | IECA Professional member |
| Practice | Spruce Advisors |
Tara Boland is an independent educational consultant who helps families find and apply to schools. She founded Spruce Advisors and works with families looking at San Francisco preschools, Bay Area K-8 and day high schools, and boarding schools across the country. Before consulting, she spent over a decade at Cathedral School for Boys in San Francisco. There she was a teacher, High School Placement Counselor, and later Director of Admission.
What Tara helps with
Tara helps families understand their school options and get through the admissions process. She also works with schools on placement and enrollment.
- Choosing a preschool in San Francisco
- Finding the right Bay Area K-8 school
- Picking a Bay Area day high school
- Applying to boarding schools nationwide
- Moving to the Bay Area and learning the school options
- Building an application that shows a child's strengths
- Understanding each step of the admissions process
Who Tara works with
Tara works with parents and students who are choosing a school. Her clients include local Bay Area families and families moving to the area. They are exploring preschool, kindergarten through 8th grade, high school, or boarding school.
Background and qualifications
Tara has taught at Miss Porter's School and Marin Country Day School. She worked at The Dalton School in New York City and served as a curriculum consultant at The San Francisco School. She then joined the faculty at Cathedral School for Boys in San Francisco. There she spent over a decade as a teacher, High School Placement Counselor, and most recently Director of Admission. She is now an independent educational consultant and an IECA Professional member.
Tara Boland pricing
Programs and services
- Free 30-minute intro chat
- K-8 and high school placement
- Admissions and enrollment management for schools
- English and writing curriculum consulting for schools
Tara Boland reviews
The CoachVouch take
She has worked on both sides of admissions, as a school Director of Admission and as a consultant for families.
Best for Bay Area families and families moving there who want help choosing and applying to private or boarding schools.
Common questions
How much does Tara Boland charge?
Coaching with Tara runs $170 to $310 an hour. Message Tara from this page for an exact quote.
What does Tara Boland help with?
Tara Boland helps with choosing a preschool in San Francisco, finding the right Bay Area K-8 school, picking a Bay Area day high school and applying to boarding schools nationwide.
Is Tara Boland certified?
Tara Boland lists: IECA Professional member.
Does Tara Boland work with schools as well as families?
Yes. She offers K-8 and high school placement, admissions and enrollment management, and English and writing curriculum consulting for schools.
How do I contact Tara Boland?
Send Tara a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.