Admission Process Check List

Check below as you complete each item

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School invites all prospective students and their families to learn about our exciting and stimulating educational environment. To learn more about our school, you can schedule a tour and informational visit with the Head, attend an Open House, and visit our website.  Interested families should call the school to be registered on our Admissions Inquiry List.

St. Stephens seeks students at grade level or above who can contribute to and benefit from our programs.  The Admissions Committee evaluates each candidate for admission based on many criteria, including academic qualification and potential, developmental maturity and readiness, and suitability of the match between family and school.  The committee reviews the application, teacher recommendations, testing results, and readiness evaluation. Admission decisions are sent to families in writing with an enrollment contract.

St. Stephen’s welcomes a diverse community of students, families, faculty and staff.  The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, or disability, which is unrelated to the ability to enjoy the school program, facilities and services.

Tuition Assistance is offered to support our school mission of a diverse community.  Tuition assistance is awarded on the basis of a family’s financial need, as established through an analysis of tax records and from analysis by an independent agency.

(  ) ATTEND AN OPEN HOUSE
The School offers a number of open house programs where families can be formally introduced to our school philosophy, programs and community.  We host two school wide open house presentations where families will meet and hear about the entire school.  In addition, we host a grade specific open house for our preschool and middle school.  Families are encouraged to attend the school wide open houses in addition to the grade specific open houses. 
The 07-08 schedule is: 
All School Admission Open House Jan 26 at 9 AM
Preschool Open House February 2 at 10:00 AM -12:00 PM
Middle School Open House February 11 at 7:00 PM

(  ) PARENT INTERVIEW
The Head of School will meet with each applicant’s parents in a half-hour meeting to answer parents’ questions and to assess whether our school would be a good “fit” for the family, child and school.

(  ) SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM VISIT
Candidates and/or their parents may wish to visit classrooms for part of a day.  Generally, parent visits are scheduled at 9:00 for the lower grades. Please call the office to make an appointment
 
(  ) APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Completing an Application with the Parent/Guardian Questionnaire, a Candidate Questionnaire (grades 3-8), submitting a photocopy of the candidate’s most recent report card (if applicable), and copies of any previous standardized testing are the first steps to applying to the school.  These are required before you schedule the student assessment.  Applications can be submitted beginning in December.

(  ) ADMISSION FEE
A fee of $150.00  (check payable to St. Stephen’s School) is due when the application is submitted.  It is non-refundable and does not, in the case of acceptance, apply toward tuition.

(  ) TEACHER RECOMMENDATION
Teacher recommendations are required if the child has been in school.  One recommendation is required for students entering preschool, kindergarten and first grade.  Two recommendations are required for all other candidates.  Teachers completing forms must have taught the student within the last two years.  It is most ideal to have one recommendation from the previous year’s teacher and one from the current year’s teacher.  Please provide a stamped envelope addressed to St. Stephen’s School.  The Teacher must return this form to St. Stephen’s School. Specific forms are enclosed with the application.

(  ) READINESS EVALUATION/STUDENT ASSESSEMENT
All applicants will be scheduled for an assessment of the candidate’s readiness for our programs.  Students entering preschool through grade two must complete a 20 to 45 minute (depending on age) readiness evaluation. Students entering grade three and above must complete a 1 ½ hour evaluation which includes standardized testing in language arts and mathematics, a writing sample and a brief interview.  The standardized testing portion is waived if the candidate submits standardized testing that has been taken in the last year from a previous school.

(  ) TUITION ASSISTANCE
Central to the mission of St. Stephen’s School is a commitment to provide a quality education to qualified students regardless of their economic circumstances.  If you will be applying for tuition assistance please return the request form found in the admission packet.  A Tuition Assistance Information packet is available in the office.  Tuition Assistance awards are based on demonstrated need.  Applications for tuition assistance are handled separately from the admission applications and have no bearing on admission decisions.  Submit your Parent Financial Statement (PFS) to School and Student Services for Financial Aid in Princeton, N.J. by February 8.   A copy of the PFS  and a copy of your 2007 tax form and all schedules must be submitted to St. Stephen’s. by March 8.  Tuition assistance awards are made in late March