JUNIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS GUIDELINES

Please read the following information carefully before completing your application.

ADMISSIONS POLICY Admission to Shady Side Academy is granted without preference to gender, race, color or religious background. The Academy actively seeks economic, social, racial and religious diversity in creating its student body. Candidates for pre-, kindergarten and grades 1–5 are accepted on the basis of previous school records, references, admissions testing and readiness activities.

APPLICATION PROCESS The deadline for the admissions process to be completed and all materials to be received is Jan. 4, 2016, for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, and Jan. 22, 2016, for grades 1-5. Families are encouraged to complete and submit the admissions application by Dec. 14, 2015, for all grades. The steps are as follows:

1. Application for Admission The admissions application is completed online and is available on our website at www.shadysideacademy.org under Admissions > Applying to SSA > Online Application & Materials. All questions must be answered fully by the applicant’s parent or guardian. There is a $50 non-refundable fee to submit the application. Submission of the application indicates only that you want your child to be considered for admission; it does not place you or the Academy under any obligation to enroll the candidate.

2. Campus Visit and Admissions Screening/Evaluation Families are invited to visit the campus, tour and meet with the head of school and the admissions director beginning in September. • PK-K applicants must schedule an individual admissions screening and attend a group readiness evaluation session. The admissions screening can occur on the same day as the campus tour or on a separate day. Group readiness evaluation sessions occur in January. At that time, parents are invited to attend an information session while their child is being evaluated. • Grades 1-5 applicants are invited to spend a day in class beginning in October. This visit can be scheduled through the Junior School Admissions Office by calling 412-473-4437. The entrance evaluation for grade 1 will be held during the applicant’s visit day; evaluations for grades 2-4 will be held on Feb. 6, 2016. Grade 5 applicants take the Entrance Exam (ISEE). It is being administered on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, or Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at the Middle School campus in Fox Chapel. Registration for the ISEE is three weeks prior to each test date. Registration materials are included in this packet, or you may register online at www.iseetest.org.

3. References and Transcript On Nov. 19, 2015, the Teacher Reference Form and Transcript Request Form will be posted in PDF format on our website under Admissions > Applying to SSA > Online Application & Materials. Parents should download these forms and submit them to their child’s current teacher and school. Transcripts should be sent from the student’s previous school(s) for applicants to grades 1–5.

(over) 4. Letters of Decision The Admissions Committee convenes in February. Parents of applicants should expect to receive a letter of decision the week of Feb. 8, 2016, for applicants for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, and the week of March 4, 2016, for applicants for grades 1-5. Applicants accepted after these dates will be admitted subject to the availability of space.

TUITION AND FEES (2015-2016)

Tuition Pre-kindergarten (5 half days) $8,850 Pre-kindergarten (2 full & 3 half days) $10,400 Pre-kindergarten (3 full & 2 half days) $11,170 Pre-kindergarten (5 full days) $12,750 Kindergarten $15,850 Grade 1 $18,500 Grades 2-5 $19,750

Fees Additional fees include lunches ($4–$5 per meal), Parents’ Association dues ($25 per student), occasional miscellaneous costs, and gym clothes for grades 3–5 (approximately $65 for T-shirt, shorts, sweatshirt and sweatpants; students do not need to purchase new gym clothes each year if last year’s still fit).

ENROLLMENT (2015-2016)

Students by Grade PK K 1 2 3 4 5 Total 40 32 38 33 27 30 36 236

Geographical Distribution Allegheny County City of 112 North Suburbs 66 East Suburbs 46 South Suburbs 3 West Suburbs 2 Butler County 2 Westmoreland County 3 Washington County 1

For directions to the Shady Side Academy Junior School campus, visit www.shadysideacademy.org/directions.