How to Apply

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Admissions Information
For students applying for the 2008-09 school year.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 24, 2008

Admission Overview

Non-Discrimination Policy
Seattle Country Day School strives to maintain a diverse school community. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability in administration of educational policies, admission, financial aid, or any other school-administered programs.

Parent Tours and Open Houses
All parent(s)/guardian(s) are required to attend a Parent Tour or Open House. Parent Tours take place during the school day several times a month between October and January. Open House is scheduled for December 1, 2007 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Testing --Wechsler Intelligence Scale
After taking a tour of the school, parents who decide on pursuing application often choose to have their child tested as the next step in the process.

SCDS requires the Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC IV or WPPSI-III, depending on the child's age) for all applicants. This test is not an achievement test, but rather it represents one view of a child's general cognitive abilities and breadth of knowledge. It is useful as a partial measure of a child's potential for the kinds of thinking tasks we strive to nurture at our school.

Although the test can be administered to younger children, we recommend that parents wait until a child is 4 years old to be tested.
To apply to SCDS, a child's full scale score must be in the top 3% of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. Children may be tested only once in a six to eight month period.

For your convenience the Testing Resources list is available to aid in your planning. It includes some of the psychologists whom our applicants have most often used. Their individual fees vary.

Testing-Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) for grades 6-8
In addition to the Intelligence testing requirements, it is also necessary for results of an Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) be submitted to SCDS. This test is offered at a number of locations in King County on specified dates between November and April of each school year. Students applying to grade 6 should take the Lower Level version, and students applying to grades 7 and 8 should take the Middle Level version. To obtain a copy of the ISEE Student Guide, please contact the Educational Records Bureau at 1-800-989-3721 or http://www.erbtest.org, or you may stop by our school office for assistance.

Teacher Evaluations and Student Records
Teacher evaluations are required for all students who have completed testing and are submitting an application. For students applying to grades 1-8, school transcripts are required from their current school. It is the family's responsibility to remind teachers and schools of the application deadline.

• Teacher Evaluation K
• Teacher Evaluation grades 1-3
• Teacher Evaluation grades 4-8
• Request for Transcript grades 1-8

Application Forms
These online forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view, fill out, and print.

• Application Information and Form

Student Visits
A school visit is an important part of the admission process, allowing us to meet your child as well as giving them the opportunity to see the classrooms and experience our outstanding teaching staff. We know that this can be a bit stressful for both the child and parent, so we try to make the experience as relaxed and fun as possible. We have designed these experiences as part of our sincere attempt to provide a comprehensive assessment of how well our program matches your child's approach to learning.

Qualified applicants with a completed application file are invited to visit the school in February and March - these visits will be scheduled by the Admissions Office.

For your convenience the Student Visit Schedule is available to aid in your planning.

Admissions Criteria
Admission to SCDS is based on a variety of objective and subjective criteria. The Admissions Committee makes every effort to accept children whom we believe will thrive in this special learning environment. We look for evidence of the following characteristics:

• intellectual energy and curiosity
• independent thought and depth of ideas
• creativity in the child's approach to problems
• interest in multidimensional structure of objects, ideas and relationships
• divergent thinking and a fascination with novelty
• intellectual need for the differentiated SCDS program
• social skills and emotional maturity
• citizenship and character
  

In addition, the Admissions Committee may take into consideration other factors, including:

• sibling and alum status
• diversity
• gender balance in each class
  

Notification
Letters of notification will be sent out on Thursday, March 20, 2008.
Decisions are not shared by telephone, fax, or email. New student contracts must be received at the school along with a tuition deposit by Wednesday, April 2, 2008.

Wait Pool
A "wait pool" is established for qualified candidates whom we are unable to accept initially. The wait pool is generally considered to be in effect until the start of the next school year.

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