Admission

Frequently Asked Questions

 

General Questions

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. What is the boy/girl ratio?

    While we attempt to keep a 50-50 balance between boys and girls at each grade level, this is sometimes difficult to do. We give greater consideration to enrolling the most qualified and appropriate applicants.

  • Q. What is the average class size?

    In Preschool, associate teachers assist the lead teachers in each class of 16. In grade 1 through grade 4 the average class size is 17. In the Middle and Upper Schools, the average class size is 18.

  • Q. Do Greenhill students wear uniforms?

    No. However, there are dress guidelines for each school division.

  • Q. Does Greenhill provide transportation?

    No. Many families form carpools. We provide new Greenhill students a list of families within a few miles of their home to help them coordinate carpools.

  • Q. What is Primer?

    Primer benefits some children as a social/emotional/intellectual bridge between Kindergarten and 1st grade. This year allows a child to mature at his/her natural pace while continuing to progress academically. You cannot apply to Primer. Your child must apply to 1st grade and be recommended for Primer by the Admission Committee. Your child's birthday must fall between March 1st and August 31st to be considered for Primer. For more information about Primer, please see our Primer Information Page.

  • Q. What foreign languages are offered and when?

    Spanish is offered in Prekindergarten through Grade 4 to build foundational structures between language and culture. In Grade 5, students are exposed to language learning through a trimester-long sequence of Mandarin Chinese, Latin, and Spanish. Grade 6 students will choose Mandarin Chinese, Latin, or Spanish to study throughout their Middle School years. Upper School students must begin their study in 9th grade and complete Level III of one language. Students often continue to study their Middle School language of choice throughout Upper School allowing them to achieve a strong depth and breadth of understanding in the language.

  • Q. Does Greenhill have a religious affiliation?

    No. We accept students of any race, color, religious, national and ethnic origin, and offer all the rights and privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

  • Q. How long is the school day for each division?

    Prekindergarten & Kindergarten: 8:00 am - 2:45 pm
    Lower School (Primer - 4th Grade): 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
    Middle School (5th - 6th Grade): 8:00 am - 3:40 pm
    Middle School (7th - 8th Grade): 8:00 am - 4:05 pm
    Upper School (9th - 12th Grade): 8:40 am - 3:55 pm

  • Q. Do you offer mid-year admission?

    We do not admit any students after the school year has begun. Any interested applicants will have to apply for the following fall.

  • Q. Does Greenhill accept International Students?

    Greenhill welcomes applications from international families moving to the Dallas area. However, our school does not offer assistance obtaining visas (including I-20’s) or provide housing, and we are unable to admit students for the current school year once it begins.
 

Application Questions

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. At what age can my child apply to Greenhill?

    A child must be four years old and toilet trained by September 1st of the year he/she would begin Prekindergarten at Greenhill. A child must be five years old by September 1st of the year he/she would begin Kindergarten at Greenhill.

  • Q. What openings are available at each grade level?

    Average Spaces Available
    Prekindergarten32 spaces
    Kindergarten32 spaces
    Primer & 1st Grade15 - 20 spaces
    2nd - 4th GradesHistorically 1 - 3 spaces; based on attrition
    5th Grade15 - 20 spaces
    6th - 8th GradesHistorically 1 - 5 spaces; based on attrition
    9th Grade25 - 30 spaces
    10th GradeHistorically 1 - 3 spaces; based on attrition
    11th GradeAttrition Replacement Only

  • Q. Do siblings and alumni children have preference for admission?

    We recognize the association that many families have with the school and the desirability to enroll siblings or alumni children. If the Admission Committee is faced with two equal candidates, one of whom is a sibling to a current student or child of alumni, that alumni child is given preferential consideration. As Greenhill is not the school for every child, we cannot guarantee the admission of siblings or alumni children based on association alone. We admit students who we believe will benefit from our mission-specific program and will flourish in the environment we foster, both in and out of the classroom.

  • Q. Can my child apply after the deadline?

    We are unable to evaluate applicants to Prekindergarten and Kindergarten after the application deadlines and admission decisions have been sent out. For Grades 1-12, we understand that due to unforeseen family circumstances, some students may not be able to meet the deadline. We will try to accommodate these families by reviewing late applications on a rolling admission basis until the school year begins. We do not admit student once the school year has begun. Please contact the Admission Office at (972) 628-5910 before submitting a late application.

  • Q. Should I call to find out if my required documents have been received?

    Please check your Online Application Checklist to see if your documents have been received.

  • Q. What should I do if my school issues grades after the required deadline?

    Schools issuing grades after our deadline should just mail the grades to us as soon as possible. Please do not fax.
 

Testing Questions

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. Why does my child have to take a test?

    Testing allows us to compare applicants to our current students and helps us to determine if there is a good fit. Test scores are only one part of the application process; the application in its entirety - teacher recommendations, grades, the visit/interview/observations and test scores - are reviewed by the Admission Committee individually and as a group. Please note, the strength of an individual application will be determined, in part, by the strength of the applicant pool.

  • Q. What is the CATS testing?

    CATS testing is an individually administered measure of intellectual ability which is designed to assess a child’s capacity to learn. In this assessment your child will be asked to perform various tasks that will evaluate skills using verbal and visual cues.
     
    On verbal subtests your child will be asked to perform various tasks such as responding to questions by identifying specific pictures out of a group, naming pictures, and choosing pictures out of a group that have similarities.
     
    On non-verbal, or performance, subtests your child will be asked to perform tasks that will require problem solving strategies using visual information. Constructing incomplete puzzles, reconstructing designs presented, and identifying missing parts of a shape are games used to assess a child’s perceptual and conceptual abilities involved in visual recognition and identification.
     
    We know that no matter how remarkable or respected an assessment may be, no number can capture the innate intelligence or character of a child - especially when the child is so young! Therefore, we use this evaluation along with direct observations, teacher evaluations, parent statements and interviews to assess your child’s compatibility with our school.

  • Q. How should I prepare my child before testing?

    Greenhill strongly discourages applicants from taking test prep courses or being tutored for admission testing. Test prep may result in anxiety and an admission decision that is not in the applicant's best interest. We believe the best way to prepare your child for testing is a good night's sleep and a good breakfast the day of testing.

Financial Aid Questions

List of 9 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. What is Financial Aid?

    Greenhill offers Financial Aid in the form of tuition grants. A tuition grant is money applied toward the tuition for the upcoming school year and does not need to be repaid.

  • Q. Does Greenhill offer merit or athletic scholarships?

    Financial Aid decisions are based solely on a family’s demonstrated need. In order to keep our process fair, equitable, and need-based, we do not offer any type of merit, including athletic, scholarships.

  • Q. Does applying for Financial Aid factor into the admission decision-making process?

    Greenhill’s admission process is need blind and students’ need for financial assistance is not considered as a factor by the admission committee.

  • Q. Will I qualify for a tuition grant?

    Any family may apply for assistance. Ability to pay is based on combined salaries, business cash flow, and assets, while considering the number of children in tuition-required schools and any unusual expenses. The Family Income Chart (see below) gives an idea of past awards based on average family income levels, but should not be used to assume a specific award will be granted.
     
    Family Income
    Cash Flow    		Range of Contributions
    per Child    		Range of Awards# of Awards/# of RequestsTotal Tuition
    Dollars Awarded
    $0 - 50,000$100$28,930 - 35,7805/5$164,860
    $50,001 - 75,000$100 - 5,000$24,030 - 35,78024/24$685,345
    $75,001 - 100,000$100 - 12,000$17,030 - 36,14025/25$697,590
    $100,001 - 125,000$1,000 - 12,500$17,515 - 34,88040/40$955,685
    $125,001 - 150,000*$1,000 - 27,500$6,650 - 32,42037/37$739,760
    $150,001 - 175,000*$7,000 - 28,030$1,000 - 29,24028/28$412,285
    $175,001 - 200,000*$3,745 - 32,000$3,820 - 32,49020/21$369,495
    $200,001 - 250,000**$6,000 - 32,000$1,000 - 19,30019/21$195,635
    Over $250,000**$16,500 - 31,600$1,000 - $19,38028/37$218,675
    * To qualify for a larger award in this range, families typically had more than one child in a tuition-required school.
    ** To qualify for any award amount in this range, families typically had more than one child in a tuition-required school.

  • Q. Who can apply for Financial Aid?

    Families who have students entering Prekindergarten through Grade 12 may apply.

  • Q. Is there help for the extra costs associated with attending a private school?

    Yes, Greenhill devotes a part of its Financial Aid budget to assist families who demonstrate a financial need for supplemental support (including but not limited to approved fine art and athletic costs). $480,000 of the 2022-23 budget is earmarked to cover these costs.

  • Q. Do I have to reapply every year?

    Because a family’s financial situation may change from year to year, the committee requires all current Financial Aid recipients to reapply each year. Awards may be adjusted if a family’s financial circumstances change significantly.

  • Q. Where can I find additional information?

    Please visit Greenhill’s Financial Aid webpage or the NAIS website also provides helpful tips and articles on their website.

  • Q. Whom do I contact if I have more questions?

    Please contact Amy deBorst, Director of Financial Aid, at (972) 628-5522.
 

Waitpool Questions

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. My child was offered a place in the waitpool. What does this mean?

    Each year, Greenhill typically receives more applications from qualified students seeking admission than we have room to accept. A waitpool is created to offer these students an opportunity to remain in consideration for admission, should space become available. You must complete the Waitpool Form to be considered if a space becomes available.

  • Q. What is the probability for waitpool applicants to be invited for admission?

    It varies every year, depending on the response from applicants offered admission, the characteristics of the total applicant pool, and the individual qualifications of waitpool candidates.

  • Q. How soon will we hear updates on the status of our application?

    The deadline to complete the Waitpool Form in your admission checklist is March 20, 2023. Initial waitpool openings, if any, are determined soon after this date. Additional openings may become available when there are changes in an enrolled student’s plans to attend Greenhill. It is possible for a waitpool candidate to be offered admission as late as August. The waitpool formally closes before the new school year begins. Though we do not provide regular updates, if your child is selected from the waitpool, you will receive a telephone call from the Admission Office.

  • Q. Are waitpool applicants ranked in any way?

    Greenhill does not rank applicants in the waitpool. As space becomes available, all waitpool candidates are individually reconsidered.

  • Q. How should I fill out the Waitpool Form?

    We understand that while your interest in Greenhill may remain, you may have deadlines – such as a contract at another school – that only allow you to remain in the waitpool for a certain amount of time. Please indicate on the form when you would realistically still accept a place at Greenhill.

  • Q. Should my child accept an invitation to attend another school?

    If Greenhill is your first choice, we welcome you to wait until March 24 before accepting admission to another school that may have offered your child a space. If Greenhill is unable to offer your child a space by March 24, you will want assurance of enrollment in another school of your choice.

  • Q. Can my child increase their chances of being selected from the waitpool? 

    No additional action is required; however, we welcome any new information that could be relevant to the admission process. Examples include a copy of a fourth-quarter report card or notice of awards received or other significant accomplishments. Please mail or email these materials to: Greenhill School, Office of Admission, 4141 Spring Valley Road, Addison, TX 75001 or admission@greenhill.org. 
 

Greenhill School

A coed independent day school for prekindergarten – Grade 12
4141 Spring Valley Rd.  |  Addison, TX 75001  |  (972) 628-5400
Copyright © 2023 Greenhill School. All Rights Reserved.