ADMISSION - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is LCDS "worth it"?

Can we afford LCDS?

Is LCDS socially and economically diverse?

How do you make Admission decisions?

Who participates in the admission decision-making process?

If my child is a ‘match' for LCDS, will she/he automatically be
offered a place in the class?

How does the Wait Pool work?

If my child isn't admitted from the Wait Pool this year, may we reapply for next year?

What if my child is not found to be a match for Country Day?

Do siblings and legacies have preference in the admission decisions?

What if we're applying after mid-spring?

If my child transfers to LCDS, will he/she be eligible to play sports?

What about financial aid deadlines?

Why is LCDS "worth it"?

For our graduates and parents of graduates, the answer is especially compelling. We encourage a very close review of our testimonials publication and invite you to ask us for the names of families who will happily share their thoughts on the cumulative effects of our educational program and traditions. Testimonials can be found in our research piece "In their Words" and phone numbers of dozens of parents and graduates can be accessed through contact with our office.

In the meantime, we are happy to share a few of the benefits of our program:

...Over the past 5 years, 14% of all our graduating seniors have either received letters of commendation or achieved semifinalist or finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship program.

...Nearly half of our students score between 700 and 800 on SAT subject tests.

...In 2010, 85% of our Advanced Placement exam takers scored 3, 4 or 5.

... LCDS students' SATs totals are more than 300 points higher than area public schools.  For a comparison of our SAT results, please click here.

...LCDS students are three times more likely to spend more than 11 hours per week studying than students in nearby public or parochial schools.

...LCDS students are 30% more likely to place value on (and participate in) community service than students in nearby public or parochial schools.

...100% of our graduates are accepted into colleges.

...50% of LCDS graduates are more likely to have studied algebra and a foreign language by 8th grade.

Please remember: the combined value of these measurable differences is only part of the LCDS story. The other aspects-outstanding academic readiness for college, and an attitude that values lifelong learning-are beyond financial measure or reckoning. And they are definitely "worth it."

Can we afford LCDS?

If you're like most prospective LCDS parents, you're concerned about cost..Currently, Lancaster Country Day School provides nearly $2.3 million in financial aid. More than 32% of LCDS students receive financial assistance. Some families, for example, earn more than $100,000 and still qualify for financial assistance, depending on their assets and income. For a schedule of full tuition rates (applicable for a family that does not qualify for financial aid from the school), click here. The average financial aid grant is currently about $11,600. For examples of situations in which financial aid has been awarded, click here .

Is LCDS socially and economically diverse?

LCDS aspires to admit children who demonstrate academic promise, character and extra-curricular passion and talent, regardless of their families' economic or social backgrounds. We feel a heterogeneous student body is similar to the world community, and strongly encourage applications from families with diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Currently, more than 17% of LCDS students are people of color, and nearly 32% of the student body receives financial aid. Moreover, students and faculty at LCDS aspire to strengthen relationships of respect. We succeed in creating a culture that values different outlooks, different perspectives and different backgrounds.

How do you make Admission decisions?

The most important assessment we make in the admission process is to weigh the potential success of a prospective student at LCDS. This is not an easy task, especially with very young children. Previous and current school records, teacher and guidance counselor/principal recommendations, our experience with the applicant, information from parents, and standardized test scores are all used to establish a well-rounded perspective of each applicant. Admission Committee decisions are based on the potential academic, social, emotional, and extracurricular success your child will have as a student at LCDS.

Who participates in the admission decision-making process?

The Admission Committee --consisting of the Division Head, two or three teachers from the division, and the Director and Assistant Director of Admission--becomes familiar with all documents and information about a prospective student before discussing the candidate and making the final decision.

If my child is a ‘match' for LCDS, will she/he automatically be offered a place in the class?

Being considered a good fit for the school is the first step toward enrollment. We must also make sure we have space. Families are drawn to LCDS because of its low student/ teacher ratio, its small classes, and its close-knit community. The only way to maintain these characteristics is to limit our overall and individual class enrollments. The unfortunate result is that we sometimes do not have a space to offer a qualified candidate. Students who are a match but for whom we don't have a space are put into the wait pool.

How does the Wait Pool work?

A student who is not admitted in the first round of admission decision-making, but who is a strong candidate for the school will be offered Wait Pool status. Every year, we eventually admit many Wait Pool candidates. When a space becomes available, we assess at that time which Wait Pool candidate would be the most appropriate to fill the spot. We understand that waiting for our decision can present a difficult situation at home because parents often wonder what to tell their child. We find that most children respond well to the truth: that Country Day would love to have them, but they just don't have space. We encourage Wait Pool candidates and their families not to lose hope! The situation may be resolved within two weeks, or may take much longer.

If my child isn't admitted from the Wait Pool this year, may we reapply for next year?

Definitely, yes. In fact, we encourage you to reapply! We do not require another application form, or an additional application fee. However, updated school records and recommendations, another classroom visit, and retesting are necessary.

What if my child is not found to be a match for Country Day?

Occasionally our testing, in combination with other factors, may indicate that LCDS is not a good fit for a particular child. It could be that the child's skills are not developed to the degree that would predict a successful experience here. Or, during the child's visit, the classroom teacher may sense that the child would struggle in this setting. When these kinds of situations arise, the Admission Committee notifies the family accordingly, sometimes recommending further independent psycho-educational testing. It can be difficult for parents to receive our news in any of these circumstances. In all situations, our Admission Committee tries to make the right decision, one that has the child's best interest at heart,

Do siblings and legacies have preference in the admission decisions?

Yes and no. This is an issue that is extensively discussed by all independent schools. We realize that many parents and alumni have very positive feelings for our school and wish to have all of their children share the same educational experience. At the same time, children are individuals, and what is best for one child is not necessarily the same for another. Most important in our decision is whether a child would thrive in this learning environment. In general, we do give preference to a sibling or legacy over another child. But a sibling or legacy child will be offered a place only if the Committee is confident that he/she has the potential to succeed in this setting.

What if we're applying after mid-spring?

While we encourage families to apply early, we welcome applications throughout the year. In grades where there are plenty of available spaces, applying late may not hurt a candidate's chances of being admitted. In fact, in some grades, we are still processing applications throughout the summer! When space is tight, however, classes may fill early.

If my child transfers to LCDS, will he/she be eligible to play sports?

LCDS is a member of PIAA, which determines athletic eligibility for our students. Transferring students are required to submit a transfer waiver form to the PIAA, signed by the principals of both schools involved. Each case is unique, but most of the students who have transferred in have been approved for participation. Age, previous participation in scholastic athletics, and the re-classification (i.e...repeating a grade) may influence eligibility. Please contact the Athletic Director if you any questions about participation in athletics.

What about financial aid deadlines?

Althought the financial aid budget is quite generous, it is not unlimited. While the budgeted amount of aid is typically spent on families who apply for aid on time, LCDS aspires to work with all interested families. What is the difference between Need and Merit-Based Financial Aid? click here