Admissions FAQ's

Independent schools are “independent” because they have distinct missions and are primarily supported by tuition payments, charitable contributions, and special event funding. Independent schools do not receive federal or state funding. Each school meets high accreditation standards and is held accountable by its Board of Trustees.

Independent schools, like Montgomery School, tend to function as a complete community. At Montgomery, the parents, students, and faculty work together with the shared goal of preparing students for high school, and for life. Independent schools focus on the “whole child.” In the case of Montgomery School, that means that the program develops mind, body, and character with equal emphasis.

Often parents ask why they should consider a school that ends in 8th grade over one that educates a student through 12th grade. The learning environment and opportunities for growth in a PreK-8th Grade school are very different that in a school that continues on through high school. Our focus is on the critical childhood years (ages 4-14) where good habits for lifelong learning are created. Quite simply, our children are learning to love school.

Montgomery children are educated in an environment that is very intentionally child-centered, without the pressure and influence of high school. While K-12 schools often provide the bulk of their resources to the high school grades, we focus all of our resources on lower and middle school. Our Middle School students are our leaders and entrusted with responsibilities that would only be available to the oldest children in a K-12 school. During those critical middle school years when students can often become lost, our children are given the opportunity to stand out, as leaders in the classroom, on stage and on the athletic fields. As the oldest students on campus. Montgomery’s eighth graders have an unparalleled opportunity to develop themselves as learners and leaders in a nurturing school environment where they are well known and appreciated by their teachers and peers.

Our younger students interact with the middle school students through a “buddy” program, where they are matched with an older buddy who becomes a mentor or role model. The younger students develop an ongoing relationship with their older “buddies,” and the older students enjoy their leadership roles as they work with the younger students.

Though there is no one profile for a typical student, Montgomery School students tend to be intellectually curious, friendly, and active. We usually look for balance in a child’s life and for a student who will fit well into our community. Our students are comfortable accepting new students into their midst, and we like to see a level of warmth and friendliness in our applicants as well. Since an interview can be intimidating to some children, we also look to teacher recommendations, parent observations, and testing information to evaluate potential candidates. The bottom line is that we want students who are a great fit for Montgomery School, and we want Montgomery School to be a great fit for the students that we invite to join our community.

Please call us at 610-827-7222 to set up a tour of the campus and to meet with the Director of Admissions. One or both parents or guardians should accompany the student applicant. We also hold several open house sessions during the year during which you take a group tour of the campus and attend an information session.

Families are encouraged to submit application materials for the following school year beginning in October of the current year. In order for applications to be considered during the first round of admission committee review and notified by February 1st, candidates should submit their materials by January 15th. After this deadline, admission will be on a rolling basis and all are encouraged to apply.

Standardized tests are not a required part of the application process. Arrangements must be made to take the WPPSI-IV or WISC-IV test. WPPSI-IV and WISC-IV tests offer an independent evaluation by a trained and experienced professional of the child’s receptiveness to new tasks, the ability to shift tasks, comfort with hands-on tasks and comfort with pencil and paper tasks. The verbal sub-tests provide information on the child’s language abilities. Answers reveal a child’s level of social judgment and common sense reasoning. Children show their ability to recall word meanings and display given strengths or weaknesses in short-term auditory memory.

The sub-tests indicate a student’s grasp of basic concepts dealing with quantity, numbers and abstractions. Performance sub-tests reveal strengths and weaknesses in terms of fine motor control, eye-hand coordination, visual planning skills, and spatial orientation. Performance sub-tests also measure a child’s ability to visually scan and attend to details.

Students also take placement tests during their day visit to Montgomery. Placement tests administered at Montgomery School examine a child’s achievement level. The tests determine the child’s reading level, math knowledge, and written expression abilities. The child’s test results indicate the level at which the child is working. High scores may indicate enrichment opportunities and lower scores may point to a need for tutoring.

Montgomery School bases admission decisions on five factors: a classroom visit, a placement test at Montgomery School, a WPPSI-IV or WISC-IV test, teacher referrals, and school records.

There are several reserved parking spots for those visiting the admission office. As you enter the school’s driveway from Kimberton Road (Route 113) pull into the parking lot in front of the Farmhouse. After you park, enter the Farmhouse and check in with the receptionist.

Siblings or “legacy” applicants are considered first on their own merits, and second on their relationships to current or former Montgomery students. We do have quite a few siblings and alumni children, but we urge families to consider each child as an individual in deciding whether Montgomery would be the right fit, just as we do in evaluating siblings and alumni children.

Acceptance letters are mailed in early February. Your decision to enroll is required by March 1st, along with a tuition deposit.

Being placed on the waiting list means that we may be able to offer you enrollment if space becomes available. Normally, we will know if any spaces are available shortly after the March 1st, enrollment date, but sometimes a few spaces open up during the spring and summer (e.g. if a current family moves). The Admission Office will contact you if a space should become available (provided you have requested to stay on the waiting list).