Admission and Whitfield

The joy our students find at Whitfield is evident when you walk in the building.  Why is that?  We expect them to do well, and they deliver.  Students will achieve all of which they are capable if the work presented in school is both challenging and engaging, and if they feel valued and respected as students and as members of our school community.  Just as important, a strong student/parent/school partnership supports our students' quest for excellence.

Selecting the right school for your child will take time and is an exciting process for your family. You will have the chance to visit schools together, debrief afterwards, and navigate the application before making the best decision for you child.

What should you be thinking about as you begin this process?

• What are your hopes for your child? 
  Few schools can say that all of their students are required to take English, language, social studies, math, and science every year and, at the same time, give them the flexibility for electives to further develop their interests.  By completing some of the most demanding graduation requirements nationwide, Whitfield students are prepared not just for entrance to respected colleges and universities, but for success in the college classroom and in life.

• What kind of young adult do you hope your child becomes?  As important as your child's intellectual development is his or her growth as a person.  Students who are successful at Whitfield are bright, curious and eager participants in all facets of our community. With a myriad of athletic and extracurricular offerings, students develop their skills as leaders and teammates, competencies that are important now and long after graduation. As well, the work load is healthy and appropriate, allowing our students to lead balanced lives.

• What kind of learning environment do you want for your child? 
  Ask educators and businesspeople alike about what it takes to be successful in today's world and you're going to hear about things Whitfield has been emphasizing for decades: critical thinking, effective communication skills, strong collaborative abilities, creative problem solving, and strength of character.  That means a more dynamic, engaging classroom than we remember growing up.  Our students are in a learning environment that expects students to wrestle with big ideas through discussions and projects rather than by memorizing facts.  These are the sorts of lessons that last long beyond the classroom.

• What are your values? 
  At Whitfield, we emphasize character and personal integrity.  Talk with a student or a parent about Whitfield and the phrase, "Be kind and do the right thing," will inevitably arise.  It's not a class or a workshop that creates this principled culture but daily mentoring by adults who model the behavior that we expect of our students and who help students make good decisions. 

• Can we afford an independent school?
  If costs are a concern to you, please consider applying for financial aid. This year, Whitfield committed over $1.2 million in financial aid to 20% of our students.  Financial aid awards ranged from $2,500 to full tuition, with an average award of $15,000.  A wide range of family incomes are represented in the group of students receiving financial aid. 

We will do everything we can to make the admission process as clear and helpful as possible, from offering an Early Decision program for families certain that Whitfield is their first choice, to requiring the same entrance exam and using the same application as our colleagues, to organizing a variety of opportunities for you to learn more about Whitfield.

At each step along the way, please feel free to ask questions.

In all of this, we are driven by what is right for your family.  We think that in the end, you will discover that Whitfield is the right choice for your family.  Thank you for considering Whitfield for your child's secondary school.