|  | FAQ for Applying Families | Q. | When should I begin the admission process? | | A. | The admission process generally begins in the fall before the enrollment year. |
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| Q. | Can I apply online? | | A. | YES! A link to our online application can be found by clicking here. |
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| Q. | How much should I write on the application? | | A. | Write enough to give a complete answer, but do not feel compelled to fill every line. If needed, please use another piece of paper to complete your answers. |
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| Q. | Are prospective families required to attend a Visitors’ Morning? | | A. | No. Visitors’ Mornings are scheduled to provide an opportunity to see the School before an appointment is scheduled. Please note that attendance during a Visitors’ Morning does not take the place of a parent visit. |
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| Q. | What grade is the best grade to apply? | | A. | While applications to Friends’ Central School are welcome at all grade levels, the largest number of openings are in nursery, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and grade 9. Openings are also available in grades 1, 5, 6 and 7. Openings in other grades are dependent on student attrition. |
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| Q. | What should I expect during the parent visit? | | A. | Your visit will include a tour of the campus, a review of our curriculum, and a discussion about your child. The parent visit takes about one-and-a-half hours. |
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| Q. | What should I tell my child about the student visit? | | A. | It is normal for both parents and students to be nervous about visiting a new school. Knowing a little about the structure of the visit will hopefully allay the child's concerns.
Visits for children applying to nursery school, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grade 1 are designed so that your child can be observed in our academic environment. Nursery school applicants visit with their parents for a one-hour "classroom" experience while those applying to pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grade 1 spend a half-day with us. The visit consists of free-play time, a directed lesson, a story, snack, and, if the weather permits, outside play. Sometimes students have the opportunity to attend a "special class" in art, music, computers, physical education, or library, as well. During the student visit, an admission officer will conduct a readiness screening with your child.
Children applying to grades 2 through 5 will spend a full day in the classroom at the Lower School in their current grade and will take part in the normal activities of the school day. Additionally, they will complete a packet of academic work designed for all visitors to that grade.
Children applying to grades 6 through 12 will be interviewed and asked to complete a writing sample and will shadow a Friends' Central student for the day. The best advice about the interview is to be as relaxed as possible. The interviewer's only goal is to get to know the student better. Regarding the writing sample, students can take as long as they want. Students will have the opportunity to choose from a list of topics and are advised to stick to the topic and check spelling and organization. |
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| Q. | What will my child do for lunch on the day of his/her visit? | | A. | The visit for students applying to pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grade 1 is only half-day and ends before lunch, at noon. For those students who will be entering grades 2-12, lunch may be brought from home or students may sample the cafeteria fare as our guests. |
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| Q. | What should my child wear on the day of the visit? | | A. | Friends’ Central students dress comfortably and casually, and visitors are encouraged to do the same. |
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| Q. | What are the WPPSI-III and the WISC-IV? | | A. | The WPPSI-III stands for the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Third Edition. It is an aptitude test for children under the age of six. Friends’ Central requires the WPPSI for students entering kindergarten and grade 1.
The WISC-IV stands for Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition. It is an aptitude test for children over six years of age. It is required of all students entering grades 2 through 5, and an acceptable option for Middle or Upper School applicants. Details regarding your child’s scores are best obtained from the person administering the test. |
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| Q. | What is the SSAT? What is the ISEE? | | A. | SSAT stands for the Secondary School Admission Test. ISEE stands for the Independent School Entrance Exam. The SSAT is available for students applying to grades 6-12, the ISEE is available for students applying to grades 5-12. They are administered in group sessions at local schools throughout the year on some Saturdays and Sundays. More information about each test is available at the following links: SSAT | ISEE |
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| Q. | When and where do I obtain recommendation forms? | | A. | Friends' Central uses the ADVIS (Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools) forms common to many area independent schools. These forms are available in our Admission Office or can be downloaded from our website. Please remember to submit these forms to the child's current school. The school officials are asked to return the completed forms directly to Friends' Central School. |
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| Q. | When are admission decisions made? | | A. | Families completing the admission process by mid-January will receive written notification of a decision shortly after February 1st. After the first round of decisions, we operate on a rolling admission basis. Please note that all parts of the application process must be complete by mid-January in order for a student to be considered in the first round of decisions. |
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| Q. | When should I apply for financial aid? | | A. | Request financial aid information upon initial inquiry or during the parent interview. The Parent Financial Statement is available at sss.nais.org. |
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| Q. | If my child is admitted but not awarded aid, might we receive aid the following year? | | A. | It is very unlikely. We aid as many students as we feel we can continue to support through their years at Friends' Central. Our first obligation is to our currently enrolled students. There is little chance that a student enrolling without aid would be awarded aid in any subsequent year, without significant changes in that family’s financial circumstances. |
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| Q. | Will my child’s chances for admission be negatively impacted if we apply for financial aid? | | A. | No. The admission process is a separate process from the financial aid process. Students are considered for admission based on academic criteria and not on a family’s ability to pay. |
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FAQ for Newly Enrolled Families | Q. | When will I know who my child’s teacher will be? | | A. | Lower School students will find out their schedules on Orientation Day. Sectioning of students takes place throughout the entire summer; therefore, student assignments are not disclosed until the beginning of school. |
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| Q. | How do I sign up for transportation, lunch, extended day, and private instrumental lessons? | | A. | Parents may visit friendscentral.org/extras for the most recent information. |
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| Q. | How do I arrange for my child to ride the public school bus? | | A. | Friends’ Central handles communication with the public school districts regarding busing. The names of all enrolled students are forwarded to the district offices. The districts, in turn, make up the bus schedules and will notify you of pick up and drop off times. You can call the transportation office of your school district for more information. |
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| Q. | If my child will be riding the FCS bus, when will I know the schedule? | | A. | J. B. Bowie, the transportation coordinator, is responsible for arranging the Friends’ Central transportation routes. He can be reached at (610) 247-3520. Schedules are generally in place by the first week of September. |
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| Q. | Does my child need any special school supplies before the school year begins? | | A. | If teachers have specific requirements, they provide a supply list to students either during orientation or the first day of school. However, in Middle and Upper School divisions, some teachers have shared their supply lists with the manager of the Friends' Central bookstore, enabling families to make the right purchases before school begins. |
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| Q. | Is there any required summer reading for my child’s grade? | | A. | Yes. Summer reading lists are available online for students in each division. |
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| Q. | My child has a serious allergy or a medical condition that I need to discuss with the School nurse. How and when can I get in touch with the nurse? | | A. | The School’s nurses will be on campus on the Wednesday after Labor Day. They can be reached by phone or email:
Lower School Nurses - 610-642-7575, LSNurse@friendscentral.org
Middle School Nurses - 610-649-7440, MSNurse@friendscentral.org
Upper School Nurses - 610-649-7440, USNurse@friendscentral.org |
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| Q. | Are there any events planned for my child to meet other students? | | A. | Lower School:
Families new to the Lower School are invited to a welcoming picnic in late May. The headmaster, principal, other administrators, and current Friends’ Central families from each grade level will also be in attendance.
Middle School:
Each new student is assigned a guide who is in his/her same grade. The guide is responsible for contacting the new student over the summer months, answering any questions, and being a first friend.
Upper School:
New students are required to take placement tests in mathematics and foreign language; therefore, we make this an opportunity for families to meet each other. While students are chatting before taking their tests, parents/guardians have the chance to meet each other. The Upper School dean of students, dean of faculty, and ninth grade dean are also in attendance. Also, each new student is assigned a guide who is in his/her same grade. The guide is responsible for contacting the new student over the summer months, answering any questions, and being a first friend. |
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