Admissions Policy

Giddens School seeks students and families who share and support the school’s educational philosophy and academic goals. We are committed to diversity in ethnicity, culture, economic status and family structure. Our admissions decisions and financial aid program support this commitment. 

Siblings of students currently attending the school and families returning to Giddens have some priority in our admissions process. However, all admissions decisions are at the discretion of the Head of School and admissions personnel, and are intended to support our conviction that a broadly diverse peer group is one of the most vital assets that we can give to our children. 

Children and families who bring diversity to the school may also enjoy some preference in the admission process. We seek families who appreciate being part of a close-knit community and who value developmentally appropriate learning that fosters academic excellence, social responsibility, and creativity.

Giddens places children according to their development, rather than their age. There are several mixed-age classrooms, and we strive to make sure that each child is placed in the most appropriate one. A child's visit or play date are important indicators of his or her feelings about school, interests, and developmental level. In addition, we ask children ages seven through 10 to write an essay, which is also used as a placement tool. Younger children are asked to draw a picture of themselves. Both the essay and self-portraits are enclosed with the application.

Children applying to grades 1st-5th will be invited to a half day primary visit.  Children applying to preschool, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten will be invited to participate in a placement play-date. Parents accompany their children as they visit, spending time in and out of the classroom.

Preschool children participate in play dates , where eight to ten children spend an hour with a Giddens teacher. An administrator and counselor observe and interact with children as they play. We strive to make play dates as relaxed as possible for parents and children. While we aim for the most accurate picture of your child, we realize that play dates are held in an unfamiliar location, and generally scheduled late in the afternoon. We also understand that children are complex and cannot be fully understood after only an hour's observation.

What we look for:

• Does your child play with others, or along side them? What does he or she prefer?
• Does your child play quietly or boisterously?
• Does your child like to direct play with other children, or does he or she follow the lead?
• Is your child especially drawn to art, blocks, dramatic play, books?
• Does your child seek external behavioral boundaries, or does your child set his or her own behavioral boundaries?
• What is your child’s learning style: listening, watching, or touching?

Questions concerning the admissions process may be referred to Christy Haven, Director of Admissions at 206.324.4847, ext. *30