Admissions at Friends Western School
Enrolling for 2023-2024
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OUR PERSONALIZED ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Attend an Open House
The first step in the FWS admissions process is to attend and Open House or Private Tour, where you'll learn more about our developmentally-attuned approach, progressive curriculum, and cooperative structure. You'll get to meet current parents, teachers, and tour our classrooms. Find dates and RSVP here.
Application Process
1. Register for and attend an Open House. Open Houses are a great way to meet the current co-op families and instructors and to learn about the curriculum in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We strongly encourage you to bring your children and other family members along. Open Houses are not a drop-in format - they begin promptly with refreshments and a Q&A followed by a tour.
2. Submit an application form and $100 fee.
3. Return the Teacher Evaluation and Transcripts: It is our school policy to receive teacher evaluations and transcripts for all grades (K-5) before enrollment. Have your teacher evaluation form and transcript request sent separately from your application by your child's teacher/school. The confidential teacher evaluation form should be given to your child’s current teacher. They will fill it out and upload to TADS. The transcript release form should be given to your child’s current school administrative office with instructions to mail or upload to TADS.
4. Schedule your child’s Class Visit. Once we receive your application and required documents an Admissions Committee Member will contact you to register for a class visit. Kindergarten and First Grade applicants visit for the morning and applicants in grades 2-5 stay for an entire day. We sometimes ask for follow-up visits.
5. Schedule a Family Interview. FWS is unique in that it is a Cooperative Elementary, and parents & caregivers help operate the school. We would like to take the time to further educate prospective families on the Co-op structure and answer any questions that you may have during a meeting with our Head of School and a few members of the Admissions Committee. Once we receive your application, an Admissions Committee Representative will contact you to schedule the visit.
Our Admissions process is highly responsive to individual families' needs. We know that finding a school is a big decision and we want families to feel they have all the information they need to determine if FWS is a good fit. If you have any questions at any point, before, during, or after the previous steps have been completed, please do not hesitate to reach out to Bethany, our Admissions Co-Chair, at admissions@friendswesternschool.org, or Kate, Head of School, at kate.malone@friendswesternschool.org.
*Friends Western School reserves the right to change these terms and conditions at any time.
2. Submit an application form and $100 fee.
3. Return the Teacher Evaluation and Transcripts: It is our school policy to receive teacher evaluations and transcripts for all grades (K-5) before enrollment. Have your teacher evaluation form and transcript request sent separately from your application by your child's teacher/school. The confidential teacher evaluation form should be given to your child’s current teacher. They will fill it out and upload to TADS. The transcript release form should be given to your child’s current school administrative office with instructions to mail or upload to TADS.
4. Schedule your child’s Class Visit. Once we receive your application and required documents an Admissions Committee Member will contact you to register for a class visit. Kindergarten and First Grade applicants visit for the morning and applicants in grades 2-5 stay for an entire day. We sometimes ask for follow-up visits.
5. Schedule a Family Interview. FWS is unique in that it is a Cooperative Elementary, and parents & caregivers help operate the school. We would like to take the time to further educate prospective families on the Co-op structure and answer any questions that you may have during a meeting with our Head of School and a few members of the Admissions Committee. Once we receive your application, an Admissions Committee Representative will contact you to schedule the visit.
Our Admissions process is highly responsive to individual families' needs. We know that finding a school is a big decision and we want families to feel they have all the information they need to determine if FWS is a good fit. If you have any questions at any point, before, during, or after the previous steps have been completed, please do not hesitate to reach out to Bethany, our Admissions Co-Chair, at admissions@friendswesternschool.org, or Kate, Head of School, at kate.malone@friendswesternschool.org.
*Friends Western School reserves the right to change these terms and conditions at any time.
Application Timeline
Admissions for 2023-2024
Admissions at FWS are on a rolling basis.
Admissions at FWS are on a rolling basis.
Tuition and Fees for 2023-2024
- $14,834.7*
- New family fee: $650
- Materials and Outdoor Ed Fee: $500 (all families)
- Housekeeping Fee: $200 (all families)
Please contact admissions at admissions@friendswesternschool.org for additional information, deposit schedule & associated fees.
Financial Aid
FWS offers financial aid awards for families with demonstrated need.
Admissions decisions are need-blind.
Families who are accepted for enrollment may apply for Financial Aid through the Tuition Assistance Determination Service provided by our enrollment management system, TADS.
Admissions decisions are need-blind.
Families who are accepted for enrollment may apply for Financial Aid through the Tuition Assistance Determination Service provided by our enrollment management system, TADS.