Information for Parents

Why should I send my child to a private school rather than a public school?
Private high schools that accept boarding students, while different from each other, share some benefits. Private high school students tend to score higher on assessment tests and more often go on to post-secondary education than do public school students. Private schools frequently have higher graduation requirements, often requiring more math, science and languages than public schools.

If you send your child to a private college preparatory school, and chose the school that best suits your child's interests, skills and aspirations, a good match will do wonders for your child's ability to succeed.

How can I fit tuition into my budget?
First, find out if your child is eligible for any grants or scholarships. Consider a student loan as well. We have three different payment plans to make your investment as easy as possible. See our financial aid section for details.

How do your graduates perform when applying for colleges?
Of our college bound students, over 90% are accepted to either the first or second college of their choice.

How can I keep informed of my child's progress?
At Washington Academy, we consider parents to be part of our team. Our teachers and staff are always happy to talk about your child with you. You can either phone or e-mail the school any time. We also have a secure on-line method for you to view your child's grades! Of course we have regular grade reports and progress reports as well. Every four weeks you'll be sent a report with current grades and comments. You can also request that the syllabus from any of your child's classes be sent to you, so you can know what he or she is learning week by week.

I want my child to excel academically, but I don't want her to just study. Do you offer any other programs to help my child become well-rounded?
We never forget your child is a whole person and we want them to succeed on all levels: academic, social, athletic and extracurricular. We provide all students with a free membership to a fitness center at a nearby university, complete with a pool and a variety of classes. Most weekends and vacations we plan student trips to lots of destinations from movie theaters to art galleries in New York City! Our students enjoy getting together in school activities including drama, chess, writing, and many more. We also have many sports to choose from and if your son of daughter decides to play for a Washington Academy team, they will be in for a nice surprise: our local towns love to cheer our teams on!

Safety is a big concern for me. What would you do to keep my child safe?
We understand your concern. We take the safety and well-being of our students very seriously. We are fortunate to be located in a small, rural town far from urban areas. Our school is small with a high teacher to student ratio, which means that it is nearly impossible to cross a hallway without someone knowing about it! But we don't rely on our eyes alone to keep watch: we have surveillance cameras at the entrances to further insure your child's safety.

While it has been a national trend that children are experimenting with drugs at younger and younger ages, we don't have much of a problem with drugs for a number of reasons. First, we do not tolerate drugs of any kind in or around our schools and we follow up with tight supervision. Secondly, we educate our students about the hazards of drug use as well as how to make healthy choices throughout their lives. Finally, our students don't do drugs because they don't need them: they have lots of interesting activities, adults that listen and strong self-esteem from their academic success.

My child will need to buy clothes and supplies. How do you handle money for boarding students?
We handle money in several ways, depending on the wishes of the parent. Students who are able to handle money can simply open an account at a local bank. Other parents decide to give money to us for safekeeping and allow their child to receive a weekly allowance through our front office.