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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 important and lasting
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?
More than 90% of our college-bound students
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 that your child is a
whole person, and we want every student
here 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. On most weekends
and vacations we plan student trips
to a variety of in-state and out-of-state
destinations—from local hikes
and movie theater outings to art galleries
in New York City. Our students enjoy
getting together in all sorts of school
activities, including drama, chess,
writing, and many more. We also have
many sports to choose from, each with
outstanding, dedicated coaches who encourage
their athletes to enjoy their sport
and achieve to their highest potential.
And if your son or daughter decides
to play for a Washington Academy team,
he or she will be in for a very 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
ensure 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 enforce this
policy 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.
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