 
| Prospective Families Home | Admissions Process | Admissions Staff |
| Apply | Directions | Financial Aid | Request Information |
| Tuition & Fees | Visit the Schools |
Frequently Asked Questions About Admission Can I schedule my child’s assessment at the same time as my parent interview?
We are happy to schedule assessments and interviews together. This works best for children who do not usually experience much separation anxiety.
Is preschool mandatory for admission to Kindergarten? Are there special feeder schools for Sacred Heart?
It is not necessary for children to attend preschool before coming to Sacred Heart, although, practically speaking, most of our applicants attend a nursery or daycare program. Further, we do not give admission preference to children from a particular school or group of schools. This year’s Kindergarten class is made up of children from many different preschools and daycare programs. Students who transfer into the older grades are drawn from public, parochial and independent schools throughout the city and suburbs. Children come to Sacred Heart from a variety of circumstances, and the Admissions Committee considers each child as an individual.
Do you accept children who miss the September 1 birthday cut off for Kindergarten?
We require children to be five years old when they enter Kindergarten. Exceptions are rarely made.
Are children with late summer birthdays automatically counseled to delay entrance to Kindergarten until the following year?
We do not feel that all children with summer birthdays should wait an extra year to enter Kindergarten. However, some children will benefit from the social and developmental growth that additional time in preschool allows, and every year, at the conclusion of the admissions process, we ask a number of families to consider this option. In deciding whether to move forward with Kindergarten or hold back, we advise families to consult carefully with their preschool teachers, who know their students well and can provide helpful insight into the issue.
Do you accept new students into 8th grade?
Because students graduate from Sacred Heart at the close of 8th grade, we are especially cautious in admitting new students at this level. The Admissions Committee must be convinced that a new 8th grader will make an exceptionally smooth transition to the Schools. New students who are accepted are most often from families moving into the Chicago area and not transfers from local schools. Students transferring from other Sacred Heart Network schools make especially strong candidates.
Are siblings or legacies given preference for admission?
Sacred Heart is firmly committed to our school families and so siblings are given strong preference for admission. It is rare that a sibling is not admitted to our Kindergarten program, especially when parents have carefully observed all deadlines in the admissions process and been responsible members of the school community. Children and grandchildren of alumnae/i also receive careful consideration for admission, although acceptance is not automatic. Finally, the Admissions Committee looks favorably on students from other Sacred Heart Network schools whose families are transferring into the Chicago area.
My child’s grades are low. How are grades factored into the admissions decision for older students?
The Admissions Committee believes in looking at applicants holistically and always evaluates multiple factors for admission. However, report cards play an important role, especially for children looking to enter the upper grade levels. Students with A’s and B’s in core subject areas are more likely to make successful candidates than students with C’s and D’s, unless mitigating factors are present. An interested family with concerns about their child’s report card should always feel free to call the Director of Admissions for a confidential conversation prior to application.
Will it help my child’s chances for admission if I provide references or support the Schools’ fundraising efforts?
References, beyond the required LMAIS teacher recommendations, usually neither help nor hinder the admissions process. We are happy to accept them, but find they usually play little role in the admissions process compared to other factors more directly related to the applicants themselves. If you choose to submit reference letters, please limit them to one or two. We want to be very clear that it is not necessary or even desirable for prospective families to support the Schools’ fundraising efforts in order to gain admission to Sacred Heart. Instead, we encourage applicant families to support their current schools to the extent their personal circumstances allow. Having said this, we realize that some prospective parents may want to attend a school event as a way of getting a better sense of our community to determine if Sacred Heart eventually will be a good fit for their family. We are happy to have parents evaluate us in this way; however, event attendance plays no role in the admissions process and is never noted in applicant files.
Who actually makes the admission decision?
The Admissions Office is responsible for gathering information about each applicant and family and presenting a completed applicant file to the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee -- comprised of the Director of Admissions, the Principal, and the relevant Division Head -- reviews each applicant file and makes a recommendation to the Director of Schools regarding admission. The final authority to admit or deny an applicant rests solely with the Director of Schools. In arriving at an admissions recommendation, the Admissions Committee will often consult with the wider admissions staff as well as faculty who interacted with applicants and their families during the application process.
Kindergarten Checklist
Early Decision, 2010 – 11
Regular Decision, 2009 - 10
- Schedule your school tour (if you did not tour prior to application).
- Schedule your parent interview.
- Schedule your child’s developmental assessment.
- Submit preschool recommendation (after January 1).
- Schedule Kindergarten play party for February 26 (if we were unable to observe your child at preschool).
The applicant’s file must be complete by February 27, 2009 to be considered in the first round of admissions decisions announced on March 25, 2009.
Return to Admissions Process
|
