Application Process

Thank you for considering Swain for your child. We look forward to getting to know you and your family during the admission process.

Although it may seem overwhelming at times, applying to an independent school is a mutual learning experience which allows us to become better acquainted with you and your child while helping you decide where your child’s – and your family’s - needs can best be met. We are happy to help you throughout this process however we can.

Tours and Open Houses

Those families interested in learning more about Swain are invited to contact our Admissions Office at 610-433-4542, ext. 119 or ext. 153, or at admissions@swain.org. Admissions Director Leah Papp and Admissions Assistant Karen Fabiano will arrange a convenient time to meet and tour our school.

Personal tours during school hours are encouraged, so you see Swain ‘in action’. A tour typically lasts about an hour.

Several Open Houses are scheduled throughout the year, which also provide opportunities to visit Swain and see the teachers and students when school is in session. Information about Swain is presented, and administrators and current Swain parents are available to answer your questions.

We request that students or family members who need special accommodations please let us know in advance so that your visit will be as enjoyable as possible.

Application Process

When you have visited Swain and decided to apply, you have two options: you can apply online or print and complete the four-page application form and return it with the $65.00 application fee to the Admissions Office.

Please note that Fall 2010 applicants for Preschool must turn 3 by November 1, 2010, and applicants for Prekindergarten must turn 4 by November 1, 2010.

School Visit and Testing

Applicants are invited to visit Swain on a regular school day; Preschool and Prekindergarten applicants will visit for 1-1/2 hours, kindergarten for half a day, and students in grades 1-8 will experience a full day visit. Lunches and snacks will be provided.

During a separate visit, the applicant will meet with Swain's School Counselor, who will give them the appropriate tests for their age. The intent of the testing is diagnostic in nature; it is one of many tools we use to determine your child’s appropriateness for the Swain program. Applicants for grades 4-8 will also be given a Student Questionnaire to complete and return.

Preschool children will be assessed on their readiness to enter school. Motor, social, and verbal skills will also be evaluated.

Teacher Recommendations and School Records

Each visiting student will be assessed by a Swain faculty member. The Swain teacher in whose class the child visited will be asked to assess the applicant’s appropriateness for our school, and his or her potential for success.

Additionally, parents of children applying for Kindergarten – 5th grade will be asked to provide one completed Teacher Recommendation form from the child's current teacher; applicants for grades 6-8 are asked to provide two such recommendations. The Parent Authorization Form to request school records must also be completed for all students entering Kindergarten – 8th grade.

To facilitate the prompt compliance of requests for records and teacher recom-mendations, please provide the school and teachers with the necessary stamped, pre-addressed envelopes available through our Admissions Office.

Our primary goal at The Swain School is to evaluate the whole child, to include strengths and areas of needed improvement. To assist us, parents may be asked to provide copies of standardized testing, IQ tests, portfolios and/or transcripts.

Notification

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis; however, we encourage you to complete the application process so that new student acceptances can be announced the first week of April.

A file is ready for review when both the parent and student have completed their visits, and the Admission Office has received the application and fee, teacher recommendation(s), testing results and current school transcripts, as appropriate.

Upon Acceptance

After you have been notified of your acceptance, you will be asked to provide the following documents:

• Copy of your child’s birth certificate
• Proof of citizenship and/or visa
• Immunization records or waiver
• Custodial agreement (if parents are separated or divorced)

If you are interested in doing so, you will be paired with a current Swain family as part of our “Swain Ambassador” program. They will be available as a contact to help you with any questions you may have, invite you to school events, and generally assist you in your transition to our school.