Do I need to attend an Open House before submitting an application for my child?
Tour appointments or attending an Open House are not mandatory prior to submitting an application. However, we strongly encourage you to learn about our program to ensure that it will be a good match for your child.
Will you accept children younger than 3 years of age into the Early Childhood Program?
Children entering our Early Childhood Program must be at least 3 years old and toilet trained. We operate on a rolling admission cycle for Early Childhood so that children may enter our program throughout the year when they turn 3.
Do children in your Early Childhood Program get priority entrance into your kindergarten classes?
Yes, current Early Childhood students receive an invitation to tour the Kindergarten classes and learn about the curriculum beginning in the fall. We then offer Early Childhood families the option of enrolling in our Elementary School prior to the March admission notification date for outside applicants.
Do you have a kindergarten age cut-off?
In general we believe that children entering a kindergarten class are best suited if they are at least 4 years and 11 months old or older. We recognize that there may be exceptions. We will assess children with late fall birthdays and offer them a space in a kindergarten class if they are ready or a space in our Early Childhood Program if we feel they need more time in that environment.
What is your average class size?
We are licensed for 12 students in each of our Early Childhood classes. Our kindergarten and grade 1 classes will have a maximum of 16 students. Classes in grades 2–8 will have a maximum of 18 students.
Do you admit students with diagnosed learning disabilities?
Approximately 10% of our students have a diagnosed learning difference. Learning differences are one component of a diverse student body. We request that students of parents with learning disabilities speak with the Admission Office about the needs of their child to determine if Beacon would be a good fit. We are aware of what types of needs we can and cannot accommodate. We look forward to having this conversation privately with you about your child.
How do you teach to gifted students?
Beacon Day School is ideal for a range of different kinds of learners because we tailor our curriculum to the needs of each student. We are able to allow students to work at their best pace in the subject areas of reading, writing and math. Students can quickly advance to the next challenge once they have mastered any given skill, making our method ideal for gifted students.
Do you have a sibling policy?
Yes, we offer siblings priority consideration in the admission process. We usually suggest that sibling applications be submitted early in the cycle. We make sibling decisions in January. A sibling discount is available and is determined by the board of directors each year.
Do you administer standardized testing?
Yes, Beacon students in grades 4 through 8 take a yearly standardized test of basic skills known as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). We give this exam once yearly. Our main reason for giving the exam is to benchmark our students nationally. The test scores are also needed for the 8th graders in their application to high schools.
Where do Beacon students go to high school?
We do not feed a particular high school or type of high school. Our students are accepted to and attend a wide range of schools once they graduate from Beacon.
See a list of high school and college acceptances. We offer a strong support process for students and their parents as they prepare for applying to high school, including an alumni panel, a high school test prep class, parent meetings, mock interviews and practice writing essay questions for applications.