SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACEMENT

Academics

PREPARED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP

North Country School graduates are known by high school admissions officers for their work ethic, citizenship, and excellent academic preparation. Admissions officers visit NCS each spring and fall to meet our students and stay current with our placement team. When it is time for a family to find their child’s next school, we support students and their parents in all aspects of the application process, including determining a school list, completing applications, preparing for interviews, scheduling SSAT or TOEFL testing, and prioritizing offers of acceptance. Our goal is for every 9th-grade student to receive offers of enrollment from desirable schools that are appropriately competitive and will serve the student well.

SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACEMENT ADVISOR

Every ninth-grade student has a placement advisor who works with the student and family to clarify desirable characteristics for the next school. Together, placement advisors and families build a list of schools with the student. A member of the placement team is in charge of helping students complete the student portion of applications and guides families through deadlines for the various schools. In the fall, the students have dedicated time to complete essays and applications with a member of our placement team.

Click the link below to view the Secondary School Handbook.

SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACEMENT GUIDE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How will you help our student when school begins?

In the fall, the SSP Office will aid students with finalizing their essays and securing teacher recommendations. We also prepare students for campus visits through mock interviews, building an understanding of interview etiquette, and typical interview questions to expect.

Admissions representatives from secondary schools will also visit and chat with our ninth graders during the fall term.

We are the family of an international student. What about TOEFL?

Students for whom English is a second language often need to take the TOEFL as part of the secondary school process. Individual school policies vary regarding who must take the TOEFL and whether a minimum score is required for a successful application. TOEFL testing is offered in October and April. NCS does not offer the TOEFL iBT.

What else do we need to know about the SSAT?

Many independent secondary schools require applicants to submit SSAT scores. NCS offers opportunities for students to take the SSAT in April of eighth grade and again in October and December during ninth grade. Standardized testing is being required for more and more schools that were once test-optional, so it is a good idea to take advantage of as many testing opportunities as possible.

How do we schedule secondary school visits?

Fill out inquiry forms at schools you’re most interested in and contact their admissions offices to schedule interviews and visits. To minimize interruptions to the academic year, please schedule school visits during our “Senior Interview Week,” which is the week after Thanksgiving break. Tip: Do not schedule more than two interviews in one day!

What are we responsible for and what will NCS submit on our behalf?

Families are responsible for submitting final applications and supplementary materials, including student essays, graded writing samples, and entrance exam scores. NCS will upload the following to online application systems and/or send them directly to secondary schools. Please note that all recommendations are confidential.