JK-8 Admissions FAQs

List of 13 frequently asked questions.

• Are there any restrictions regarding tours and student interviews due to COVID?

  There are no restrictions at this time.

• May parents attend a tour before applying?

  Once your application has been submitted, you will be able to select a date for a school tour led by our Parent Ambassadors, which includes a talk with our Head of School, Robbie Pennoyer.

• Should my child attend a tour?

  Middle school applicants are welcome to attend tours led by current Grace middle schoolers.

• How can I see the high school?

  Middle School families will have the opportunity to tour the high school in January. See "Optional Items" in your application checklist.

• What happens if I am applying to a grade that is waitlisted?

  Please submit an application. No application fee is levied unless we can process your application fully. You will be able to schedule a tour of Grace Church School.

• What should I expect for my child’s interview?

  JK & K student interviews are conducted by our head teachers in one of our JK & K classrooms. They last approximately 50 minutes and are held in the middle of the day. Any adult is welcome to bring your child to their interview and may wait in our Parents Lounge. Parents do not need to be present for the child interview.
  
  Applicants for first grade are seen in-person for about 50 minutes.
  
  Lower School applicants, grades 2 through 4, will have an in-person interview with a member of the admissions team, and a short visit to the classroom.
  
  Middle School applicants, grades 5 through 8, will be interviewed via Zoom.

• How do I make appointments?

  Once your application has been submitted, you will be able to select a tour date which includes a talk with Head of School, Robbie Pennoyer. Then, if you are in an active application grade, call Simon Thomas-Train at (212) 475-5609 x105 and ask to arrange both a parent and a child interview. Please be sure you know the availability of both parents if you are a 2-parent household.

• What are the predictable entry grades at Grace?

  The predictable entry grades are JK, K, 5th, 6th and 9th grades though spaces in other grades are often available. Feel free to contact The Admissions Team with specific questions.

• Does Grace Church School maintain a wait pool after admission decisions have been made?

  Yes, we maintain a wait pool through the summer.

• Does Grace Church School offer financial aid?

  Yes! Please visit our Financial Aid page for more information.

• I didn’t apply for Financial Aid. Can I apply later?

  Yes. If there is a sudden change in circumstances, the FA office will welcome your FA application immediately. Otherwise, families have to wait for two years after matriculation and apply in the third year as the school expects parents to have thought through their financial situation carefully and it takes time for monies to be freed up for additional financial aid grants to be available to that grade.

• When must applications be complete?

  The deadline for the initial application is December 1. Applications submitted after December 1 may not be accepted until after the first round of decisions is rendered. All required application checklist items are due by January 11.

• Which grades wear uniforms?

  Students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8 wear uniforms. The GCS school uniform is designed to: 
  

  • Remove issues of clothing competition and commercialized fashion from the daily lives of our students which allows them to focus on the more important jobs of learning and growing.
  • Provide identity and a sense of membership in the community of the school through the consistent use of symbols such as the crest and colors.
  • Give all children in this economically diverse community full access to reasonably priced schoolwear.
  • Ensure that clothing worn at school is comfortable and appropriate for daily activities.

  High School students do not wear a standard uniform, but adhere to a dress code.