Admissions FAQs

List of 12 frequently asked questions.

• Q: How old must my child be to apply to MCS?

  Children must be four by September 1, 2021 to be considered for the 4-5s program.
  Children must be five by September 1, 2021 to be considered for the 5-6s program.

• Q: What are your application and supplementary materials deadlines?

  Applications for 4-5s and 5-6s are due by November 15. 

  Family Financial Worksheets are due by December 1.
  
  

  Supplementary materials such as Confidential Reports (4-5s through 6-7s) and Teacher Recommendations (7-8s and up) are due no later than January 8.
  
  

  Applications for 6-7s and up are reviewed on a rolling basis but should be submitted as close to the deadline as possible so that we can act on them quickly once we determine availability in the grade of interest. (See: what is rolling admissions?)

   

• Q: Why choose a pre-k- 8 school?

  MCS intentionally designed a pre-k to eighth grade school because of the demonstrated benefits this model has for academic growth and challenge, and emotional well-being in children. Children have the chance to be leaders, while also being children for a little while longer before the transition to high school. The pre-k to 8th grade model also allows greater coordination and cooperation amongst teachers across grade levels and increases parent involvement. 

  
  

  Responsibilities grow as students advance through the Upper School (Fifth through Eighth Grade). Leadership examples include the 9-10s serving as Reading Buddies to children in the 6-7s; our 7th graders taking a Child Development class and observing the 4-5s; and 8th graders serving as Admissions Ambassadors on school tours. Our oldest students are empowered, enthusiastic role models for the entire student body.They best demonstrate what it means to value and encourage each other, developing rewarding relationships across age groups based on trust and mutual reliance. Our eighth-graders truly discover who they are as learners and what kind of academic environment would best serve them in high school. MCS eighth graders gain admission to highly selective high schools, view a list here. 

  
  

  The following articles highlight the benefits of this educational model. 
  NYU Study
  The Fordham Institute
  NPR Education

• Q: When will I know of the admission decision?

  As a member of the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY), we adhere to their notification deadlines. Please see our table below:
  

  Notification and Reply Dates 2021

  For applications with all elements completed by January 8th, 2021
  
  

  Grade Entering

  Notification Mailing

  Parent Reply Deadline

  2, 3, and 4 Year Olds

  Not before Thursday, February 25th

  Not later than noon on Thursday, March 4th

  Kindergarten

  Mail or email on Thursday, February 4th

  Not later than noon on Thursday, February 11th

  Grades 1-8

  Not before Tuesday, February 9th

  Not later than noon on Tuesday, March 2nd

  Early Legacy Optional Notification Dates

  Please note that schools cannot require parents to opt for the Early Notification program before November 30. School reports for Early Decision consideration must be completed by sending schools and submitted to receiving schools by December 1.
  
  

  Grade Entering

  Notification Mailing

  Parent Reply Deadline

  2, 3, and 4 Year Olds

  No before Tuesday, December 1st
  Not later than Tuesday, January 15th

  Not later than noon on Friday, January 22nd

  Kindergarten/Grade 1

  Not before Wednesday, December 9th
  Not later than Monday, January 11th

  Not later than noon on Friday, January 15th

• Q: Are there special considerations for admissions?

  Yes, sibling, legacy and staff applications are given special consideration but are not automatically accepted.

• Q: Does my child need to take a test as part of the admissions process?

  MCS does not require standardized testing as part of the admissions process.

• Q: How is each child's tuition/contracted fee calculated?

  The Family Financial Worksheet provides the basis for determining a family’s Contracted Fee. All families complete the FFW when applying to the school and annually thereafter. The Family Financial Commitment Plan is at the core of our commitment to economic diversity. It replaces set tuition, scholarships and financial aid with a contracted fee calculated for each family on a sliding scale in equitable proportion to the family’s financial resources.
  
  To determine one’s tuition, families submit a confidential Family Financial Worksheet (FFW) each year. Student fees are then set on a sliding scale.

• Q: What is tuition for the 2020-2021 school year?

  Child’s Grade (as of 9/01/2020)

  Maximum Tuition*

  4-5s to 9-10s

  $48,200

  Fifth to Eighth Grade

  $50,500

  
  
  *These figures apply to the 2020-2021 school year and are likely to increase in subsequent years.
  
  Included in the annual tuition are the following:

  • Books and classroom materials
  • Daily morning snack
  • Lunch Monday through Thursday
  • Field trip transportation and expenses
  • Access to laptops, iPads, SMART boards during the school day
  • Early drop-off coverage between 8:00 a.m.– 8:30 a.m.
  • Farm trips for children in the 7-8s through 8th grade. Trips include transportation, meals, lodging, and site-based learning.

• Q: Is there an afterschool program?

  Afterschool is available Monday through Thursday until 5:30 p.m. MCS offers extended-day coverage through a wealth of enrichment classes that change year to year. Past classes have included Mandarin, Lego Robotics, Yoga, Baking and African Drumming. There is also a daily playgroup for students in the 4- 5s and 5-6s.
  
  Emergency Afterschool is available to accommodate unexpected, last minute changes in families' schedules.
  
  Pricing for Afterschool is based on each class and the number of sessions it holds during the semester. All class costs are fixed and do not follow the sliding-scale model.

• Q: What high schools do MCS graduates attend?

  MCS eighth graders are accepted to highly selective public, independent and boarding schools. Below are schools to which MCS students have been accepted over the past two years. For a more extensive list, and to view colleges our graduates have attended, please see Life After MCS.

• Q: What is rolling admissions?

  MCS' main entry points are 4-5s (Pre-K) and 5-6s (K). Admissions for 6-7s (1st grade) through 8th grade depends on whether there is space in your grade of interest, which we determine after our current families submit their re-enrollment contracts in January. Once we have determined availability in those grades we can review applications accordingly. We nevertheless encourage families to apply by the admission deadline so that if we have openings available, we can complete the admissions process in time to notify families by the ISAAGNY dates in February, whenever possible. 

• Q: What is the MCS approach to homework?

  MCS uses homework to extend a child’s intellectual life outside of the school day and to help synthesize knowledge and build strong organizational and time-management skills.
  
  Starting in the 6-7s, children begin receiving homework assignments, generally on Wednesdays and due on the following Monday. Homework is gradually increased as the children get older. Upper School students (5th - 8th grades) tackle long-term assignments and complete an hour to an hour and a half of homework each night.