Admissions

Applying to GCS



The first step in your child's future

If you haven’t already, please fill out our online inquiry form or contact the Admission Office at 410-531-7347. Once we receive your inquiry, we will supply you with a username and password to the secure parent portal section of our website, so you can view community-wide news, photos, videos, and additional information pertinent to our students, families, and school.
Applicants for grades 5 through 11 may register for the ISEE here.

We'll guide you along the way

Ready to apply to Glenelg Country School? We’re happy to have your interest and the opportunity to educate and inspire your child. The various steps of our application process are designed to help insure that your child will transition successfully into our school.

The online checklist in your parent portal is updated once each action is completed:

List of 8 items.

  • Complete inquiry form

    We will email you login instructions to a secure parent portal within our website. Each parent or guardian noted on the inquiry form with an email address will receive these instructions and have access to your child’s admission page.

  • Discover more

    Although not required, families may wish to attend a Virtual Discovery Day and/or take a personal tour prior to submitting an application. For students applying to Grades 6-11, we invite you to schedule a Virtual Meet & Greet session this fall, beginning in October. Personal tours and Meet & Greet sessions can be arranged by contacting the Admission Office at 410-531-7347 or admission@glenelg.org.

  • Submit application (Priority Deadline: January 15)

    A link to your child’s application is located on your admission page, above the checklist. An application fee of $75 ($125 for international applicants) may be paid with a credit card when the application is ready to be submitted.  The application deadline for priority consideration for any available spaces in the following year is January 15 for priority consideration; rolling thereafter.

  • Schedule admission assessment/testing

    Assessing students during the admission process helps us determine how we can support your child's growth and development. Our programs are designed to meet your child where they are to help them excel academically and socially.

    Testing details are provided below under Student Assessment.

  • Request student records

    Please refer to your child’s checklist located in your parent portal for for the School Record Request form. Download, sign, and submit this form to your child's current school. The school is asked to email records directly to the admission office.
     

  • Request teacher recommendations

    Please refer to your child's checklist located in your parent portal for the specific recommendations requested. A requestis made directly from the checklist by providing the teacher or administrator's name and email. Recommendation forms are strictly confindential and are not shared with the parents.

  • Submit parent/student questionnaires

    Please refer to your child’s checklist located in your parent portal for all appropriate forms. These forms are specifically selected based upon the grade to which you are applying. Forms may be emailed, faxed, mailed or hand-delivered to the Admission Office.

  • Submit electronic signature agreement

    Please refer to your child’s checklist located in your parent portal to download and print the Electronic Signature Agreement (ESA). For enrollment purposes, this document needs to be submitted with both parent signatures in its original form. If only one parent has legal custody, that one parent’s signature is sufficient, along with copies of court documentation disclosing the custodial arrangement or a copy of the birth certificate showing only one parent name.  

Student Assessment

All potential students must complete an assessment for a Saturday assessment as described below:

List of 6 items.

  • Little Dragons Program (2 and 3 years of age)

    Applicants for the Little Dragons program are scheduled for a family interview to meet the Director or a teacher. Family interviews are typically held on selected Saturday mornings or during the week for spring and summer applicants.

    • January 9, 2021
    • January 23, 2021
    • January 30, 2021

  • Pre-Kindergarten

    Applicants for Pre-Kindergarten will be scheduled for a developmental assessment, the Speed DIAL assessment which takes approximately 15 minutes. These will be scheduled after an application is submitted. Saturday assessment dates are:
    • January 9, 2021
    • January 23, 2021
    • January 30, 2021

  • Kindergarten

    Applicants for Kindergarten will be scheduled for a developmental assessment, the DIAL-4, which takes approximately 45 minutes. These will be scheduled after an application is submitted. Saturday assessment dates are:
    • January 9, 2021
    • January 23, 2021
    • January 30, 2021

  • Grade 1

    Applicants for First Grade will be scheduled for a readiness assessment developed by our teachers with a focus on math and reading skills.  The testing will take about one hour. These will be scheduled after an application is submitted.  Saturday assessment dates are:
    • January 9, 2021
    • January 23, 2021
    • January 30, 2021

  • Grades 2-3

    Applicants for Second and Third Grades will be scheduled to take the Stanford Reading and Math assessments and the OLSAT (aptitude test), which take approximately two hours. These will be scheduled after an application is submitted.  Saturday assessment dates are:
    • January 9, 2021
    • January 23, 2021
    • January 30, 2021

  • Grades 4-11

    Applicants for Grade 4 are asked to take the online Stanford (please see below). Applicants for Grades 5 through 11 are asked to take one of the following tests, all designed to help determine academic readiness in the areas of reading comprehension, vocabulary, mathematics, and writing. Testing should be completed by February 1 if possible and may be scheduled any time beginning October 1.
    • Stanford 10 Online (Abbreviated Version). Accepted as admission testing this year by Glenelg Country School, the Stanford 10 Online is a nationally normed achievement test done online in your home. This is a two-day test, offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Although untimed, it typically takes 1.5 hours on each day any time between 9 am–5 pm. The cost for this test is $35.

      For more information and to register, please visit www.setontesting.com/product/stanford-10-online. Please be sure to select the Abbreviated Version, and the test level for the grade your child is currently in (NOT the grade you are applying for). Registration must be completed at least 3 weeks prior to the testing week desired.
    •  ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam). The ISEE is an admission test developed by the ERB (Educational Records Bureau). It has three levels: a Lower Level for candidates to Grades 5 and 6; a Middle Level for candidates to Grades 7 and 8; and an Upper Level for candidates to Grades 9 to 12.

      There are different formats available for ISEE test administration, including an “at-home” option. The cost ranges from $140-200. For more information, please visit www.erblearn.org/parents/isee-at-home or www.iseetest.org.
    • SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test). The SSAT is another standardized test. Candidates to Grades 6-8 take the Middle Level, and candidates to Grades 9-12 take the Upper Level. For more information, testing options, and registration, please visit www.ssat.org.
    • PSAT 8/9/10 (Preliminary SAT). Candidates to Grades 9-12 may submit PSAT results in lieu of admission testing.  
    NOTE:  Due to COVID-19 challenges, Glenelg Country School will not be offering on-campus assessments or admission testing at least through January 31, 2021.

Early Childhood Education Age Requirements

Please note that Glenelg Country School adheres to the September 1 birth date requirement for entrance into our Early Childhood Education programs, meaning that your child’s birth date must be on or before September 1 to enroll for the appropriate grade level.

The age requirements are as follows:
  • Students must be either 2 or 3 years of age to start the Little Dragons program
  • Students must be 4 years of age to start Pre-Kindergarten
  • Students must be 5 years of age to start Kindergarten
  • Students must be 6 years of age to start First Grade

Non-Discriminatory Policy

Glenelg Country School admits students of any race, color, nationality or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities accorded or made available at our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin in the administration of our education policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs, and the appointment of faculty and staff.
An independent school serving students from age 2 through grade 12 in Howard County, Maryland.

Glenelg Country School

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