FAQ
How old does my child have to be to apply to MPH?
MPH begins with a Pre-K program for children who are four years old by December 1. It is a full day program.
What is the cutoff for birthdays?
All students must be the appropriate age for their class by December 1 of the year they enroll.
What are the school hours?
All grades, including Pre-K, begin at 8:10 a.m. and finish at 3:05 p.m.
Do you have an after-school program or vacation coverage?
MPH offers before- and after-school care for all Lower School students and an after-school program for Middle School students. Lower School students may be dropped off in the dining hall as early as 7:40 a.m. There is no charge for before-school supervision. Fees for the after-school programs for Lower School children and After-Hours for Middle School students depend on use. MPH also offers Vacation Programs for students in Kindergarten through Grade 5, as well as six-weeks of summer camp and enrichment activities for children as young as four.
Do you offer open houses and tours?
We hold open houses in November and January. You may call the Admission Office at 315/446-2452 to schedule a tour at any time.
Do you have financial assistance available?
All families with students in Pre-K through Grade 12 may apply for need-based tuition grants. MPH awards over $1,000,000 in need-based grants annually.
Do you have merit scholarships available?
Every January, MPH offers the admission test to new students who will be entering Grades 6-12 the following year and would like to be considered for a merit scholarship. We award more than $700,000 in merit scholarships annually.
What is the difference between financial aid and scholarships?
Both financial aid and scholarships are awarded in the form of reduced tuition. Financial aid grants are need-based and must be applied for each year. All families with students in Pre-K through Grade 12 may apply for financial aid. Scholarships are merit-based and only students entering Grades 6-12 and not currently enrolled at MPH are eligible to apply. Student in good standing will continue to receive their scholarship each year until graduation.
How can working parents with a modest income afford MPH?
Using its available resources, MPH is committed to working with families of accepted students to find the financial means for their children to attend. More than 50% of all MPH students receive some form of financial assistance.
Will applying for financial aid hurt my child’s chances for admission?
No. Admission decisions are made first, and it is only after those decisions are made that financial aid requests are evaluated. However, due to the number of requests for financial assistance, we are not always able to provide aid to all qualified students.
What colleges do MPH graduates attend?
MPH students attend a wide variety of colleges and universities all over the United States and abroad. They attend small, elite liberal arts colleges, as well as Ivy League and large public universities. Our faculty and college counselors encourage our students to follow their passions in considering colleges.
Why should I choose an independent school?
Over and over again, the 400,000 families who send their children to the nation’s independent schools cite individual attention, small classes, teacher excellence, and high academic standards. The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) has a section on its website that is a valuable resource for parents seeking to understand the value and importance of an independent school education.
Why should I choose MPH?
The educational environment at MPH is characterized by an exceptional faculty, small classes, hand-on experiential learning, and extraordinary opportunities in independent study, the arts, athletics, extracurricular organizations, and community service. The curriculum is demanding and stimulating, and teachers have the flexibility to adapt their curriculum in response to students’ desires to explore certain material more deeply.
When is foreign language introduced?
World languages offered at MPH include French, Spanish, Latin, and Chinese. French and Spanish are offered beginning in Pre-K.
How much does it cost to apply?
Each application must be submitted with a non-refundable $50 application fee. However, the application fee is waived for students entering Grades 6-12 who take our scholarship test in January.
What do you look for in an applicant?
While there is no such thing as a typical MPH student, we are looking for students who will benefit from and be successful in our program. We want our students to be fully engaged in their learning and to contribute constructively to the life of the School. In addition, we are looking for families who will be positive members of our school community.
Does my child have to take an admission test to be accepted at MPH?
Testing is not required for Pre-K applicants. Kindergarten applicants will be evaluated during their morning visit in Pre-K. Applicants to Grades 1-5 will be evaluated during their school-day visit. Applicants to Grades 6-12 will be given an aptitude test by appointment through the Admission Office.
What are your application and testing deadlines?
There is no deadline for applying or testing, except in the case of merit scholarships. In order to be considered for a merit scholarship, the admission test must be taken by the third week of January. We encourage families to apply during the fall before the academic year in which they wish to enroll, but the School will continue to accept applications until a grade is fully enrolled.
When will we know if a student is accepted?
Families already enrolled at MPH must reenroll by mid-March. After that, we will offer any available spaces to candidates who have completed the application process and are eligible for admission.
What is the average class size?
The average class size is 13 students to one teacher. The student to faculty ratio is 8 to 1.
Where do MPH students live?
Our students come from at least 36 different Central New York school districts, some as far away as Oswego, Cortland, Oneida and Auburn.
Is there transportation to MPH?
Approximately 19 area school districts provide free busing to and from MPH for students who live within 15 miles of the School. MPH owns several vans that transport students on a space-available basis from Skaneateles, Oneida, Oswego, and Cortland.
