Q. What is an independent school and what are the advantages?
A. Independent schools are board driven and guided by the mission statement and school philosophy. They are supported by tuition, fundraising and charitable donations. Advantages of an independent school include individualized attention, innovative curriculum, and a supportive environment. Students often do better in a learning environment that can foster their intrinsic motivation.
Q. WHAT IS THE STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO AT SPRING HILL SCHOOL?
A. We like to keep our class sizes to no more than twelve students. The student ratio typically does not exceed 1:12 and with Teaching Assistants and Enrichment Teachers can be as low as 1:6 during certain parts of the day.
Q. DO YOU REQUIRE ENTRANCE TESTING?
A. Each applicant will meet with a teacher one-on-one to assess grade level readiness. We do not administer official testing. This information is combined with application and teacher recommendation information submitted. If a student is transferring from another school, their most recent report cards may also be requested.
Q. WHAT IS SPRING HILL SCHOOL’S ENROLLMENT AND HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE THERE IN EACH GRADE?
A. Spring Hill School’s enrollment varies, but maxes out at about 85. The ideal class size for our approach is about 12.
Q. HOW CAN I VISIT SPRING HILL SCHOOL?
A. Contact us by calling (831) 427-2641 or emailing admissions@springhillschool.org to schedule a tour. We provide individual tours for each family.
Q. IF WE ASK FOR A LOWER TUITION, WILL THAT IMPACT THE ADMISSION DECISION?
A. Absolutely not. The admissions decision is completely separate and we do not ask a family to sign their enrollment agreement until they know what the tuition will be.
Q. WHAT ABOUT HOMEWORK?
A. Positive homework policy: A common guideline in education is for homework to take up 10 minutes a night per grade level. For example, in First Grade, all homework should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. Research is varied on this subject, and there is very little specific to elementary school.
Spring Hill homework consists of regular reading time, developing the habit of remembering to take something home and bringing it back to school, as well as meaningful homework that complements what is happening in class.
Homework should not create household stress and conflict. If this happens, our teachers want to know so they can help and make adjustments.
Q. DO YOU REQUIRE PARENT SERVICE HOURS AND IF SO, HOW MANY?
A. We request an average of ten hours a year per parent/guardian. (This can mean 20 hours per household, or 10 hours per household).
Q. DOES YOUR SCHOOL REQUIRE UNIFORMS?
A. No.
Q. DOES SPRING HILL SCHOOL HAVE AN RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION?
A. No. Spring Hill School is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with no religious affiliation. We have leased our facility from the United Methodist Church since 1977, but we are completely independent. We welcome students of all faiths and we are sensitive to all religions, cultures, customs and holidays.