Admission

FAQ

General Questions

List of 13 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. What are the school hours?

    For the 2021-22 school year, the academic day has staggered arrival and dismissal times by grade level and division. For Lower School the day begins between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. and ends between 2:50 and 3:10 p.m. Middle and Upper School hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., though students are expected to arrive by 7:50 a.m.

  • Q. What is your average class size and student-to-faculty ratio?

    Our average class size is 14.  Our student-to-faculty ratio is 6:1.

  • Q. Do you have Extended-Day Programs?

    We are offering a modified version of our after-school program during the 2021-22 school year. 

    During a typical year, aftercare is available until 6:00 p.m. with options ranging from childcare, to homework help, and specialty classes.

  • Q. Does K-F accept International applicants?

    Yes, we do!  International students are valuable members of our community.  Students needing an I-20 to secure an F-1 student visa will be designated as international students.  For more information, please visit our international student page.

  • Q. Can interested families visit the school? (Open House, private tour)

    While we know there is no substitute for a campus visit, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors to campus are limited. We will offer one on-campus Open House for prospective applicants to Lower School and another for those applying to Middle and Upper School in addition to virtual Information Sessions and Office Hours. Go to Visiting Kew-Forest for dates and to register. Individual appointments for family-specific questions can also be scheduled by contacting admission@kewforest.org.

  • Q. What are the main entry points at K-F? Do you accept applications for all grades?

    We accept applications for all grade levels.  Our primary entry points are Preschool, Kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade.

  • Q. Do you admit students in the middle of the year?

    We will consider mid-year* applications if there is space available in the grade. Please contact the Office of Admission before submitting an application.

    *A mid-year start is considered any entry date after the official first day of school.

  • Q. If I miss the priority-round deadline of December 15, can I still apply?

    Yes, we accept applications on a rolling basis through the spring and summer months.  We will issue an admission decision on completed files if a space is available. Families must understand there is no guarantee of a space being available and they may be placed in the waiting pool.

  • Q. If we do not receive an offer of admission, can we be placed in a waiting pool?

    Each year the number of qualified applicants exceeds our available spaces.  The Admission Committee will offer selected students a spot in the waiting pool if they are deemed admissible but there are no spaces available.  Parents must either accept or decline being placed in the pool. The pool is not ranked and there is no way to predict a candidate's chances of being called from the pool.  In the event a space becomes available, we will consider all active candidates for the grade and the class composition when deciding who to admit.

  • Q. Is your school affiliated with a church or other religious organization?

    No, Kew-Forest is an independent school and not affiliated with any religious organizations. Students and families of all faiths are welcome to apply.

  • Q. Does your school require students to wear uniforms?

    Yes, we require all students to wear a uniform during the academic day. There is a separate physical education (PE) uniform. During the pandemic, uniform requirements have been relaxed.

  • Q. Does your school offer bus service?

    No, Kew-Forest no longer offers bus transportation. It has been suspended indefinitely as a result of the pandemic. The school is conveniently located near train and bus lines, and is easily accessible by car for drop-off and pick-up.

  • Q. Does your school offer lunch service?

    Yes, the cost of lunch and snacks is included in tuition.  Lunch is a time for our community to come together, so we want to be sure everyone can participate in the same way.  Lunch is prepared on site and provides students with many nutritious and varied options.

Financial Questions

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. What is your tuition?

    To see our current tuition (2021-22 school year) and information about tuition assistance, please visit our Affording Kew-Forest page. The Board of Trustees usually sets tuition for the following academic year in January. There is usually a slight percentage increase each year.

  • Q. Are there other costs or fees?

    We aim to have our tuition be comprehensive, so that families are not surprised by fees after enrolling.  Aside from academic year instruction and extracurricular activities, tuition covers the cost of snacks and lunch during the school days, books, field trips, and the K-F Parent Association fee.  Typically, the only other significant cost families will incur will be for uniforms. There are also additional costs associated with payment plans, tuition refund insurance, and after care.

  • Q. Do you offer different payment plans?

    Yes, we offer three standard plans: (A) Full payment by June 15th; (B) Sixty percent payment June 15th, forty percent balance due November 15th; and (C) Eight monthly payments, beginning June 15th.  For options B and C, there is a $150 administrative fee.

  • Q. How do I apply for Tuition Assistance (TA)? What factors are considered in determining the amount of assistance?

    The TA review process is holistic, considering many elements of a family’s financial circumstances, in calculating what we believe each family can reasonably afford to contribute toward tuition. Family size, income, assets, and cost of living, are among some of the factors that are used to determine a family's level of discretionary or disposable income available for tuition. Please visit the Affording Kew-Forest page, where you can learn more about our Tuition Assistance program and submit your application.  

Lower School Questions

List of 1 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. What is the age cutoff for entrance to each of your grades?

    Students applying to our Preschool class must turn three by September 1 of the year of entry.  For all other grades, a student's chronological age is considered along with social/emotional development, school experience, and the student's current grade. For example, a student currently in 5th grade with a November birthday (missing the September 1 cut-off) would be considered a viable applicant to sixth grade. Final grade placement is at the school's discretion.

Middle/Upper School Questions

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. What are the standardized testing requirements for admission? (e.g. ISEE, SSAT, TOEFL)

    We recommend that Upper School applicants take either the ISEE or SSAT.  They are not required, but are helpful in the admission and course placement process.  We do not require the TOEFL for international applicants, though it also helps in course placement, in the event that the student enrolls with us.

  • Q. To which colleges and universities have your graduates matriculated in the last three years?

    Adelphi University
    Amherst College
    Baylor University
    Baruch College
    Binghamton University
    Boston College
    Boston University
    Bucknell University
    Buffalo University
    City College of New York
    Colgate University
    Connecticut College
    Drexel University
    Emory University
    Fairleigh Dickinson University
    Fordham University
    Hofstra University
    Hunter College
    Ithaca College
    Johns Hopkins University
    Lehigh University
    Loyola Marymount University
    Marymount Manhattan College
    Maryland Institute College of Art
    New York University
    Northeastern University
    Pennsylvania State University
    Purchase College
    Rutgers University
    School of the Art Institute of Chicago
    Skidmore College
    St. John's University
    Stevens Institute of Technology
    Stony Brook University
    Swarthmore College
    Temple University
    Trinity College
    University at Albany
    University of California – Santa Barbara
    University of California – Davis
    University of California – Irvine
    University of Connecticut
    University of Illinois at Champagne
    University of Massachusetts at Boston
    University of New Hampshire
    University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
    University of San Francisco
    University of Vermont
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Wheaton College

  • Q. What AP courses are offered?

    Typically we offer: 2-D Art and Design, 3-D Art and Design, Biology, Calculus BC, Computer Science Principles, Drawing, English Literature and Composition, Physics 2, Spanish Language and Culture, U.S. Government and Politics, U.S. History, and World History. On-campus courses may vary year-to-year. Additional options are available online through the One Schoolhouse consortium.

  • Q. What clubs and sports do you offer?

    All clubs are student initiated and vary from year to year. Students may apply to start a new club if they have an interest in an area not already covered. 

    Current clubs open to both Middle and Upper School students: American Math Competition, Fall Film Festival, Forensics, Games & Strategy, LGBTQIA+ Awareness, Psychology, and Story Club.

    Clubs open only to Upper School students: The Blotter (yearbook class), Cultural Diversity Club, Kaleidoscope (social justice, diversity, inclusion), K-F Thinkers Magazine, Science Research, Mock Trial, Model UN.
     
    For sports, we offer: soccer, volleyball, cross-country, track, tennis, table-tennis, basketball, archery, badminton, and fencing.

The Kew-Forest School

119-17 Union Turnpike
Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 268-4667
The oldest independent school in the borough of Queens, The Kew-Forest School is an independent co-educational, college preparatory school for students in Preschool through Grade 12.