Frequently Asked Questions

Westminster is a busy place with lots of activity going on at all times of the day. Westminster is a large school with a small school experience. Classrooms in the younger grades maintain a 9:1 student to teacher ratio, while the older kids average 15 children per class. There’s always someone to talk to who has similar interests as your child, but there’s also always someone from whom your child can learn something different. While students in grades Pre-1st – 4 stay in the same classroom for math, language arts, and social studies, they do move about the building for science, computer education, library skills, art, music, discovery, exploration, and physical education. They may also move about for Bible Values and French or Spanish. The fast-paced program is structured so children can work in small groups with the guidance of the two certified teachers in every classroom. Students in grades 5 -12 change classes throughout the day, with increasing responsibility as they move to Junior High School and High School. Students in 5th grade move as a group to different teachers and classrooms for their core subjects, while students in grades 6 -12 carry individual schedules. Sports and the Arts are important here at Westminster. An after-school visit to Turner Gym or the Broyles Arts Center proves that our students are active and involved, as most Junior High and High School students routinely participate in some after-school activity. Over 75% of the students in grades 7 – 12 participate in after-school sports, many of whom are also talented musicians or artists.

While our curriculum sets high standards for our students, it is extremely important for our students to be involved in the life of the school. We know that it is through these experiences on the athletic fields, in the performance venues, and in competitive pursuit of excellence that friendships are created and the bonds are woven even tighter. If you want a school where your child can be challenged, but have fun; where he or she can learn to ask questions, and have teachers who respond with another question; where he or she can learn how a community works, and then have places to contribute and give back to that same community, then Westminster is for your family.

Westminster’s thorough preparation of students is a gift for your child that can never be taken away. Our graduates return repeatedly to share how well-prepared for the responsibility and autonomy that college demands, but also the responsibility and connectedness that a community demands. We teach them what they need to know: we teach them how to become independent learners, how to ask questions, how to think on their own. We want them to learn from their mistakes. We teach them to care for and about each other, whether they are interacting on campus or with the community or world.

The Westminster Schools, an inclusive educational and spiritual community, embraces and values the unique qualities and traits of each of its members. We recognize that an informed understanding of one’s own identity not only contributes to the development of a healthy, empowered young adult but also enhances the learning experience for each and every member of the community. Consequently, we celebrate our growing diversity through protection and exploration of individual difference articulated along a wide spectrum that includes, but certainly is not limited to race, class, gender, religion, and sexual orientation.

Minority students comprise 24.5% of the Westminster student body . A variety of campus organizations and initiatives helps to encourage and support cultural diversity and academic structures at Westminster. Click here for a comprehensive look at our Diversity programs.

Yes, Westminster has one of the best athletics programs in the state. Please check out our athletics programs for a comprehensive look at our successful Wildcat teams!

We offer over 28 Advanced Placement courses in the High School. We do not offer the IB program.

Westminster students do not wear a uniform but instead follow a dress code. The purpose of the dress code is to instill in a students a sense of pride in appearance - and that does not mean wearing the most expensive or newest fashions.

Westminster relies heavily on parental support and is organized through the Parents Association of The Westminster Schools (PAWS). In the Elementary School parents participate in classroom-oriented events, such as parties or field days, as well as school-wide occassions, such as the yearly Halloween Parade or Christmas Pageant. In the Junior High School and High School, parental support is typically centered around social, sporting, community service, and arts events.

Westminster is a non-denominational school that serves students of many different faiths and cultures.

The Elementary School admissions office is in Love Hall. The main admissions office is located in Pressly Hall, on the first level, across from the President’s Office. If you plan to stop by our office, please always call us first at 404-609-6202, as we may already have meetings scheduled.

The birthday range for 2012-13 applicants to Pre-1st is June 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007.

If you're applying to grades Pre-first through 5th Grade, our Elementary School, here are some tips that we hope will help you in terms knowing at what point in time to handle each aspect. Some parts of our application need to be addressed quickly, while other components are those that you should wait for a certain time frame before completing. Immediate Steps:

1. The first step to take is to initiate your child's application online. You'll fill out the "Online Application" here on our site with your family information and pay the application fee. Once you hit submit, we have your child's application. All other items mentioned in this guide are part of the Supplemental Materials packet on the same web site as the Online Application.
2. Parents of applicants to grades Pre-first – 5th should fill out and send in the page Application Part II immediately. Don’t forget to tape or glue a photograph of your child in the area provided – no large photographs or use of paper clips, please.
3. Grades Pre-first – 5: print out the JATP brochure (in the Supplemental Materials Packet) and follow the instructions to schedule your child’s testing. The deadline for Westminster to receive the results of this test is February 18; however, the panel of psychologists aiding the applicants by administering the test fill up, so it will aid you best to schedule your appointment immediately.

1. Observations are assigned on a first come-first served basis. Earlier applicants will receive earlier dates. Please honor the date we assign to your child as we are arranging a large group of teachers and volunteers to be atWestminster for your child’s observation or interview. If the date we assign to you does not work, call us immediately. We can certainly work with you if conflicts arise.
2. School input on your child’s application - January 1-30, 2011: We want to hear from your school only after your child has completed the entire first semester.

• Aid the timeliness of your child’s application and the work load of your school’s front office by giving your child’s school between January 1-30 to complete the recommendation forms, print out transcripts and provide additional materials you’ve requested.
• Be considerate to your school’s budget by providing stamped envelopes to your school that are addressed to:
  The Admissions Office, The Westminster Schools
  1424 West Paces Ferry Road,
  Atlanta, GA 30327
  
• All your child’s materials may be mailed in one large envelope, too – there is no need to send each piece separately. Be sure to ask your school to make copies of the recommendation forms before they send it on to: Westminster so that in the unfortunate circumstance your child’s materials do not make it to our office, your school will be able to provide a copy.
• We do not need an original copy of recommendations; if you are applying to more than one AAAIS school, please ask the school to keep the original copy in your child’s file and to send a copy to Westminster, etc.

If you're applying to grades 6-8, our Junior High School, or grades 9-12, our High School, here are some tips that we hope will help you in terms knowing at what point in time to handle each aspect. Some parts of our application need to be addressed quickly, while other components are those that you should wait for a certain time frame before completing. Immediate Steps:

1. The first step to take is to initiate your child's application online. You'll fill out the "Online Application" here on our site (under How to Apply) with your family information and pay the application fee. Once you hit submit, we have your child's application. All other items mentioned in this guide are part of the Supplemental Materials packet on the same web site as the Online Application.
2. Students Applying to grades 6 to 12 should fill out the Student Questionnaire in pencil. The Student Questionnaire should be sent to our office no more than 2 weeks before his or her scheduled interview. Don’t forget to tape or glue a photograph of your child in the area provided – no large photographs or use of paper clips, please.
3. Grades 6-10, visit ssat.org online to schedule the SSAT exam for your child in December or January. Testing at these points in time increases the probability that your child has covered the material in school; testing in November or February should only be in the case of practice and make up examination. Waiting until February 2011 to take the SSAT will increase the chance that your child will have had limited exposure to the exam and is a likely time of year for children to be sick. Grades 11-12 should provide the 2010 PSAT Scores from your current school's transcript.
4. If your child is interested in shadowing, he or she may do so only after his or her application has been initiated. Information about signing up for shadowing is available in the Supplemental Materials packet of the Online Application, on the page Instructions.

1. Interview Dates are assigned on a first come-first served basis. Earlier applicants will receive earlier dates. Please honor the date we assign to your child as we are arranging a large group of teachers and volunteers to be at Westminster for your child’s observation or interview. If the date we assign to you does not work, call us immediately. We can certainly work with you if conflicts arise.
2. School input on your child’s application - January 1-30, 2011: We want to hear from your school only after your child has completed the entire first semester.

• Aid the timeliness of your child’s application and the work load of your school’s front office by giving your child’s school between January 1-30 to complete the recommendation forms, print out transcripts and provide additional materials you’ve requested.
• Be considerate to your school’s budget by providing stamped envelopes to your school that are addressed to: The Admissions Office, The Westminster Schools, 1424 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta GA 30327
• All your child’s materials may be mailed in one large envelope, too – there is no need to send each piece separately. Be sure to ask your school to make copies of the recommendation forms before they send it on to Westminster so that in the unfortunate circumstance your child’s materials do not make it to our office, your school will be able to provide a copy.
• We do not need an original copy of recommendations; if you are applying to more than one AAAIS school, please ask the school to keep the original copy in your child’s file and to send a copy to Westminster, etc.

The Westminster Admissions Committee attempts to enroll well-rounded students who are intelligent and ambitious, and who seek the strong academic and character foundation necessary for college and a life of service and achievement.

Westminster’s student body is a diverse community of people – many of whom are talented in one area, but who may have to work a little harder in another area. Applicants who are accepted tend to be bright students in their respective schools. There is no specific test score minimum.

Provided that you, the parent, asked SSAT to send your child's scores to Westminster, the test results are available to Westminster within two weeks of the test date.

We strongly encourage that your child take the exam in December or January. In the past, SSAT has sent the February test scores to Westminster in time for the deadline, provided the parent of the applicant requested that the scores be sent from SSAT to Westminster.

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No, it is not a requirement. You are welcome to schedule a visit, particularly if you have specific questions.

We appreciate and respect the difficulties you face as you move to our area. However, each student who applies is given equal consideration by the Admissions Committee. We are happy to help out-of-town families with observation or interview scheduling.

The admissions process is designed to give the Admissions Committee the best overall picture of your child. The best thing you can do for your child is to follow the process, have forms submitted in a timely fashion, etc. If you need additional guidance, you are welcome to schedule a meeting with Marjorie Mitchell, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, or Sandy Cooter, Associate Director of Admissions (Elementary School).

All students must qualify for admission based on our standards, and all applications are taken to the Admissions Committee for a decision. Once the committee reviews the applicant pool, they do attempt to offer spaces to siblings of current students and the children of alumni first in an effort to keep families together. In Pre-first or an expansion year, such as 6th grade, there are plenty of openings for applicants.

Absolutely! We offer Parent Information Sessions from October to January of each year. These sessions are for parents only and take place during the school day. Please see the available tours under the Take A Tour section.

With the exception of JATP results - which are due by February 19, 2010 - all admissions application materials should be mailed to our office by the due date of February 1, 2010. We may schedule your child's observation or interview after this date, but that does not conflict with our materials deadline. Files that are incomplete will not be viewed by the Admissions Committee until after April and will be considered Late Applications. At that point in time, upon review of a complete file, the best initial decision Westminster can offer an applicant is a waiting list position.

Absolutely. Please tell your school to fax application materials to 404-367-7894. It comes directly to the Admissions Office in Pressly Hall, and will be routed to the proper division to be placed in the child’s file. You or your school may verify receipt of the fax by calling 404-609-6202.

It is a common scenario that rising 6th grade applicants often have one classroom teacher who teaches both English and math. To satisfy the application requirement for two teacher recommendation forms, please have 1) your child's current teacher as well as 2) a former classroom teacher fill out the recommendation forms. The current teacher must teach your child English and math, and the former must have taught your child English and math.

No. We are unable to accommodate new students once a school year begins. Even though current students’ families may move away, we will not bring new students into the school until the following school year.

It is important that your child be comfortable, so please have your child wear what he or she would normally wear to school.

We encourage you to tell your child that they are coming to Westminster to spend some time in one of our classrooms. We’re going to have a little fun, and do some schoolwork. They should be ready to meet some new friends, but be sure to listen carefully and do their very best. Please don’t overstress this as you don’t want to make them nervous, but they do need to be told to listen and try to follow the instructions.

Tell your child that the interviewers want to know about him or her, so prepare to talk about interests that she or he has.

Interviews for both Junior High and High School applicants take place in the Junior High School. Parents and applicants meet in the George Woodruff Library, which is to the right of the Junior High School entrance.

Because we may have more qualified applicants than we have available spaces, some very qualified applicants may be placed on a waiting list. The waiting list is not ranked, rather if spaces become available, the Admissions Committee will meet and decide to whom to offer those spaces.The waiting list expires on the first day of school, thus beginning the new admissions season. If at any time you would like to be removed from the waiting list, please contact us. Otherwise, we will leave your child's name on the waiting list until the waiting list expires.

Admissions decisions are made based on a student’s application for a specific year; so depending on why a student was not accepted, his or her chances might be much higher in a subsequent year. For example, a student may not have been offered a space for 5th grade when we take only 10 new students, but might have a much better chance for 6th grade, where we take 65-70 new students.