The Barrie School

Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the grade levels at The Barrie School?

The Lower School is for children age 2 - Grade 5; Middle School, Grades 6-8; and the Upper School, Grades 9-12.

Do you have a half-day program?

There are a limited number of half-day opportunities for 2 and 3-year olds; children attend class five days a week from 9:00 am - 12:30 pm. Most 3-year old half-day positions are filled by returning students.

Must my child be toilet-trained?

Our 2-year-old classroom can accommodate a child not yet toilet trained. Students age three and older must be fully toilet trained to attend school.

What are the school's hours?

School Hours:
Lower School Age 2 – Grade 3: 9:00 * - 3:10 with option of Extended Day in morning and afternoon

Lower School Grades 4-5: 8:30 ** - 3:20 with option of Extended Day in morning and afternoon

Middle School: 8:10 - 3:20 with option of Extended Day in afternoon
Upper School: 8:10 - 3:25
* Children begin to enter the classroom at 8:30 am
** Children may begin to enter the classroom at 8:10 am

Do you have before or after-school care?

Our Extended Day/Supervision Program begins at 7:00 each morning until classes start and resumes after school until 6 pm for students in Lower and Middle School. There is an additional charge for this service. Please see Extended Day Program for details.

What kind of curriculum do you have?

The Lower School is a Montessori program fully accredited by the American Montessori Society. The curriculum also features specialist classes that include Spanish, art, music, physical education and library.

The Middle and Upper Schools offer college preparatory, experiential education programs designed to transition from the Lower School. Graduation requirements meet or exceed those for colleges and universities. Barrie offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses. A Collegiate Development counselor works with students in their college preparation and application process.

May I visit the school prior to applying?

Admission tours are scheduled events for parents only, for applicants below Grade 5. Applicants applying to Grade 5 through 12, are encouraged to attend the admission tour. These tours include an overview of the unique Barrie School program, a campus tour, and an opportunity to meet with an admission staff member to answer all your questions. Contact our Office of Admission to schedule a tour and obtain information on our Open House.

Is there an admission test?

Applicants to Primary 3 - Grade 5 must fulfill the appropriate testing requirements. Please be sure to register for an exam in a timely fashion. The required tests are listed below and are broken down by Grade for your convenience:

Grade:	Required Test:
Primary 2 (2/3 class)	No Test Required
Primary 3 (3 years of age)	WPPSI-III
Primary 4 (4 years of age)	WPPSI-III
Primary 5 (5 years of age/Kindergarten)	WPPSI-III
Grade 1	WISC-IV
Grades 2-5	WISC-IV

The WPPSI and WISC-IV must be administered by a registered psychologist, and the results sent directly to the Office of Admission from the testing centers. In addition, an informal in-class evaluation is required of all these applicants.

Applicants for Grades 6-12 are required to submit testing results of the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) or the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). SSAT and ISEE schedule national test dates beginning in October and continuing through June. Applicants register with SSAT and ISEE and pay a fee to them for administration of the test and reporting of results. Results are sent directly to the Office of Admission. The Barrie School’s school code for receipt of SSAT scores is 1495, and for ISEE the code is 210957. For applicants who cannot attend the nationally scheduled tests, local area educational consultants also administer SSAT and ISEE. Applicants for Grades 6-12 will also have an interview/evaluation at the Barrie School. A Barrie Student Ambassador will host the applicant for this half-day visit. During the visit, the applicant will join the rising grade-level class, interact with current students, and participate in an interview with a member of the Admission Committee.

How many students are in a classroom?

The 2-year-old class has 18 students, with two full-time credentialed Montessori teachers and one teacher assistant. The other Lower School classes range from 20-25 students, in spacious Montessori classrooms, with two full-time credentialed Montessori teachers. The Middle and Upper School classes have an average size of 15 students.

How many openings do you have?

This varies from year to year. In addition to openings anticipated during the admission season, currently enrolled students and accepted applicants sometimes change plans and an opening may occur.

What is the application deadline?

The deadline is January 18, 2008 for first round consideration. After this date, applications are accepted as long as space is available and the applicant is a good match with The Barrie School. The Office of Admission begins accepting applications in the fall of the current year for the following academic year. Since the application process includes a student visit, families are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Does The Barrie School have bus service?

The Barrie School’s bus fleet provides transportation services for an additional fee. For more information please click on the transportation link, or contact Tammie Conway, Transportation Manager, at 301.576.2870 or 240.876.6364.

What percentage of graduates go to college?

Approximately 95% of The Barrie School’s graduates go directly to colleges and universities after graduation.

Are uniforms required?

The Barrie School does not require uniforms; we do expect students to adhere to the dress code guidelines determined by each division.

Does The Barrie School accept international students?

Yes. Accepted students may enroll and obtain an I-20 form. The Barrie School is not a boarding school and does not offer an English as a Second Language program. The Barrie School requires appropriate scores on the Secondary Level English Proficiency Test (SLEP) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the SSAT. Interviews can be conducted by telephone for international applicants.

Does The Barrie School have a cafeteria or food service?

The Barrie School does not have a cafeteria. Students bring their own lunches to school, and milk is provided through 5th grade. A student-run school store offers snack items for Middle and Upper School students.

Is the school affiliated with a certain religion or group?

No. The Barrie School is an independent school accredited by the State of Maryland as well as other regional and educational organizations. Also see: Affiliations and Accreditation.

Does The Barrie School offer financial aid?

A limited pool of financial aid is available for students Pre-K through Grade 12. This aid is awarded based on need, which is determined from forms submitted and processed by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (Barrie code: 1497). Barrie does not have scholarships at this time. For more information, visit the Financial Aid page.

Does The Barrie School offer early morning drop-off or late afternoon pick-up options for students and families?

Yes, The Barrie School offers an Extended Day Program:

Mornings: 7:00-8:30 AM Afternoons: 3:30-6:00 PM
Program Director: Peter Vogdes; 301.576.2815
Staff: Combination of college-age adults and Barrie teachers

All Lower and Middle School students must be enrolled in the Extended Day Program if they will be on campus before and after regular school hours, even if only for a short period of time.

Primary students are offered private classrooms for regular classroom activities and a variety of fun, after-school cooperative games and activities. Lower and Middle School students typically study or do their homework, play games and have social time both indoors and outside with other students, or participate in fee-based activities such as riding, karate, or soccer.

Associated fees for special arrangements, as well as late pick-up charges, are provided with the annual contract during re-enrollment for returning students and with the enrollment contract for new students. Enrollment in Extended Day is for one academic year; students must be enrolled by July 1 of the current year. Most groups have room for additional students until this date but space is limited and not guaranteed. A 10% discount is given for each child in extended care when more than one child from the family is enrolled. Special Morning Exception: Many families have students in both Lower School and Middle or Upper School. To accommodate the different school start times, younger siblings may join one of our groups at 8:00 AM. Arrangements must be confirmed with Program Director Peter Vogdes.

Professional Day Programs: The Barrie School offers a program from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM for Lower School students (not available for 2/3 Class) only when classes are not in session due to professional work days. Enrollment is limited and an additional fee is required. Programs are not offered when school is closed for a national holiday, religious observance, or inclement weather.

What organizations is The Barrie School affiliated with and/or accredited by?

The Barrie School is accredited by the American Montessori Society and Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges. The Barrie School is a member of National Association of Independent Schools, Association of Independent Maryland Schools, Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, The College Board, Secondary School Admission Test Board, Educational Records Bureau, National Association for College Admission Counseling, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, Potomac Valley Athletic Conference, Maryland Independent Schools Athletic League, and Capital Area Lacrosse League.

The Barrie School campus is also home to the award-winning Barrie Camp, a summer program, and the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, an internationally recognized, graduate-level Montessori teacher education program.