Questions
Answers
What kind of school is MKA?
MKA is a college preparatory, coeducational, independent day school. Our mission is to prepare our students successfully for both the academic demands of college and to be positive, contributing citizens. Over one thousand students are enrolled on three campuses, all within the town of Montclair.
Why are there three campuses? How does that affect the students?
MKA is the product of a merger of two schools, Montclair Academy and The Kimberley School. Our Primary School, often called Brookside, is the former primary division of MA; the Middle School is the former Kimberley School; and the Upper School is the former Montclair Academy.
These three divisions allow the faculty at each campus to create the appropriate environment that meets the needs of the different age groups: elementary, middle and secondary. It also means that each campus has its own facilities, such as libraries, gyms, and theaters to itself, so that the programs at each level are as comprehensive as possible.
What is MKA looking for in an applicant?
There is no "one type" of MKA student. The most important criteria are academic fit and character, and the Admissions Committee looks carefully for signs of these qualities in each applicant. However, MKA students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, family types, and cultures, and our community values such diversity.
How difficult is it to get into MKA?
MKA has selective admissions, and each year more applicants apply than we have room for. Entry years are better years to apply, as there are more spaces available; however, the applicant pools tend to be deeper for entry years, and with attrition, there are usually spaces available for every grade.
What is the application process?
The application process varies slightly from grade to grade to reflect the differing abilities of the applicants. The process is described in detail in the
admissions process section.
How do I get an application? Can I apply online?
There are three ways to apply: online; by downloading the application and mailing it in; or by contacting the Admissions Office and requesting an application. You can call us at 973-509-7930, and we will gladly help you!
To apply online, scroll back to the top of this page, and click on the top left-hand link, which says "Apply Online", and then follow the instructions.
Which grades are entry points? Are there any grades that are better or worse than others to apply?
While we have new students in each grade each year, with the exception of senior year, there are some grades that are natural entry points. These are: Pre-Kindergarten and grades 4, 6, 7 and 9. To a lesser extent, spaces are available in kindergarten and grades 1 and 5. In other grades, spaces become available only with attrition.
When is the application deadline?
Applications for grades PK-5 are reviewed in February. The first round
of applicants for grades 6-12 must have their applications submitted by January 14, 2009 and completed by January 30, 2009 for notification by March 6, 2009. Later applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
How old should my child be to apply to the early childhood years?
Our guidelines are that boys should be four years of age by June 1st of the year they enter pre-kindergarten, girls fours years old by August 1st. For kindergarten and first grade, the ages are five and six, respectively.
It is important to stress that these are guidelines, not cut-offs. Each child is evaluated based on his or her individual abilities and characteristics. However, social fit is an important element of school fit in these years, and an applicant's age is considered seriously.
When I try to log in to see my child's application status, the system says it can't find the username. How can I log in?
Make sure you are not logging in on the site's home page; that login is for MKA community members.
Applicants can log in inside the Admissions section. To get there from here, scroll to the top of this page and click on the left-hand link which says, "Applicant Login."
How important is the entrance exam?
MKA does not have cutoff scores below which applicants are not considered. Obviously, entrance exam scores are important, as they are the only means to compare applicants from different schools and curricula on a common instrument. However, the Admissions Committee considers an applicant's transcript and recommendations, as indicators of sustained work over time, to be equally important, if not more so.
What testing is done for the early childhood applicants? How can you get an accurate read on a child that young?
Early childhood applicants are not tested in the same way older applicants are. They meet individually with an early childhood specialist and work through activities to demonstrate their abilities and potential.
What if my early childhood applicant does not cooperate on the visit or screening?
MKA's teachers and admissions officers have years of experience working with young children. We are able to work effectively with virtually all our applicants. There are occasions where a child is not able to successfully visit or test. Often, a second opportunity is all that is required.
Are siblings of current MKA students or children of alumni automatically admitted?
MKA recognizes the importance of having all children in a family attend the same school and values the strong attachment our alumni have for their school. All applicants, regardless of connection, follow the same admissions process and are evaluated by the same standards.
When should I apply for financial aid?
Financial aid applications should be submitted at the same time as the admissions application. We will notify you of both the admissions and financial aid decisions at the same time. Please remember that new students in grades six and up are eligible. Unfortunately, MKA is not able to offer assistance below the sixth grade.
For more information about the financial aid process, and to download a copy of our publication, Affording MKA, see the section on
financial aid.
I see you want three teacher's recommendations for my child. What if he/she only has one teacher?
For applicants to grades 4 and up, MKA asks for three recommendations from your child's current teachers: English, math, and a third teacher of the family's choice.
For applicants to grades 4-6, often they have one classroom teacher who teaches both English and math. In those cases, only one recommendation need be submitted. Please make sure the teacher appropriately marks the recommendation so it is clear that both subjects are taught.
What do I need to know before my child visits MKA?
All applicants visit the school; applicants to grades 1 and above spend a full day with us. We will go over the details with you when the visit is scheduled; below are some reminders.
- submit the Visitor's Health Form if necessary
- visitors should be in dress code
- lunch is provided
- submit the Applicant Questionnaire in advance (grades 4+)
- Visit hours for applicants to:
PK-K: invidually scheduled
Grades 1-4: 8:15 - 2:30
Grades 5-8: 8:00 - 3:00
Grades 9-12: 8:00 - 3:00
Does MKA have any feeder schools?
No, we do not. Each year we enroll over 150 new students. Typically, these students come from over 100 area schools. Even at major entry points such as pre-kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades, a wide range of schools, both public and private, are represented.
I don't see my question here; how can I ask it?
If you don't see your question, email the Admissions Office at
admissions@montclairkimberley.org. We will post selected questions and
answers to this list.
