Criteria

We strive to keep our classes small. Our Admissions Committee reviews each application holistically, taking into consideration a range of factors; no one item is the deciding component.

1. Academic Ability

   Applicants must be prepared for the rigor of Joy Academy classes and have demonstrated a history of academic achievement and desire for challenge. As English is the language of instruction, applicants must be fully fluent in written and spoken English. We look for this dedication to academic pursuits and intellectual curiosity by assessing:

   • Transcripts (last three years)
   • Rigor of current academic program
   • School type and available curriculum/rigor
   • Academic classes taken outside the student’s school
   • Teacher recommendations
   • Personal essays

2. Personal Qualities

   We select students who will become contributing members of the Joy community and who will engage in the life of the school and its extracurricular pursuits. We look for this level of engagement by assessing:

   • Personal essays
   • Current extracurricular involvement
   • Demonstrated engagement in student’s current school community
   • Teacher recommendations
   • Parent questionnaire

3. A good fit

   The Admissions Committee seeks students who demonstrate a clear understanding of the school’s teaching model and show independence, self-advocacy, strong time-management skills, and appropriate maturity. We assess this in:

   • Personal essays
   • Teacher recommendations
   • Parent questionnaire