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| Frequently Asked Questions | We have attempted to address many of the questions that arise during the admissions process. To gain a better insight into our curriculum, philosophy, the atmosphere at the School, and the admissions process, please read the following information carefully. We hope you will also take the opportunity to visit the School. |
| Q. | Why attend an independent school? | | A. | The reasons cited over and over again by the 400,000 families who send their children to independent schools include individual attention, small classes, teacher excellence, and high academic standards. But the main motive for families looking into independent schools can be summarized in one word - quality. They want, quite simply, the best for their sons and daughters. Larger percentages of students in independent schools are enrolled in advanced courses than in public, parochial, or other private schools. Independent school enrollments are increasing at double the rate of all other schools in this country. Independent school students:
- Do twice as much homework as their counterparts.
- Watch only two-thirds as much television.
- Are significantly more likely to participate in varsity or intramural sports.
- Are more likely to agree that students and teachers get along well, discipline is fair, and teaching is good.
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| Q. | What type of accreditation/affiliations does Cape Henry have? | | A. | The school is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools and is recognized as an accredited school by the Virginia State Board of Education. In addition we are affiliated with the following:
AACRAO - American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
CASE - Council for Advancement and Support of Education
ERB - Educational Records Bureau
College Entrance Examination Board - CollegeBoard
NAIS - National Association of Independent Schools
NACAC - National Association for College Admission Counseling
VASSP - Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals
NASSP - National Association of Secondary School Principals
PCACAC - Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling
SAIS - Southern Association of Independent Schools
VAIS - Virginia Association of Independent Schools |
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| Q. | How competitive is admission to Cape Henry Collegiate? | | A. | Our small class size and our 10-to-1, student-to-faculty ratio, which are such assets to our students, become liabilities to applicants whose admission must be limited by the number of spots available. Because the number of applications increases significantly each year, there has been increased competition for these openings. |
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| Q. | What is your boy-to-girl ratio? | | A. | It varies somewhat by grade, but overall we have 50% boys and 50% girls. All classrooms include both boys and girls. |
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| Q. | Do you consider more than just quantitative factors? | | A. | Yes. Standardized test results are an important factor for Grades 3-12, yet not the determining one. We realize that standardized testing fails to measure a student's motivation, creative writing, research ability, and character. This does, however, provide us with a common denominator among students applying from a wide variety of schools and differing educational backgrounds. When a student has done well in a solid academic program and has recommendations that are positive and insightful, less importance is placed on standardized test scores. If we are unfamiliar with a student's school or the school does not grade and provides us with only vague recommendations, more weight must be given to test results. |
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| Q. | What types of schools do most of your students come from? | | A. | The majority of our Middle and Upper School students attended Cape Henry Collegiate during their Lower School years. There is no preference given to students from certain schools at any grade level. We consider how well students have grown from and maximized the educational opportunities and the environment offered them prior to their application to Cape Henry Collegiate. Newly enrolled students come from both the public and private sector. |
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| Q. | Do siblings have preference? | | A. | Yes. Cape Henry Collegiate considers itself a family school and because of this, it is desirable to have members of the same family involved in our educational program. Yet, what is right for one child is not necessarily the correct choice for a sibling. If all other things are equal, we will give first consideration to enrolling a sibling. |
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| Q. | What should we expect during the visit/interview? | | A. | The parent(s) and student(s) will be met by a member of our Admissions Committee or Admissions Staff. The visit provides an opportunity to meet a representative of the School and, in most cases, to see the School in progress. We feel the visit should be fun and informative for both parties. Each visit includes a tour of the campus. |
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| Q. | We as parents hear about how much pressure exists at independent schools like Cape Henry Collegiate. Is this true? | | A. | There is a difference between a stimulating learning environment where "learning and thinking" are of the utmost importance and a school where only grades and test scores are stressed. Our students do work hard as the curriculum is rigorous and challenging. Because there are many bright and highly motivated students at our school, there does exist a competitive atmosphere in the higher grades. What keeps it from being a highly pressured situation is the warm, informal, and friendly nature of the campus, the small class size and the support each student finds available from administrators, faculty, and peers. There is always someone to go to with a problem, be it academic or personal. Most Middle and Upper School students average 1½ to 2½ hours of homework per night. Lower School students average between ½ and 1 hour each evening depending on the grade level. In assigning homework, faculty members strive for stimulating assignments which serve as extensions to classroom learning. |
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| Q. | How big are classes? | | A. | The average class size is from 12-20 students with 20 being the maximum. As a student moves into upper level language classes, electives, and Honors or Advanced Placement classes in Upper School, class size may decrease to 5-12 students. The Prekindergarten is a double classroom. Cape Henry Collegiate maintains an overall 10-to-1, student-to-teacher ratio. |
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| Q. | How would you characterize your faculty? | | A. | Qualified, enthusiastic, and caring. Many of our faculty coach and
sponsor activities and are available to tutor or counsel any student
who requests or needs help. Our diverse faculty combines both youth and
the wisdom of many years of teaching. |
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| Q. | Do you have a gifted program? | | A. | Not as such. Individualized learning is at the core of our academic philosophy. Students at all grade levels who require additional challenge and stimulation are afforded enriching opportunities. Students in Grades 4 and 5 are placed in either standard, intermediate, or enriched math and reading. In the Middle School, students are divided into a regular and an honors math sequence. In the Upper School, students may qualify to take Honors or Advanced Placement (AP) classes in math, science, history, foreign language, computer science, English, and art, as well as participate in the Senior Internship during their senior year. |
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| Q. | What is the Academic Center? | | A. | Cape Henry admits a diverse student body whose commonality is the desire and the cognitive ability to do college preparatory work. The Academic Center provides support for students with learning differences to help them be successful in our challenging curriculum. This support program, which is available to a limited number of enrolled students, is integrated into the school day. This program is an alternative to "the tutoring solution" so often adopted in the past. English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction is another component of the Academic Center. ESL instructional programs are tailored to give academic assistance for international students not yet proficient in English. |
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| Q. | Do you require community service? | | A. | Yes. Cape Henry's Mission Statement includes a commitment to volunteer and community service. Middle and Upper School students perform service at agencies and locations throughout Hampton Roads. Students learn to recognize problems in the community and to develop relevant service projects. We believe that community service enhances awareness of responsibility to school and community and broadens student education through involvement with those in need. |
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| Q. | Do you have a Parents' Association? | | A. | Yes. The Cape Henry Parents' Association (CHPA) is very active, sponsoring numerous fundraising events as well as bringing programs into the School that entertain and inform the students. Officers are elected annually by the parents in the Association. (See the CHPA information in the Programs section of this site for more details.) |
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| Q. | Do you have a dress code? | | A. | Yes. While our students are not required to wear uniforms and while dress is viewed as a means of individual expression, students are asked to adhere to certain standards of dress. The guidelines with regard to personal appearance and dress are neat, appropriate, and in good taste. |
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| Q. | Do you have before and after school day care? | | A. | Yes. Cape Henry Collegiate provides day care with a difference. Our Extended School Day Program (ESDP) is for students in Prekindergarten through Grade 5. The program hours are from 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ESDP is ongoing for all but eleven holidays each year. Several enrollment options are available, including complete and partial academic school year sessions and drop-in care. For costs, hours, and other details, please refer to the Programs > Extended School Day Program section of this website or contact the Extended School Day Office at (757) 963-8254. |
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| Q. | Do you have any afterschool activities for Lower School students?
| | A. | Yes. Cape Henry offers a variety of afterschool programs for students in Kindergarten through Grades 8. The W.O.W. (Within Our Walls) program provides exploratory opportunities to students in the arts, athletics, and academics. W.O.W. offerings are available each semester with additional “mini-mester” options as well. Please visit the W.O.W. programs page at capehenrycollegiate.org/programs/wow to read more about these opportunities! |
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| Q. | Do you provide transportation? | | A. | Yes. Transportation is available throughout South Hampton Roads, including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake. There is a transportation fee for this service. |
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| Q. | What is the Tuition Protection Plan? | | A. | When a student is enrolled for the full academic year, no refund or
reduction in tuition and/or fees can be made by the School for
withdrawal or dismissal. This policy is followed by virtually all
independent schools. To plan and provide for continuing expenses such
as faculty salaries and plant maintenance, it is essential that income
from tuition and fees be stable. The Tuition Protection Plan, provided
through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc., provides a partial refund of remaining
tuition and fees in the event of withdrawal of a student for medical
causes or for withdrawal for other reasons including dismissal by the
School. Payment for the
Tuition Protection Plan is due with the first payment of tuition and
fees. |
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| Q. | Are Cape Henry Collegiate parents expected to contribute to various fund-raising activities during the year? | | A. | Tuition covers only 92% of the cost to educate our students. The balance comes from the generosity of our community. It is our hope that each member of the Cape Henry Collegiate community–faculty, friends, alumni, Trustees, families–will all support the Annual Giving Campaign each year. The funds contributed directly benefit every student enrolled and help support the many programs that make Cape Henry one of the best schools in the country. |
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| Q. | Do you offer a Financial Aid Plan? | | A. | Yes. Financial assistance is available to students accepted for
admission whose families clearly demonstrate financial need. Need is
determined by the information available from the Parents' Financial
Statement form provided by the School Student Service for Financial
Aid. A copy of the family's most recently filed Federal Income Tax Form
1040, with attachments, and the W-2, must be submitted to the School.
All family financial information is held in the strictest confidence by
the School. Please refer to the website area on Financial Aid for
further information. |
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