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| | Q. | Why choose LREI? | | A. | LREI is unlike any other independent school in the city. Above all, we are a community of forward thinkers and lifelong learners. Families who choose LREI want to be a part of that tradition. They believe in our progressive program, and understand that the best gift they can give their children is an education that keeps them questioning and searching for answers. LREI graduates possess a deep commitment to equity and social justice, and are equipped with the tools and passion it takes to initiate change. |
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| Q. | How can parents be involved in the school? | | A. | Like our student body, our parent population is very diverse. But there is one thing LREI parents have in common: A dedication to the LREI community. The Parents Association has a wide cross section of activities and we welcome all levels of involvement. Even if you cannot be at school much, there are many ways to be involved in the parent community. Parents’ Association volunteer groups include: Adoption Committee
Community Service Committee
Food Committee
Lesbian Gay Straight Alliance (LGSA)
Literary Committee
Multicultural Committee
Parents of Children of Color Committees
Red is Green
Sports Committee |
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| Q. | Is there a typical LREI student? | | A. | There is no typical LREI student or typical LREI family. Many different families thrive here, and our community ultimately thrives on the diversity those differences bring. We aim for a diverse community that reflects the richness of New York City. We are a community of scientists, artists, historians and more, displaying a wide range of interests, beliefs and family structures, as well as other, more familiar definitions of diversity (racial, ethnic, socio-economic). |
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| Q. | What is the typical class size at LREI? | | A. | In the Lower and Middle Schools, each class has approximately 20 students. Lessons and activities often take place in half groups of approximately 10 students. In the High School, the average class size is 15 students. |
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| Q. | How do you support students at different levels or with different learning styles? | | A. | Progressive education meets a range of learners’ needs. Teachers know each student individually and are able to design learning experiences so that all students can meet our high expectations. |
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| Q. | How are students assessed? | | A. | Assessment of children is an on-going and constant process at LREI. Students are assessed in a variety of ways, formal and informal. Types of assessment include tests, papers, projects, presentations, performance, and portfolios. Student progress is communicated to families through a variety of informal methods. In the Lower School, narrative reports are mailed home twice a year, in the fall and spring. Students receive letter grades starting in Middle School. Middle and High school students receive letter grades accompanied by narrative comments at the end of each marking period. Middle and High School students lead Family Conferences with support of their advisor. |
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| Q. | How are field trips integrated into the curriculum? | | A. | In the 1920s, LREI and a number of our progressive peers invented the modern educational field trip. Today, the field trip remains one of the touchstones of our progressive program. The field trip strengthens connections between the curriculum and our communities, local and global. |
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| Q. | What does diversity mean at LREI? | | A. | Diversity has been a cornerstone of LREI since our founding in 1921. As a community, we respect the worth and dignity of every person, and encourage sensitivity to the individual and group differences that make our school such a special place. We are proud to have a unique mix of families from every borough — a mix that displays socio-economic diversity, racial/ethnic diversity, cultural diversity, religious diversity and diversity of family structure. Two more stats that make us proud: Students of color represent approximately 30 percent of our student body. In terms of economic diversity, LREI consistently provides among the largest amounts of financial aid, as a percentage of gross tuition, when compared to other independent schools in New York City. |
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| Q. | What is LREI’s commitment to community service? | | A. | LREI has long been committed to equity, social justice and civic engagement. Our diverse, inclusive community helps students find their unique voices — and confidently share those voices to initiate change. Students in all three divisions have numerous opportunities to get involved in small groups or individual projects that benefit the school, New York City or people elsewhere in the world. Some recent service projects include student-led coffeehouses — fundraisers for GEMS (Girls Educational & Mentoring Services) and Kids Walk For Kids With Cancer, an organization started by a current LREI student — and weekly volunteer outings to St. John’s Food Pantry, a food bank with which we’ve partnered for years. |
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| Q. | Where do families live and how do students get to school? | | A. | Many families live downtown, but we are proud to have families from all five boroughs. There is bus service up to Sixth Grade through the Department of Education that covers several neighborhoods. Many families come to school via public transportation, and in the older grades, most students travel independently by subway, often in groups of friends. |
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About the Admissions Process | Q. | What grades typically have openings? | | A. | The main entry points at LREI are the Fours, Kindergarten, Sixth and Ninth Grades. Please contact the Admissions Office at 212-477-5316 ext. 210 for information on space availability in other grades. |
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| Q. | How old does my child have to be to apply? | | A. | Applicants to the Fours program and Kindergarten must be four years old and five years old, respectively, by September 1 of the year they begin our program. Middle and High School applicants must have successfully completed one grade to progress to the next grade. |
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| Q. | What are the important admissions deadlines? | | A. | The application deadline is December 1 for all grades. For other important deadlines, see our Admissions Calendar and How to Apply page. |
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| Q. | Does LREI require standardized testing? | | A. | Standardized testing is not required for applicants to the Fours, Kindergarten or First through Third Grades. Testing is required for applicants to the Fourth through Eleventh Grades. Applicants should make arrangements to take the appropriate grade level test by calling ERB at 212-672-9800 or visiting www.erbtest.org. ECAA or ISEE Admissions testing should be completed by January 11, 2011. (LREI school code: 336195) |
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| Q. | Does LREI offer financial aid? | | A. | Yes. LREI is committed to socio-economic diversity and to providing educational opportunity for qualified students regardless of their families’ resources. Our Financial Aid program supports the mission of the school to build community and foster a learning environment that includes a diversity of cultures, viewpoints and experiences. Families from a wide range of income levels have qualified for financial aid. To learn more and download instructions for applying for the 2012-2013 academic year, please visit the Financial Aid page. |
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| Q. | Does LREI have an Early Notification Program for siblings and children of alumni?
| | A. | We are a community school, and we welcome families with multiple children. That said, siblings are not guaranteed admission. Every child is different, so we encourage families to apply to multiple schools to make sure they find the best fit. There is an Early Notification option for siblings of current LREI students, children and grandchildren of LREI alumni, and children of faculty/staff. |
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| Q. | Does LREI offer Financial Aid? | | A. | Yes. LREI is committed to socio-economic diversity and to providing educational opportunity for qualified students regardless of their families financial resources. Our Financial Aid program supports the mission of the school to build community and to foster a learning environment that includes a diversity of cultures, viewpoints, and experiences. Families from a wide range of income levels have qualified for financial aid. Awards are granted for one year at a time, and must be applied for annually. |
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| Q. | How much Financial Aid is awarded annually? | | A. | Approximately 25 percent of the student body receives assistance each year. |
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| Q. | Can students at any grade level apply for Financial Aid? | | A. | Financial Aid at LREI is available to students at any grade level, Fours through Twelfth Grade. |
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| Q. | Does applying for Financial Aid impair my chances of being admitted to LREI? | | A. | No, admission to LREI is need-blind. Applicants are evaluated without regard to a request for Aid. However, because we often admit more students that require Aid than we are able to fund, admitted students do not always receive Aid even if they qualify. |
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| Q. | How much Financial Aid will my child/family receive? | | A. | Financial Aid is awarded based upon need and availability of funds. Financial Aid is not guaranteed to any student. As noted before, because we often admit more students that require Aid than we are able to fund, admitted students do not always receive Aid even if they qualify.
Several factors are taken into consideration when determining Financial Aid awards including income, assets, number of dependents, and unusual circumstances. LREI does not provide full tuition awards and all families are asked to contribute something towards their child’s education. Families must apply for Financial Aid each year. |
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| Q. | Is Financial Assistance available for expenses beyond tuition? | | A. | Students receiving financial aid are never excluded from educational opportunities because of their financial need. LREI is committed to making participation in all aspects of school life possible for all of its students. |
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| Q. | Is the cost of Afterschool included in the tuition? | | A. | No, families who opt to attend Afterschool will do so at an additional cost. The cost for Afterschool is offered at a discounted rate to families receiving financial aid. |
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| Q. | If we enroll in the school without Financial Aid, can we apply for Aid in the future? | | A. | Families that enroll at LREI without Financial Aid are not eligible to apply for Aid until their third year of attendance. Families who are already attending the school will be asked to demonstrate a change in financial circumstances. Priority for Aid dollars will be given to those families who can demonstrate a significant change, however Financial Aid is not guaranteed to any student. |
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| Q. | What happens to my financial information if my child is not admitted to LREI? | | A. | If a student is neither admitted nor placed in the wait pool, the financial aid file is shredded. |
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