Frequently Asked Questions

image006 We hope that the following answers some of the questions you have about Milton Academy’s Lower and Middle School admission process. Please call our office at 617-898-2509 if you have additional questions. We welcome your inquiries, and we thank you for your interest in Milton Academy.

Do you accept applications for all grade levels, Kindergarten through Grade 8?

We accept applications for Kindergarten through Grade 8. Our planned entry points are Kindergarten (approximately 24 new students), Grade 4 (approximately 8 new students), Grade 6 (approximately 12–15 new students), and Grade 7 (approximately 8–10 new students) but spaces in other grades may become available.

How often do spaces become available in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 5, the non-entry point years?

We do not know from year to year what spaces may become available in these grades. While we ask our families to complete the re-enrollment process by February of the current school year, parents sometimes find out later that their child will not be returning to Milton Academy for a variety of reasons. In an increasingly mobile society, it more frequently happens that one or two spaces become available in non-entry point grades; in order for a candidate to be considered for any opening, he or she needs to have completed the application process by the January 15 deadline.

What are the age requirements for applicants?

The age requirements for students applying for admission to the 2021–2022 academic year are as follows:

Kindergarten – born by 9/1/16
Grade 1 – born by 9/1/15
Grade 2 – born by 9/1/14
Grade 3 – born by 9/1/13
Grade 4 – born by 9/1/12
Grade 5 – born by 9/1/11
Grade 6 – born by 9/1/10
Grade 7 – born by 9/1/09

We know that different schools have different age requirements or ways of organizing grade levels. Therefore, some applicants may be in a grade level other than their age requires at Milton Academy. If you have specific questions, the admission office will be happy to discuss your situation with you. Based on developmental considerations, however, we have a strong preference for keeping students with their chronological peer group.

What qualities does Milton Academy look for in a student?
We seek to enroll students who will thrive personally and academically at Milton. We want our students to fit comfortably into the nurturing, rich, challenging, fast paced and rigorous academic atmosphere we provide. We also seek applicants who will not only benefit from our community but will contribute to it. Some characteristics that describe our students are:

  • Curious, enthusiastic, and eager to learn
  • Willing to take risks
  • Accepting and appreciative of differences
  • Resilient
  • Focused and motivated
  • Increasingly self-reliant and independent while also being able to work collaboratively and share ideas, strategies and information
  • Thoughtful, kind, respectful of others

We also strive to build a class of students that is cooperative, collegial and rich in variations: balanced in terms of gender, socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, culture and geography.

How do you evaluate applicants?

We get to know each child in a variety of ways, and as thoroughly as possible, during the admission process. No one piece of information is determinative: each part contributes to our overall understanding of your child. The admission process consists of a parent interview, student interview and questionnaire for grades 6–7, review of prior school records and any standardized test results (depending on age), evaluations from current teachers, a family history form submitted by parents, and a virtual group visit by the applicant (Grade 4 only). We also consider each candidate’s social and emotional readiness for our program at all grade levels. In some cases, the admission office may request additional information if we feel more information is necessary to make an informed decision.

What happens during the parent interview?

As we plan this school year in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff is paramount. To learn more about Milton’s response to COVID-19, please visit www.milton.edu/2020-2021. To support these efforts, the Admission Office will conduct all admission interviews via Zoom and all fall events will be held virtually. We will have a virtual tour for families to explore prior to their Zoom interview.

What happens during the student interview for applicants to grades 6 and 7?

As we plan this school year in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff is paramount. To learn more about Milton’s response to COVID-19, please visit www.milton.edu/2020-2021. To support these efforts, the Admission Office will conduct all admission interviews via Zoom and all fall events will be held virtually. 

An admission officer will meet first with your child via Zoom. This gives us a chance to get to know him or her. This also gives your child an opportunity to reflect on Milton Academy and ask any remaining questions. After we finish talking to the student, we will invite the parents on camera for their interview.

What will my child’s group visit be like?

Please note that this year, only Grade 4 applicants will participate in a group visit, and it will be hosted on Zoom. Please contact the Lower and Middle School Admission Office for more information. 

What if I live out of the state or country?

Milton welcomes applications from families who are considering relocating. Please be aware that we do not offer boarding in Grades K–8. Please contact us at 617-898-2509 if you need to schedule a Zoom interview.

Are applicants required to attend the group visits?

Yes. The group visits are an essential part of the admission process for all applicants applying to Grade 4. Please reach out to our main office for more information about the Grade 4 Zoom group visit.

What feedback will I receive about my child during the admission process?
We do not provide individual feedback during the admission process. Since this is not a formal testing procedure, there are no standardized results to share. The admission office traditionally handles a large number of applicants, and our goal is to make the process an informative and positive experience for every family. We aim to make each candidate feel welcome, comfortable, and able to be themselves during their visits with us. We also want parents to feel fully informed about Milton Academy, its philosophy and programs.
Is Milton Academy a diverse community?
Yes. Milton Academy is committed to diversity and welcomes the opportunity to consider all qualified applicants. Our School is greatly enriched by the racial, ethnic, socio-economic and religious diversity within our community. Acceptance and appreciation of differences is a cornerstone of our philosophy, our curriculum, and our way of life at Milton.
What is your policy concerning admission for siblings of current students?
We certainly wish to support families and build upon a sense of community, and while we welcome applications from qualified siblings of current students, we cannot guarantee places. We need to make sure that Milton is the best fit for each child. We also recognize that new families are a vital part of the composition of the School.
What is the cost for the 2020–2021 school year?

The tuition rates for the 2020–2021 school year are as follows:

Grades 6–8 – $49,200
Grades 4–5 – $39,550
Grades 1–3 – $34,550
Kindergarten – $32,500

In addition to tuition charges, other moderate fees may apply in certain grades. Additional costs include fees for field trips, and optional programs such as the After School Program.

Is financial aid available?
Financial aid is available and awarded based on need. All financial aid information is strictly confidential. Admission applications are read without regard for a family’s ability to pay. Only in the final phase is the selection process “need aware,” as the admission committee weighs its decision against available funds.

Financial aid information is included with all admission information packets. Any questions concerning financial aid should be directed to Chris Kane in the Office of Financial Aid at 617-898-2239 or by email at [email protected]. The Academy subscribes to the general principles and needs analysis of the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS). Click here to learn more about financial aid.

Do students come from towns other than Milton?
Absolutely. Our students come from a wide range of towns.
Does the school provide transportation?
For students in Kindergarten through Grade 5, the primary means of transportation is carpools organized by parents. There is a parent-organized downtown Boston bus available for students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. There is an additional cost for this service, and more information is available through business office. Students in Grades 6 through 8 have the option of using a bus service arranged by Milton. There is an additional cost for this service and routes vary each year, depending on the transportation needs of students. Additional information about the optional bus service is available through the business office.
Is parent involvement required, and what are the opportunities for such involvement?
Milton Academy does not require any particular parent involvement, but we certainly welcome the many ways in which parents support the School. Each family is free to determine what, if any, contributions of time they are able to make. All parents are automatically members of the Parents’ Association and are welcome to attend the monthly morning or evening meetings and participate in a wide variety of committees. Parents are always welcome to help with field trips, volunteer in the library, or visit their child’s classroom—for a morning or an afternoon—from November 1 through the end of April.
Do Lower and Middle School students need to reapply for admittance to the Upper School?
No. Our students do not need to reapply when it comes time to move to the Upper School.
When will I know my child’s admission decision?
We will notify candidates of our admission decision on their application portal on March 10. We do not report admission decisions by telephone.
What does it mean if my child is not offered a place at Milton?
Because our School is committed to small class sizes, we are limited in the number of children we can accept. Each year, we meet many wonderful applicants during the admission process, and we are simply unable to offer all of them a place. We welcome reapplications from students and remind you that Milton Academy is a Kindergarten through Grade 12 school with openings and entry points at many different levels.
What does it mean if my child is on the waiting list?
We place a small number of candidates for each grade level on a waiting list. This list is purposefully short and does not include every qualified candidate who has applied. We want to be realistic about the number of openings that traditionally become available after our initial acceptances are sent, and we want to feel that each candidate on the waiting list has an honest possibility of moving off that list. The waiting list is not ranked in any order, but rather is a pool of names. The candidate who best complements the space that becomes available will be chosen from the waiting list. Please note that the waiting list is not held over into the next admission cycle. We begin a new admission process at the beginning of each school year.
What are the school hours?
Kindergarten–Grade 5
8 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Monday and Friday

Grades 6–8
8 a.m.–3:45 p.m. Monday through Friday

What are the after school opportunities?
Click here to learn about after school activities for our Lower School students in Kindergarten through Grade 5.

Click here to learn about programs for our Middle School students in Grade 6 through Grade 8.

Is there a dress code?
All students should wear neat, clean, comfortable and appropriate clothing. Students in Grades 3 through 8 do have a liberal dress code that is consistent with the Upper School.
Does the School provide lunch?
Milton provides lunch for all Lower and Middle School students who have the option of a hot entrée each day, along with choices from a salad bar, pasta and sandwich fixings. Milk and water is provided for everyone.

Contact Us

Lower and Middle School Admission Office
Phone: 617-898-2509
[email protected]

Lower school:  miltonacademy_ls

Middle school: miltonacademy_ms

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