Admission FAQs


Answers to Essential Admission Questions

If you have a question that is not covered here, please contact our Admission Team at admission@sandiaprep.org. They will be happy to provide you with the information that you need.

 

  • I love your school, but how can I afford it?


    Tuition assistance is available for many income levels. In fact, 40% of our current students receive tuition assistance. If the cost feels out of reach based on your family's budget, we believe that 45 minutes of tuition assistance paperwork is worth the time to explore this possibility. A Sandia Prep education is an investment that will last a lifetime for your child.

     

  • My child gets stressed out during testing. What if they don’t do well on the admission test?


    We like to reassure applicants that admission testing is only one piece of the application process. We are looking for reasons to admit motivated, talented students, not turn them away. A student's academic record, attitude toward learning, and how they contribute to their school and surrounding community are more important to us than just test scores.

     

  • My child doesn’t want to leave their friends and is worried that they won’t know anyone at Prep. How can I reassure them?


    Everyone is nervous about starting at a new school. In the sixth grade, students come from more than 30 elementary schools around the region, so everyone is in the same boat! Prep works hard to make new students feel comfortable and welcomed at every grade level. Our community-building efforts start before classes even begin, and they continue throughout the school year. Back-to-school retreats in the first week of classes are designed to help students get to know one another and their teachers, too. By week two, your child will have formed friendships that will carry them through their years at Prep!

     

  • How do you support students with learning challenges, such as dyslexia?


    The Center for Learning Excellence (CFLE) at Sandia Prep offers academic services to meet the individual needs and learning styles of students. It is our philosophy that all attending students should be afforded opportunities to succeed academically. Students with a diagnosed learning disability, or medical condition significantly impacting academic performance, are entitled to an accommodation plan. Accommodation plans outline modifications to the environment, assignments, or expectations to create more equitable learning experiences for students. Specific accommodations could include but are not limited to: extended time on tests, quizzes, or assignments; preferential seating; allowance of technology for note-taking; or more frequent contact with a teacher. Parents are involved in the creation and update of the plans, and the plans are distributed at the beginning of each academic year to teachers with a briefing from our CFLE Director and Psychologist & Director of Wellness.

     

  • You offer so many opportunities. How can my child possibly squeeze them all in?


    We want our students to be adventurous and to explore a wide variety of activities and interests. Just take it a step at a time! Our students won’t be able to do everything all at once, but as they become more accustomed to Sandia Prep, they’ll figure out how to try out for a musical, join an Outdoor Leadership Program outing, run track, and much more, if that’s what they want to do. The possibilities are endless!



     

  • Sandia Prep is our first choice! How can I best prepare and position my child to attend next year?


    We love having families who know that Sandia Prep is where they want to be! Here’s what we suggest:

    • Select the First Choice option on your application portal

    • Sign up for a tour as well as a virtual student interview

    • Sign up to take your admission test in November with the First Choice pool

    • Send your Release of Records form to the registrar at your child’s current school. Keep an eye out for emails from us regarding the time to send your child’s math and English teachers our recommendation forms. That’s it!

       

  • How often will books come home with my child?


    We will issue a set of textbooks to your child to keep at home for the entire year. We have ample copies that we keep on campus in the classrooms, the library, and study hall for students to use at school. Detailed school supply lists are available by early August, and our Sandia Prep School Parents Association, which runs the Sundevil Supply Store on campus, will have a large supply before school starts.

     

  • Can my student bring their own lunch and still purchase from the cafeteria if they choose?


    Most definitely. Our students are always allowed to bring their own lunch or purchase it from the Prep Café each day as they choose. We use an online system for parents to deposit money into their student’s lunch account, and you can also monitor their spending.