Frequently Asked Question & Answers

1. What grade levels does Summit serve?

Summit is an independent, coeducational day school for Pre-Kindergarten through Ninth Grade.

2. What is an independent school and how is it funded?

Independent schools are distinct from other private schools in that they are independently governed by a board of trustees, and they do not depend on church funds as parochial schools do, or on tax dollars as public schools do.   Tuition covers 77% of the cost of educating a student at Summit.   The remaining amount is provided through annual fund-raising and endowment.

3. Does Summit School offer financial assistance?

Families may apply for financial aid. Fifteen percent of the student body receives need-based financial aid as part of the school's commitment to building a diverse community. The school awarded $862,235 in financial aid for the 2007-2008 school year.

4. What is the composition of the Summit student body?

Students come from 27 different zip codes. Minority enrollment is 20%. Of the 426 families at Summit, 64% have dual incomes or are single heads of household.

5. Does Summit have after school care?

Yes, for Junior Kindergarten through Grade 9, Summit offers both before and after school care at an additional cost. Students may come as early as 7:10 a.m. and stay as late as 5:45 p.m.

6. Is there school in the summer?

Summit offers six weeks of summer programming for students from age 4 through 9th grade. Course topics include sports, arts and academics. Morning and afternoon child care is available during the summer program.

7. What co-curricular activities does Summit offer?

Each student participates in guidance, physical education, art, drama, pottery, and music. Those in grades 4-9 also take other activities such as photography, cooking, robotics, and video programming. The school offers 21 athletic teams, chess club, math club and the opportunity to play in a band.

8. How many computers does Summit have?

We have 6 traditional computer labs: one in middle grades with 20+ computers, a Dell lab (20+ computers) for middle grades and junior high use, a mac lab (20+) for middle grades and junior high use, a mac lab for K-3 (10 computers) and 2 mini labs (8-10 computers). In addition to the labs, we utilize 2 laptop carts (10 per cart) for classes. We also have a robotics lab with 7 computers and a Design Center with 6 iMacs. There are 1-5 computers in each of the classrooms contributing to a total of 420 computers available for student use - that is more than one computer for every two students. Students also use the a/v production studio to create their own broadcasts for Summit TV 6, our closed-circuit television channel.

9. Do students take a foreign language?

Beginning in the Junior Kindergarten, all students take French and Spanish. In grades 4 - 9 students have the option of taking French, Spanish, Latin, or Mandarin Chinese.

10. How large is the campus?

The 28-acre campus includes ten instructional buildings and two residences (both the Head and Associate Head live on campus). The library houses 45,000 volumes, a screening room and an audio/visual production studio. The physical plant is valued at almost $29 million, and Summit is debt-free.