Welcome from the Admissions Office!

As Admissions Director at Tri-Cities Prep, it is my privilege to work with you as you consider Tri-Cities Prep as an option for high school.  We hope to provide you with the tools needed to be successful both in school and in life.  Our college preparatory program of academics, athletics, activities and religious formation help prepare our students to be future leaders in a challenging and rapidly changing world.  Tri-Cities Prep’s admissions policies and procedures are included to help you in making this important decision regarding your future.

Admissions Policies and Procedures

Tri-Cities Prep’s unique, rigorous, college preparatory curriculum is designed for strong students who are motivated to learn and grow in a Christian, Catholic community committed to developing young men and women who can live creatively, constructively, spiritually, and critically within the ambiguities of a rapidly changing world. The goal of the admissions process is, therefore, to admit a diverse body of students who will share and contribute their energies and special talents toward this mission. Every effort is made to be fair and to balance the needs and desires of the students and their families with the needs and goals of the school.

The following are general guidelines used in the admissions process:

Student Profile

Applicants are first evaluated on academic ability, personal character, and motivation. Prep’s 9th grade students begin with seven solid subjects. The curriculum demands that students be motivated to participate fully in their own education and to succeed academically.  Their transcripts should reflect solid coursework.  Standardized testing from their current schools and the teachers’ recommendations are also evaluated in this process.

Diversity

The ideal community of learners invites a wide representation from the community it serves. The Admissions Committee strives to admit a class that is rich in ethnic, economic, geographic, gender, and religious diversity.

Ethnicity

Tri-Cities Prep is committed to ethnic pluralism among its faculty, administration, students, and Board of Trustees. For the past several years, Prep’s population has reflected our local ethnic distribution; the Admissions Committee's goal is to continue this trend at Tri-Cities Prep.  The Board of Trustees, administration, faculty/staff, and students are involved in our efforts to ensure a welcoming, accepting and supportive atmosphere for all members of the Prep community.

Economics

At present, about 65% of the students at Tri-Cities Prep receive need-based financial assistance at various levels.  Tri-Cities Prep will make every effort to make aid available to families who apply for it.  The Admissions Committee, however, meets and makes admissions determinations independently of the financial aid award process.  The Committee is unaware of whether or not the applicant has applied for a scholarship.

Geographics

The Admissions Committee makes a concerted effort to accept students from neighborhoods throughout the area. To this end, we try to accept some students from each of the Catholic elementary schools, Christian schools, and local public school systems within the Tri-Cities area.

Faith

About 18% of Tri-Cities Prep’s student body represent other faith communities. We have found that this variety of religious beliefs assures a lively exchange of ideas and contributes positively to the appreciation of the role of faith in the educational environment.

Talents and Interests

The Admissions Committee is challenged to include applicants with various talents and interests to enrich the whole spectrum of school life. We seek to accept students who are well rounded and interested in life outside the classroom as well as in it.

Special Considerations

It is important for applicants and parents to understand that a family history with Tri-Cities Prep does not guarantee admission to the program. However, from among those students who qualify academically for admission, special consideration will be given to those who have had a sibling in the school or whose parents are alumni.

The Wait List

Students who meet the basic requirements for acceptance but were not accepted on the first round of admissions are placed on the “Wait List.”  After the determination letters are received, we know which students are planning to attend and which have decided on other schools.  If spaces are available, students are selected from the Wait List by the Admissions Committee.  Students on the Wait List are not assigned a numerical priority, since the committee’s choices are partially based on the make-up of the class according to the criteria listed above at the time openings occur.  Usually, spaces are available just after the registration deadline, and more occur over the summer as families move or other decisions are made known to us.

Process and Policy Review

In implementing this policy, the Admissions Committee will act in good faith taking into account the best interest of the school and all relevant facts and circumstances. The selection process will be subject to strict confidentiality. The Board of Trustees will periodically review the Admissions Policy, its effect on the make-up of the student body and its compliance with the mission and values of the school. The Board of Trustees does not, collectively or individually, review or mediate individual decisions regarding the admissions process.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Tri-Cities Prep admits students of any sex, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs or other school-administered programs.

I look forward to meeting you and your family during the admission process.  We wish you the best as you complete your 8th grade year.  Please let us know if you need any further information to help you with your decision.

Sincerely,

Debbie Alan

Academic Coordinator