ADMISSIONS 1. Who is eligible to apply to SSP?
|
2. Can I apply to SSP if I am not in the eighth grade?
No. SSP only accepts applicants currently enrolled in the eighth grade, and planning to start the ninth grade in the fall. |
3. What are SSP's financial guidelines?
|
SSP gives priority to students from low-income families, usually with an annual income of $10,000 per capita or less.
|
4. Do I need to have excellent grades to be a part of SSP?
|
No. In fact, SSP students have grades that are average to below average. We accept students who probably won't test into public magnet schools or qualify for merit-based scholarship programs.
|
5. Where do SSP students attend high school?
|
SSP students attend 26 quality, non-public high schools in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. A list of our Partner Schools can be found here. SSP does not offer financial assistance to students attending schools outside of this list.
|
6. I really want to attend a particular SSP Partner School. If I am accepted, can I go to whichever school I want?
|
Though applicants are given the opportunity to list their school preference, not every student accepted to SSP is admitted to the Partner School of their first choice. Students who have not heard whether they are accepted to SSP must not register with a Partner School unless they are prepared to pay full tuition at that school. Please note that most high school registration fees are non-refundable. Partner Schools' published registration deadlines can be disregarded by SSP applicants; registration dates for SSP students are different from those for the schools' general student populations.
|
7. Do I need to take the TACHS exam to apply to SSP?
|
No, students who apply to SSP are not required to take the TACHS exam. Additionally, students accepted to a school through the TACHS are not guaranteed an SSP placement.
|
8. What is PSAS?
|
PSAS is a company that works with SSP and 4,000 other organizations around the country to analyze financial information for private school applicants. SSP applicants are asked to submit their applications directly to PSAS for review. You can learn more about PSAS here.
|
9. Does it cost anything to apply to SSP?
|
There is an application fee of $35, which should be sent with the completed application.
|
10. What are the financial expectations of the families of SSP students?
|
Students' families are expected to contribute a portion of the tuition costs, usually around $900 per year. In addition, many schools ask families to pay various fees for things like books and uniforms. Families are encouraged to set up monthly payment plans with the schools to make these costs more manageable over the course of the school year.
|
11. When will the 2011 application be available? When is it due? Where can I get the application?
|
The SSP Student Application for the 2011-2012 academic year is now posted here.
We invite potential applicants and their families to familiarize themselves with our application requirements prior to completing the application.
SSP is no longer accepting applications for students entering 9th grade in September 2010.
|
12. I have already applied to SSP. When and how will I be notified whether I was accepted?
|
All applicants will ordinarily be notified of their status by June 30 of the year in which they apply. Notification will come through the mail; no information about an applicant's status will be given by phone or email.
|
13. Are students obligated to participate in SSP over the summer?
|
New SSP students are expected to attend a Summer Readiness Program at their respective schools during the summer before their ninth grade year. The exact time of the Summer Readiness Program will be determined by the school. During this program, students learn valuable information about adjusting to a new private high school, and have the opportunity to meet other students who are a part of SSP. |
14. How are SSP students selected?
|
SSP students are selected according to three criteria of need.
Financial Need: Students admitted to the SSP program come from financially disadvantaged families, usually with an annual per capita income of $10,000 or less. Among the Class of 2012, 95% of students qualify for the Free Lunch Program. Academic Need: SSP aims to serve students that are academically average or below average. SSP targets these students, not the students likely to test into public magnet schools or to qualify for merit-based scholarship programs. This year, 98% of SSP's new students scored at or below standards on either the reading or math aptitude tests administered in the eighth grade. Given the proper support and motivation, these students have the ability to perform at a higher level. Social Need: Every candidate who meets the academic and financial requirements of the program also is assessed in terms of the social risk factors that impact a young person's ability to succeed. Eighty-one per cent of our new students live with a single parent or guardian, and many SSP families struggle with domestic violence, substance abuse, chronic illness, immigration concerns, or other issues.
|
15. Is SSP a Catholic organization?
|
No. Each of our Partner Schools has a long history of successfully educating vulnerable inner-city youths in a disciplined and nurturing school community. Although most of them are Catholic schools, SSP is not a religious organization, and students are not asked about their religious affiliations. Our Partner Schools simply provide the best education available to our students at the most affordable cost.
|
16. How can I support SSP?
|
There are numerous ways to support SSP.
Sponsors mentor a student throughout high school, providing guidance and support. They also make a four-year commitment to pay all or a portion of their student's tuition, donating a minimum of $2,000 annually. Committed Friends provide much needed financial support, but do not make a time commitment to students. Like Sponsors, Committed Friends give a minimum annual contribution of $2,000. They are paired with Time Sponsors who contribute their time and a smaller annual contribution. Individuals, foundations and corporations provide important additional funding either for specific programs or SSP's general operating expenses. Corporations also bolster the program by encouraging their employees to participate, helping to coordinate employee-student events, and contributing to employee matching gift programs. Donors can give on our Web site via PayPal, or by sending a check to Student Sponsor Partners at 286 Madison Avenue, Suite 1601, New York, NY 10017.
|
