List of 6 frequently asked questions.

• +  Requirements for NDP 8th graders moving to the Upper Level:

  Parents are required to attend the mandatory NDP admissions roadmap meeting on October 7. At this meeting, we will outline the journey to moving to the Upper Level and what you can expect once she’s in the Upper Level.
  

  • HSPT—the High School Placement test results will be used for placement and phasing purposes for our 8^th graders. NDP will test the girls in-house on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020.
    • You still need to register your daughter through the link here.
    • DO NOT pay the fee. NDP covers the cost of the test for our own 8^th graders provided they test at NDP. Bypass the payment page when you register her for the test.

• +  Reenrollment and Deposit Deadline for 9^th Grade

  We assume automatic matriculation for our 8^th graders to our Upper Level. Therefore, reenrollment serves a dual purpose for our students—it serves as their formal application to our high school and secures their spot in the incoming 9th-grade class.

  • Please look for reenrollment information to be emailed in the middle of January AND note the deposit deadline of Monday, February 1, 2021.
  • The deposit amount is not yet available but could be between $850 and $1,000. It is applied to tuition.
  • We are not able to offer deposit extensions for any NDP 8^th grader. In order to secure her spot in the 9th-grade class, families must meet the specified deposit date. No exceptions.

• +  Placement Test Date and Placement Notification Day

  All NDP 8^th graders will take placement tests as part of their placement and phasing into 9^th grade. Please save the date for Saturday, March 13, 2021.

  • Not all NDP 8^th graders will take all three placement tests (Language, English, and Math). Specific test information is mailed to parents in February 2021.
  • Generally, here is who takes which placement tests:
    • Any NDP 8^th grader in Algebra 1 or Geometry will sit for a math placement test.
    • Any NDP 8^th grader in Topics of Algebra will NOT take a math placement test. She will automatically go into Algebra 1 and her HSPT math score, along with input from her math teacher, is how she will be phased.
    • Any NDP 8^th grader who wants to retake Algebra 1 will not sit to test out Algebra 1.
  • All NDP 8^th graders will sit for the English placement test.
  • Only those NDP 8^th graders in Romance Language will sit for the MLAT language placement test.
    • Any NDP 8^th grader who takes Chinese, French or Spanish will not take a language placement test. They will automatically be placed in level 2 and phasing will be decided by their current language teacher along with their course grade at the time of placement.
  • Students will receive information about academic placement in April.

• +  Laptop Program

  NDP has a mandatory laptop device program in the Upper Level. All incoming 9^th graders, including our own NDP 8^th graders, will be required to own a laptop device for high school. There are two ways to meet this requirement:

  • Students can purchase a laptop through an NDP-endorsed vendor (historically Dell) and select from multiple laptop computer options; or,
  • Bring their own compatible laptop device that they purchased on their own.
  • All the specifics and details on the NDP-suggested devices as well as the BYOD are made available in the February parent mailing for incoming 9^th graders.

• +  Upper Level Events

  Transition to the Upper Level is meant to be as seamless as it can be for our 8^th graders. But still, we know it comes with some uncertainty and curiosity. Please consider joining us for any of the following events during the “admissions and enrollment season.”

  • Fall virtual shadow day (optional for NDP 8^th graders) – the dates will be determined and publicized at the Admissions Roadmap meeting, but NDP 8^th graders are encouraged to spend a day with a current 9^th grader, virtually walking in the “saddles” of an Upper Level student. This is a great way to gain familiarity with what to expect as a freshman.
  • Fall Afternoon Admissions Tours
  • Admissions Student Panel and Information Night 
  • Inclusivity and diversity panel 
  • Welcome reception for Class of 2025 – save the date for Tuesday, February 23, 2021.

• +  Financial Aid and Merit and Talent Awards

  NDP offers two types of monies to incoming freshman: need-based financial aid as well as merit and talent awards (no-need monies). Please refer to the bullets below for specific details on each.

  • Need-based financial aid is called grants and scholarships. All need-based aid is determined first through a FACTS application and then by a thorough review by NDP’s financial aid committee. Anyone who wants to be considered for need-based financial aid must complete a FACTS application during the open dates for 2021-2022. The FACTS link can be found HERE.
    • NDP does not list its available scholarships, as they change from year to year. The financial aid committee designates named scholarships to recipients based on demonstrated need and scholarship criteria.
    • Merit and Talent Awards are also available to incoming 9^th graders. These are no-need monies are earned by through academic criteria or talent-based auditions.
      • The Gateway Academic Achievement Award is a merit-based financial award that recognizes the academic success of incoming freshmen. It is a quarter-scholarship that follows the increase in tuition annually. The criteria are firm and any incoming 9^th grader who meets the full criteria will automatically receive the Gateway merit award.
        • As on first quarter 8th-grade report card in reading/language arts AND math.
        • Iowa testing: 90% or higher scores on the 7th-grade spring standardized Iowa test in total reading, total math and language
        • On the HSPT, scores of 90% or higher on all the following sections:
          • Reading, Math, and Language
  • There is no application for this merit award. The admissions office flags the recipients based on each student’s academic profile.
  • Any 8^th grader who meets the full criteria is awarded this at reenrollment time.

   

  • Talent awards are available in seven areas and are earned through an audition-based process for 9th-grade applicants, only.
    • Each talent award carries a $3,000 value and any recipient who earns a talent and enrolls at NDP must make that her elective all 4 years she attends NDP to retain the award.
    • An applicant may apply and audition for more than one talent award.
    • There are seven talent awards available in the following areas:
      • Art, band, chorus, dance, orchestra, STEAM, and theatre

   

  • It is possible to receive financial aid and a merit and/or talent award. Earning/receiving one does not negate receiving another type of money.