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, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (This is the same night as the 8th-grade retreat so your daughter will be ready for pick-up as soon as the meeting ends). 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. 4, 2019.
    • 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 3, 2020.
  • 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 14, 2020.

  • 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 2020.
  • 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 time of placement.
  • NDP 8^th graders will join their newest classmates for Placement Notification Day. You will select one of the two available dates to learn about your daughter’s placement and phasing and talk with a faculty member who can help answer questions you may have because of her placement/phasing. Save the date for either: April 7 or April 8, 2020. More information will follow.

• +  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 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, 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 (link to the events page)
  • Athletics Open House (link to the events page)
  • Admissions Student Panel and Information Night (link to the events page)
  • Inclusivity and diversity panel (link to the events page)
  • Welcome reception for Class of 2024 – save the date for Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

• +  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 of Oct. 15, 2019-Dec. 16,2019. 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 academic success of incoming freshman. 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.