Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on a question below to see the answer, or scroll down the page to browse question-and-answer sets.
Jump to the Financial Aid FAQ.
- How is a mission-appropriate student defined?
- What are the required elements of an applicant file?
- What characteristics and components are considered when reviewing applicant files and making decisions?
- What is the Financial Aid Policy?
- How many openings are there in each grade?
- From what schools do your applicants come?
- How many applications do you have for each opening?
- What happens after we submit the application and how do we know if everything has arrived by the deadline?
- What does it mean if my child is waitpooled or denied admission?
- Can my child re-apply next year if not admitted this year?
- What about diversity?
- Should I apply if my child has special learning needs or conditions that may require special accommodations?
- What process is used to evaluate applications?
- What is the composition of the admission committees?
- How much weight is given to the various elements in the application?
- What is the Related Admission Policy?
- What is the Sibling Early Decision (SED) process?
- What can I do to increase my child's chance of admission?
- If my child is admitted, are there other responsibilities that I as a parent should know about?
- What is the school's expectation of parents in terms of contributions and other fundraising activities?
- Do you admit International students?
- Do you provide bus service?
- How do I get to the Overlake School?
- Who can I contact with problems or additional questions?
The Overlake School is a liberal arts, co-ed, grade 5-12 college preparatory independent institution that provides a balance between a rigorous academic curriculum and a vibrant co-curricular program. Overlake seeks to enroll students with promising academic capability and the potential to contribute to campus life in a unique and meaningful way. Well-rounded students who have a love of learning as well as a variety of interests, skills, talents and backgrounds in academic and non-academic areas contribute to the school's community of learners.
A complete applicant file consists of the following elements:
- Application & Application Fee (we encourage online applications)
- Applicant / Parent Interview
- Parent Essay Responses
- Student Essay Responses & the Sports/Activities Sheet
- Transcripts from the current academic year and the prior two years
- Two Teacher Evaluation Forms from current teachers:
- For grades 5 and 6, give one form to your current grade level teacher and the second form to a specialist or previous year's teacher.
- For grades 7-12, have one evaluation form completed by a current English or Social Studies teacher and the second by a Math or Science teacher.
- Results of the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) which includes a writing sample
- Any additional standardized testing reports (if available), i.e. Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), Stanford Achievement Test, Scholastic Aptitude Test, the WASL replacement: Washington State High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) or the Measurements of Student Progress (Washington elementary and middle school exam).
- Classroom Visit (optional, but highly recommended)
- Other supplemental materials provided by the family, current school or Health care professional (optional)
Click here for a printable checklist 
In addition to reviewing all required documentation (Refer to Q2), Admission Committee members consider the following: academic ability, attitude, emotional maturity and sociability, character, activities and interests, outstanding talent, diversity, and any relationship to the school. Other factors taken into consideration include the number of openings available per grade level, gender balance, the composition of the current class which means the chemistry, personality and interaction of classmates at a given grade level. In essence, the "match" or "fit" between the school and the applicant is an extremely important one. Careful consideration is given to each and every applicant.
Overlake's Financial Aid Program supports the school's goal to increase socioeconomic diversity in the classroom, meet enrollment goals, promote access and opportunity to qualified students and support The Overlake School mission.
The Overlake School Financial Aid Committee offers aid to qualified students on the basis of financial need and the availability of funds. All accepted students who qualify for aid and meet financial aid application deadlines will be offered an award, though we may not be able to meet every family's full need.
Families must apply for Financial Aid each year so that we can determine changes in their financial situation and take into consideration any tuition increases or other factors that may affect the tuition award. Overlake strives to provide the original level (as a percentage of tuition) of funding through graduation provided the student continues to qualify for that level. This provides a sense of security to the family and aids in retaining students.
Each year we begin with a new class of 32 fifth graders (two sections of 16). In sixth grade, 24-32 new students are added, for a total range of 56-64 students. For seventh grade—depending on the previous year's sixth grade enrollment—0-8 students are added, for a total of 64 students, and in ninth grade 11 new students are added. There may be additional openings in grades 6, 7, and 9, due to attrition. Openings in grades 8, 10, 11, and 12 are created through attrition only.
Grades 9-12 are considered fully enrolled with 75 students per grade level for a total of 300 Upper School students. Middle School, grades 5-8, is fully enrolled with a total of 224 students.
We receive applications from many schools including out-of-state and international schools. The greatest numbers of applicants live in Redmond, Bellevue, Woodinville, Kirkland, Sammamish, and Issaquah, with over a dozen other communities represented. Approximately 35% of our applicants attend public schools, 64% attend independent schools and 1% are home schooled.
In general, and depending on grade level, about one in three applicants are admitted.
Admission staff will call you to acknowledge the receipt of the application. At that time, we will schedule the applicant/parent interview and invite your child for an optional school-day visit. As the other required elements of the application are received by Admission, they are added to the applicant file. In February, for the Standard Application timeline, amd in late-October for the Sibling Early Decision timeline, we will notify you if any elements are still missing from the file, and an email will be sent to you when the file is complete. Those who use our online application are encouraged to check their file status online.
Note: Please allow 10 days after the due date -- Nov 16 for Sibling Early Decision applications, and January 13 for Standard applications -- before contacting the Admissions Office regarding receipt of materials. This provides our staff the necessary time to process the large volume of documents we’ve received.
Each year we receive applications from many more qualified candidates than we have openings. Decisions to admit, waitpool, or deny candidates are influenced by the pool of students applying. In addition to the academic and social profile of each applicant, we consider the right balance of skills and interests that each student would contribute to the group. Wait pooled candidates are re-evaluated if space becomes available in the grade to which they applied.
Yes, both wait pooled and denied applicants may submit a new application in subsequent years. It is processed just as if it were the first application, including a re-take of the ISEE, current teacher recommendations, and new essays. The previous year's file is available to the current Admission Committee for review.
At Overlake, we believe that an environment that includes people of diverse backgrounds adds to the quality of education. The Admission Committee conducts the admission process to achieve a class composition that is balanced and diverse in many respects. In addition to academic achievement and ability, applicant qualities and characteristics to be considered, include, but are not limited to: gender, socio-economic status, racial, ethnic and cultural background, and life experience.
In reviewing applicants for Overlake, the Admission Committee takes into consideration the overall ability of the student to be successful academically and socially in a rigorous academic environment. We find that some students who have special learning needs requiring minimal accommodations are able to do well at Overlake. All applicants, regardless of special learning needs, will be considered in the review process. However, it is important that parents know that we do have limitations regarding the types of accommodations we are able to provide, and in order for us to make well-informed decisions regarding an applicant with special learning needs, we require that parents fully disclose in the application all relevant information regarding the child’s learning needs. Our learning specialist reviews the information provided by the parents and with the applicant’s best interest in mind helps determine if Overlake is an appropriate placement where the applicant can be successful.
Grade-level committees of faculty members, administrators, and admission officers make admission decisions. Each completed file submitted by the deadline is independently reviewed by several committee members. After files are read and evaluated, the full committee meets to discuss the applicants and make admission decisions.
The Director of Admission organizes and prepares faculty and administrators to serve on admission review committees. The Director of Admission and the Director of Diversity sit on all committees. The Middle School Head sits on all middle school committees. The Head of the Upper School and Dean of Students sit on the upper school committee. There are three committees at the middle school level: 5, 6, and one for combined 7 & 8. There is one upper school committee encompassing grades 9–12. Committees range from 8 to 10 members.
The Admission Committees carefully consider each element of the application. Every element presents a unique look at an applicant’s academic and personal characteristics, which helps the Committees form an impression of the child as a whole.
The Admission Committees recognize that related families may want their child(ren) to attend The Overlake School. Related applicants are defined as siblings of current students, and the child(ren) or relatives of our alumni, faculty and staff. Related applicants are given extra consideration in the admission process. Extra consideration means that Admission Committee members who are reading applicant files are aware of the related status and that the committee discusses the related status during its meetings to select applicants who will be offered admission. While related status does not guarantee admission, since each applicant will be considered based on his/her own merit, being a part of the related group is an extra, positive factor that the Admission Committees interpret as contributing to the school community. Related status may serve as a tie-breaker in some situations.
The Sibling Early Decision (SED) process is open to any current family who would like to apply early for another child. Our goal is to provide an opportunity for current families to apply prior to the Standard Application process and to receive an early decision. The SED process is the same process as the Standard Review timeline, but simply moves up the timeline for a sibling applicant. As the chart below details, a sibling applicant will know their status by mid December. Sibling applicants may choose to apply early, in September, or wait for the Standard Review process beginning in December.
|
Standard |
SED |
Initial Application |
Mid December |
Mid October |
ISEE Taken |
First week in January |
First week in November |
Completed application |
Mid January |
Mid November |
Notification Letter Sent |
Mid March |
Mid December |
Please visit the Timeline page for additional information.
Meeting the application deadline and submitting a completed file on time is essential. Overlake seeks to enroll children who do well in school, academically and socially, who love learning and those who enjoy pursuing new opportunities.
Parents are expected and encouraged to get to know their child's teachers and support the child's academic and co-curricular activities. In addition, parents play a vital role in the success of the Overlake community. The Parent Faculty Staff Association (PFSA) supports the school and its programs by sponsoring monthly meetings, parent education seminars, social events, teacher/staff appreciation, an annual auction, a grants program for special projects, athletic booster club, Overlake Friends of the Arts, Parent Net and the ski bus program.
Similar to most independent schools, Overlake does not receive any public funding. Therefore, we are dependent upon tuition, contributions and endowment investment income to fund our annual operating budget. Approximately 85% of the cost of educating each student comes from tuition. The remaining 15% comes from Annual Fund contributions, the parent association auction and investment income. In addition, the school periodically undertakes capital campaigns to raise funds for specific projects. Currently, the school is in a capital campaign—Learning, Leadership, Legacy—to raise $15 million to build a new Humanities Building, a new Technology/Language Center and a new Fifth/Sixth Grade Center.
Each year, we ask every family to consider an Annual Fund gift that is significant to them and to support the auction. We will also be asking each family to consider a larger gift to the capital campaign that will be paid out over three to five years. In addition, the Overlake Athletics Club (OAC) and the Overlake Friends of the Arts (OFTA) may do small fundraising sales and students may raise funds for various charities, which your family may or may not wish to participate in.
The Overlake School welcomes applications from International students. Entering students must be fluent in English and able to fully engage in a college preparatory curriculum. The Overlake School does not offer English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. All applicants, regardless of citizenship, submit the same application materials, including the results of the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE). After an International applicant is offered admission and enrolls, Admissions will assist the student in completing the I-20 form. Students are responsible for finding their own housing. We do not have dormitories nor do we arrange homestays.
Please visit the Transportation page for further information.
Please visit the Directions page for further information.
If you have any problems or additional questions, please contact:
Lori Maughan, M.Ed.
Director of Admission
Email: lmaughan@overlake.org
Phone: 425-868-6191, ext. 616
Financial Aid FAQ
- What is the Overlake School’s financial aid policy?
- Does Applying for aid affect my child’s chances of admission?
- Are there any special obligations for student who receive financial aid?
- How do I start the financial aid application process?
- If parents are divorced or separated, who must file a financial statement?
- How is financial aid determined?
- Will my financial aid application be kept confidential?
- What happens if we miss the deadlines?
- If my student receives an award for the first year at Overlake, will the amount change in subsequent years?
- Is financial assistance available for expenses beyond tuition?
- What is the Malone Foundation Scholarship?
- To whom can I talk if I have questions?
The Overlake School Financial Aid committee offers aid to qualified students on the basis of financial need and the availability of funds. Financial aid decisions are made independent of admission decisions; all accepted students who qualify for aid and meet financial aid deadlines will be offered an award, though we may not meet every family’s full need.
Admission decisions are made separately from financial aid decisions. Enrollment decisions are based on personal and academic qualifications without regard to their financial need.
The Overlake School maintains the same standards of behavior and academic performance for recipients of financial aid as it does for students not receiving financial aid.
First read the Financial Aid Application Process document. Then file an application either online or using the paper version available through our office. The online version is available at the NAIS website. Families may request a paper copy of the financial aid application by contacting the Overlake financial aid office at 425-868-6191, ext. 613, or by sending a message to bdraper@overlake.org.
If you wish to receive a paper application, they will be available after December 1, 2010. A “Parents’ Financial Statement” (PFS) should be completed and mailed or sent on-line to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (P.O. Box 6657, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6657) no later than Thursday, February 3, 2011. Copies of your 2009 and 2010 tax returns, all supporting schedules and your W-2s should be sent to the Overlake Financial Aid office by February 3rd as well.
Business owners must fill out a Business and Farm Statement in addition to the required information listed above.
Overlake endorses the recommended policy of the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS). This policy states that parents have an obligation to pay for the educational expenses of their children to the extent they are able and that takes precedence over the school’s responsibility to provide financial assistance. While the remarriage of either parent creates a new family unit with new relationships, the natural (or adoptive) parents still have responsibility for educational expenses despite any legal agreements to the contrary. Therefore, the resources of the entire new family unit are considered pertinent. Each parent submits a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) and follows the procedures listed above. We will waive the requirement for financial information from a non-custodial parent if the location of the non-custodial parent is unknown or we have documented information that the non-custodial parent provides no support and has not been in contact with the student for two years. If there are other extenuating circumstances that might warrant waiving this requirement, written requests should be sent to the Overlake financial aid office.
Financial aid awards are determined through analysis of each family’s financial resources, including income, assets, financial obligations, unusual expenses, family size, and other children attending independent schools or colleges. To determine fair and equitable awards, Overlake subscribes to the principles and needs analysis system of the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS). Families submit a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) for processing to SSS which then forwards the results to Overlake. In addition, families are required to submit photocopies of their completed 2009 and 2010 tax returns with all schedules and W-2s to the Overlake School Office of Financial Aid. Using individual information and uniform guidelines, the financial aid committee makes decisions about financial aid awards. There is often some variation between the Service’s estimation of a family’s financial need and what Overlake actually awards. This is because SSS merely keys in information, while Overlake’s Director of Financial Aid reviews and recalculates the family’s financial profile.
Yes. All financial information and awards are kept in strict confidence. Only the Director of Financial Aid has access to the financial forms you submit and only the financial aid committee will be aware of your request for financial assistance. In the case of separated and/or divorced parents, no information will be given by the school to either parent regarding the other parent’s financial disclosures.
Meeting the February 3, 2011 deadline is imperative. We do not reserve funds beyond the initial round of awards allocated in March. Late applicants and families whose Parents’ Financial Statement and/or tax forms are received after stated deadlines may find that funding is not available. Families applying late should contact the financial aid office to discuss funding availability.
It is possible. Parents are required to apply for aid annually because changes in family resources may affect the size of the awards. The student will continue to receive tuition assistance from year to year, provided the student’s family demonstrates financial need and the student continues to meet the required academic and behavioral standards of the school. Although changes in tuition and student population may affect the amount of funding available in the financial aid budget, Overlake strives to fund a student at the same level through graduation assuming a family’s calculated need does not change.
Yes. A percentage of the student’s total award is placed in the student’s account to be used for additional educational expenses such as textbooks and Project Week expenses. The amount of the funding for educational expenses will change from year to year depending on available funds and the number of recipients.
In 2007, The Malone Family Foundation awarded The Overlake School a $2 million gift used to establish an endowment to support our Malone Scholars Program. Because of this generous gift, The Overlake School is proud to offer Malone Scholarships to several students each year.
While the Malone Scholarship Award conveys special recognition or honor, the dollar amount is based upon family need as calculated through the financial aid process. The recipients of The Malone scholarship receive 100 % of calculated financial need based on Student and School Services (SSS) guidelines and The Overlake School Financial Aid Policies. This award covers tuition as well as educational, co-curricular and transportation expenses.
Who is eligible?
- Students applying to or entering the seventh through eleventh grade at The Overlake School
- Academically strong students as evidenced by their grade reports and Independent School Entrance Examinations (ISEE) scores
- Motivated students who exhibit leadership achievement, exemplary character and potential for contributing to the Overlake Community and beyond
- Students that apply and qualify for at least 30% of tuition in financial aid funds in accordance with School and Student Service (SSS) guidelines
- Students must be United States (US) citizens
All students applying for financial aid are automatically considered for this scholarship by the Overlake Malone Scholarship Committee. Malone Scholars are notified of their awards when they receive their enrollment or re-enrollment agreements.
Please contact:
Brenda Draper
Director of Financial Aid
Assistant Director of Admission
Email: bdraper@overlake.org
Phone: 425-868-6191, ext. 613