Frequently Asked Questions: Admission and Affordability

The priority application deadline for the upcoming school year is February 1st.   Since availability is limited, it is best to start the process early.

The Oakridge Admission committee will do a holistic review of each student's admission file prior to making an enrollment offer.  Several items are included in this review:

• The application
• Previous school transcript(s) or report card(s)
• Completed recommendation form(s)
• Admission placement testing
• School-day classroom visit (when applicable)
• Interview

Finding the right fit, at the right time, for your child is very important to us. 

• Our preschool curriculum is designed for 3-year-olds.
• We use the birthday cutoff date of September 1.

More than likely, the answer is yes. Depending on the date and type of placement testing, this requirement may be waived. Usually, students need to retest, just like we need to receive updated grades and recommendations from the current school year.

Admissions testing is meant to assess the current academic level of your child, so no extra studying is needed for the exam.   We will have all needed testing materials and snacks/water as needed during testing.

Our students come from public and private schools and over 80 zip codes in the Dallas/Arlington/Fort Worth area. Each year, students relocate from out of state and abroad. 

The Oakridge community also includes international students and in cooperation with the United States Department of Homeland Security, issues I-20 student visas when applicable.

Each year roughly 120 to 140 new students join the Oakridge family. 

We understand that the cost of attending an independent school requires making a significant investment in your child’s education and future. Recognizing that every situation is unique, we are committed to working with each family to find ways to make an Oakridge education a reality. The Oakridge School's Tuition Assistance Committee seeks to assist qualified students whose families could not otherwise afford a private school education.

Tuition assistance is a grant, not a loan, given to qualifying families based on financial need to offset the costs of an Oakridge education. The grant does not have to be repaid. Families who have students entering first through twelfth grade are eligible to apply for need-based assistance. 

Financial grants are applied to the basic tuition and fees. Costs not included in tuition and fees include uniforms, lunches, fees for optional clubs/activities, and textbooks for grades 5-12.  Based on a family’s demonstrated financial need, textbook awards may be offered to help offset the costs of textbooks.  

The reviews for admission and tuition assistance are independent of each other.  The admission decision is based on your child’s academic and overall fit for The Oakridge School.  Families who have completed their Clarity application will be notified of their tuition assistance award at the time of enrollment.

Yes! Each year, Oakridge makes grants of various amounts. We recognize that every family situation is different and that even a small amount of assistance can make a critical difference for many families.

Oakridge offers need-based tuition assistance but we do not award merit or athletic scholarships.  Families filing for tuition assistance must re-submit their applications each year. Financial aid may be filed by new and returning families annually.  A complete financial aid file consists of the full tax return, 1099’s or W2’s, and the parents’ financial statement submitted via Clarity.

To apply for tuition assistance, visit Clarity to complete the application.  Oakridge uses the calculations provided by Clarity, a third-party organization, as a starting point in determining the demonstrated need of a family. Other factors taken into consideration include the information provided in the Self-Report of Monthly Income, tax forms, the number of children in tuition-bearing schools, as well as extenuating circumstances.   In most cases, the review of tax returns will include the prior year filings.