Applying to North Cross

2020-21 ACADEMIC YEAR APPLICATION DEADLINES AND FEES
Admission Timeline
Application Deadline
Fee
Admission Decision Date
​Regular Admission
​Rolling*
​$75
​Rolling
International Students: Regular Admission​
Rolling​
$125
​Rolling
​Financial Aid (Tailored Tuition)
​June 15, 2020†
$35
​By the 15th of each month
*Online application must be received before testing can be scheduled.
†Financial Aid through our Tailored Tuition program is available. We encourage families to apply early.
We sincerely appreciate your interest in attending North Cross School. To get started on an application, follow these simple requirements. For all students:
  • After submitting your online inquiry (which sets you up in our system), the admission office will instruct you to set up an account in FACTS. If you need help, you can always call Lauren Horner at (540) 989-6641. ​
  • Application requirements are listed for each grade level below and include:
    • Application fee (see chart above)
    • Authorization to release information (give to your current school to authorize them to release documents to North Cross)
    • Current teacher recommendations
    • On-campus interview and assessment​
Notice of Nondiscrimination
​North Cross School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, or any other legally protected status in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid or employment policies, or any other programs administered by the School. See our Inclusivity Statement to better understand our mission.

​Campus Visits
The Admission Office welcomes the opportunity to take you on a tour of our campus. For those applicants seeking admission to Grades 2–12, a class visitation can be scheduled in addition to the tour. Some families may also find it helpful to arrange a meeting with a division director to discuss expectations and curricular requirements. Just let us know!

For questions on the application process, including Tailored Tuition, contact David Lake, Director of Admission, Monday through Friday 8am-4pm, at 540-989-6641 ext. 258 or dlake@northcross.org. 

Program-Specific Requirements

  • Early Childhood Program
  • Lower School (K-5)
  • Middle / Upper School (6-12)
  • International
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Ages 3–5
Junior Kindergarten-3 (3- or 5-day, half-day program): 7:50am – 1:00pm
Junior Kindergarten-4 (5-day half- or full-day program) 7:50am – 1:00pm or 2:50pm
Junior Kindergarten-5 (5-day, full-day program): 7:50am – 2:50pm
  • For JK-3, child must be three years old by September 1 of the academic year and be fully toilet trained
  • ​Application Fee (see chart above)
  • Teacher Recommendation (if applicable)
  • Birth Certificate
  • Assessment Testing (scheduled upon submission of both the Application and Application Fee)
Parents of applicants should give the Teacher Recommendation Form to your child's current teacher to be completed and returned directly to North Cross by the teacher as soon as possible.
  • ​Application Fee (see chart)
  • Teacher Recommendation
  • Transcript Request 
  • Birth Certificate
  • Assessment Testing (scheduled upon submission of both the Application and Application Fee)
Parents of applicants should submit the signed Permission to Release Student Records Form to the main office of your child's school and the Teacher Recommendation Form to your child's current teacher. When the forms are completed, they should be mailed by the school directly to North Cross along with a copy of your child's school records including grades from the previous two years and recent standardized testing scores.
  • ​Application Fee (see chart above)
  • English Recommendation
  • Math Recommendation
  • Transcript Request 
  • Student Questionnaire
  • Assessment Testing (scheduled upon submission of both the Application and Application Fee)
Parents of applicants should submit the signed Permission to Release Student Records Form to the main office at your child's school and the Teacher Recommendation Form to your child's current English and Math teachers. When the forms are completed, they should be mailed by the school directly to North Cross along with a copy of your child's school records including grades from the previous two years and recent standardized testing scores.

Applicants should also complete the Student Questionnaire and return it to the Admission Office along with the completed application and application fee.

For Upper School applicants looking to board at our downtown dormitory, our boarding provider, Wilson International, LLC, will offer an agreement contract to families after acceptance to North Cross.
  • Application: International
  • $125 Application Fee
  • Demonstration of English Proficiency (TOEFL required)
  • Additional admission testing (determined by the Admission Office as necessary)
  • Complete academic transcript
  • English Teacher Recommendation
  • Math Teacher Recommendation
  • Interview (student visit or via Internet)
  • Copy of passport
Parents of applicants should submit the signed Permission to Release Student Records Form to the main office at your child's school and the Teacher Recommendation Form to your child's current English and Math teachers. When the forms are completed, they should be mailed by the school directly to North Cross along with a copy of your child's school records, including grades from the previous two years and recent standardized testing scores.

Applicants should also complete the Student Questionnaire and return it to the Admission Office along with the completed application and application fee.​
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After we review your application and records, our Admission Committee will offer an acceptance letter.  When you accept admission, North Cross will apply for a Federal Government of the United States I-20 Immigration form through SEVIS. As the applicant, you are responsible for paying the $350 SEVIS fee.
  1. North Cross School will send an acceptance packet containing: A cover letter with instructions, an I-20 SEVIS Immigration Document (original – must be kept with student at all times), and our acceptance letter.
  2. Submit an updated immunization and health record.
  3. Submit documented proof of a personal primary health insurance policy with a company in good standing and authorized to operate in the United States (see International Tuition and Fees below for more information).
  • Pay tuition - Tuition for the 2020-21 year for grades 8-12 is $19,950. In addition to tuition and the boarding fee, international families are expected to budget approximately an additional $4,200 for the school year to cover costs such as school lunches, breakfasts, and class fees. Families will be billed through their Smart Tuition account.
  • ​International students are also required to purchase Student Accident Insurance in addition to their major medical plan.
  • English Language Support (ELS) is available through a private tutor and may be required as a condition of initial enrollment or to maintain an acceptable academic standard.  ELS tutor fees range from $40/hour (group sessions) to $80/hour (individual sessions). 
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When payments are due:
International students will pay their tuition, international fees, and boarding fees prior to North Cross School’s issuing the I-20 form. Returning international students will pay the advance deposit when they submit their re-enrollment contract and then submit the remainder of the tuition prior to June 20. 

Room and boarding fees:
A room and boarding fee of $22,500, payable to the boarding company, is due in full by July 1 of the student's enrolling year. Click here for details and features of our boarding program.

Medical insurance coverage:
International students enrolled at North Cross School must be covered by a personal primary health insurance policy. During their stay in the U.S., foreign national students must acquire and possess health insurance from ISM, a U.S. insurance firm which serves as our international students’ primary source for medical insurance coverage. In addition, international students must purchase a secondary student accident insurance policy to defray medical costs up to $1,000 due to accidental injury, on or off campus, from August-July of each year. This additional coverage is for incidents which might not be covered by their primary insurance carrier.

Returning International Students:
  1. In February of each year, after teacher recommendations and administrative approval of a student’s return, North Cross School will present each international family with the North Cross School Re-Enrollment Contract. It will be available online through our family portal, on-Campus.
  2. To re-enroll and reserve their child’s place for the upcoming academic year, families will submit the Re-Enrollment contract and pay the advance deposit of $1,000.
  3. In addition, families will submit documented proof of a personal primary health insurance policy through ISM.
  4. By June 20: Pay tuition as directed by North Cross School international admissions for the student’s appropriate grade level.

Remember:  When arriving on campus you must present your passport and I-20.
In order for the North Cross admissions team to get to know our international applicants better, we have partnered with Vericant. Vericant will conduct video interviews and short writing samples with our applicants in Mainland China. Vericant does not evaluate candidates but, instead, posts the interviews online for our admissions team to review. To learn more about Vericant and to schedule an interview, please visit Vericant's Website. 
By offering Tailored Tuition, North Cross provides an affordable education for many families in the Roanoke Valley and helps fulfill the school’s objective to compose a diverse student body—one that is able to make full use of the school’s academic, athletic, and artistic offerings. After all, with more bright young minds in a classroom, the better off our students and teachers are.​​​
​Tailored Tuition is determined by needs methodology used by FACTS and established by the National Association for Independent Schools. 

1. Submit the application online. 

2. Submit the following documents (or copies of). Your documents will be handled with the utmost level of security. 
  • Current Form 1040, Individual Income Tax Return, signed, with all schedules: In the absence of a current, filed tax return, you must provide a written, signed statement documenting the reason. (Returning families who have never submitted financial information need to upload the two most current years of tax documentation.)
  • All applicable documentation of income: W-2 or 1099 statements, unemployment statement, etc. 
  • Current paycheck stubs from each employer
  • IRS Form 4506-T with items 1-4 completed:  Click here to download. 
  • Corporate tax return, if the applicant owns all or part of a business or working farm
The school reserves the right to request additional financial information. Families should make the Tailored Tuition Committee aware of any circumstances not specifically represented on the PFS or tax documentation. 
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​The School respects the confidentiality of the financial information it receives from parents and protects the identity of all families receiving Tailored Tuitions. This information will be reviewed only by those persons directly involved in the decision-making process or in its administration. 

Both the Chair of the Tailored Tuition Committee and the receiving parents must sign an agreement for a Tailored Tuition. All Tailored Tuitions are confidential contractual agreements between the recipient family and the School. 

In the administration of its Tailored Tuition program, North Cross School does not discriminate on the basis of race, national, or ethnic origin.
North Cross School is excited to honor diverse and driven scholars and children/grandchildren of North Cross Alumni through merit-based scholarships. These programs, initiated by generous donors, are designed to maintain and grow the high quality of our student body.

All applicants must complete the school’s admission application and/or finalize re-enrollment. The completion of an application does not constitute admission to North Cross School or receipt of scholarship.

​The purpose of the Founders’ Scholarship and the DeHart-Grayson Alumni Scholarship programs is to attract and retain the best and brightest students in the Roanoke Valley and to assist these students in their efforts to attend North Cross School. 

Qualified applicants will have and maintain a GPA of 3.5 or greater and excel in one or more extra-curricular activities. These applicants will have demonstrated good character, citizenship, strong leadership abilities, and dedication to serving the community.

The Founders’ Scholarship Committee consists of the Headmaster, Middle and Upper School Division Directors, Director of Admission, a representative from the Board of Trustees, and a faculty representative from the Middle and Upper Schools. The Committee for the Alumni Scholarship is the same, however a member of our Alumni Boards is also present.

Applicants must complete the Founders’ Scholarship application or the Alumni Scholarship application and provide the following supporting documentation:
  • School transcript/GPA
  • Recent standardized testing
  • Activities and achievements
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Essay
  • For Alumni Scholarship: name(s) of related Alumna/us
For prospective students, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The application deadlines for students currently enrolled at North Cross School is April 1, 2019. 
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Available scholarship dollars will be expended to the extent of deserving applicants. Awards are applied as a percentage of the students’ annual tuition, with a maximum of 50 percent awarded to each student. Preference for applicants will be for upper school students although exceptional middle school students may be considered. Need-based assistance can be awarded in conjunction; however, the application process is separate and the combined awards may not be greater than 85 percent of tuition.

To retain eligibility for merit-based scholarships, Founders’ Scholars must continue to honorably demonstrate those ideals upon which the scholarship is based:  excellence in academics, extra-curricular interests, leadership, and community service.  Recipients must maintain a two-year cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better, with no individual trimester GPA of less than 3.33. A breach of the Honor Code or significant disciplinary offense will invalidate continued receipt of the award. ​