DEAR PARENTS,

Thank you for your interest in applying to have your child attend the Ron Clark Academy! RCA is a private middle school for grades 4th-8th. We select students who we feel will receive the most benefit from our innovative approaches to education.

We only accept applications from October 1–October 31st for current 3rd students who are residents of the state of Georgia. Therefore, your child must be a 3rd grader in the fall of 2020 and your family must reside in Georgia at the time of applying. Regardless of the situation, we do not accept applications for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, and there is no waiting list.

The Ron Clark Academy is inclusive, benefiting students regardless of gender, race, socio-economic status or religion. The Ron Clark Academy accepts all different types of students. Some are gifted, some have achieved average results in school, and some have yet to reach their academic potential.

The financial status of our families varies as well, from high income to low income situations. The majority of our students come from low income families. Tuition is based on a sliding scale and is dependent upon a family's income, which is inclusive of child support, alimony, disability and any other type of income that contributes to the household.

As part of acceptance to the Academy, parents are required to sign a Contract of Obligation. This document pledges their support of the Academy's discipline and attendance policies and commitment to the academic pursuits of their children. Parents are also required to volunteer 40 hours per school year at the Academy.

In order to apply, simply fill out the online application. Applications will only be accepted online. RCA does not hold open house tours for prospective students.

Email: admissions@ronclarkacademy.com

Monthly Tuition Scale*

When determining your household income, please remember the following: if two parents live together in the home, even if one parent is a step-parent, the combined income must be submitted. If biological parents are not in the same household (but they share care of the child) both incomes must be reported. If parents are divorced, any child support or alimony must be reported and if a parent does not file, an IRS Verification of Nonfiling Letter (4506-T) will be required during enrollment.

Household Income Total Number of Dependents

1 2 3 4+

Under $30,000 $40 $30 $20 $20

$30,000–$34,999 $50 $40 $30 $20

$35,000–$39,999 $60 $50 $40 $30

$40,000–$44,999 $80 $60 $50 $40

$45,000–$49,999 $100 $80 $60 $50

$50,000–$59,999 $120 $90 $70 $60

$60,000–$69,999 $150 $120 $80 $70

$70,000–$79,999 $200 $150 $120 $80

$80,000-$89,999 $300 $200 $150 $100

$90,000-$99,999 $450 $350 $250 $150

$100,000-$119,999 $600 $500 $400 $300

$120,000-139,999 $700 $600 $500 $400

$140,000-$169,999 $1000 $900 $700 $600

$170,000+ $1500 $1500 $1200 $1000

* Please note these figures are subject to change. Tuition is due on the first of each month.

HOUSEHOLD INCOME: Household income is based on a family’s adjusted gross income and verified by their most recent year’s 1040 tax filings.

FULL TUITION: Full tuition for families not seeking financial aid is $18,000 per year.

TUITION & FINANCIAL AID

In order to determine the Tuition Scale for each family, the Ron Clark Academy will request a Financial Statement.

TUITION FOR SIBLINGS Tuition for siblings will be half the regular monthly payment for each additional child.

Important • Applications will only be accepted online. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2020. • When applying, your child must be currently enrolled in the 3rd grade. • Your family must be currently living in Georgia. • Submitting an application does not guarantee placement at the Ron Clark Academy. • Submitting an additional application will void the previous application. • Falsifying information to gain entrance will void your child's eligibility to attend the

Academy. • The domestic and international trips at RCA are part of the educational experience. They

are not optional. The trips are not guaranteed. • Parental involvement is key to the success of the Ron Clark Academy. Parents/Guardians

are expected to contribute at least 40 hours of service per enrolled student at the Ron Clark Academy.

• Students are expected to remain a student at the Ron Clark Academy for 4 - 5 years, respectfully.

Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for admission to RCA? The admissions process opens in the fall of each school year. All students must enter RCA as a 4th grade student. Applications are available online during the time of admissions (October 1st- October 31st). Does RCA consider students with different types of learning needs? Yes. RCA selects students with varying academic abilities, from those who are gifted to students who have not yet reached their academic potential. If a child has identified disabilities under a current IEP, he/she may or may not be considered for admission, based on the school’s available resources to meet that child’s specific needs. What type of students is RCA looking for? The admissions committee selects students who they feel would benefit the most from the style of educational program we offer. We strive to have learners from various academic levels and backgrounds. How many students will be accepted? Enrollment is based on the number of scholarships that have been sponsored by individual and corporate donors at the time that the admissions acceptance letters go out. Our average class size is 30 students.

Will there be a waiting list? No. There is never a waiting list under any circumstance. What if my child isn't entering the 4th grade? Unfortunately, we are only able to select students who are entering the 4th grade. Our goal is to make a tremendous impact on our students; therefore, we have designed a four-year program of study. Students are not admitted in grades six through eight. Does the Academy give special consideration to the sibling(s) of current RCA students when they apply? While we are truly a family-focused environment, our enrollment numbers are typically limited to a maximum of 30 students per grade level. With that being the case, it is quite plausible that we could have an entire grade filled with siblings of current students. In order to truly honor our mission to serve a broad Atlanta community from various cross-sections, we simply cannot give special consideration to siblings. Thus, they go through the exact same admissions process as everyone else, and we measure each applicant based upon his/her own individual merits.

Can I retain my child in the 4th grade so that he/she may apply to RCA? No, we do not allow a child to be retained simply to meet admission requirements. How much is tuition? Click on our Monthly Tuition Scale to see a guideline of what applicants can expect to pay. Tuition includes uniforms, lunches, and most supplies. It does not include after school fees. There is also a requirement for 40 community service hours at the school that parents must commit to completing each year.

If I am able to pay my child’s full tuition, does he/she automatically get a slot? Students who can pay full tuition ($18,000 a year) will be considered, but they are not guaranteed admission. These students follow the exact same process as any other applicant.

What is the school calendar? What are the hours of operation? The school year begins the first week of September. Major holidays closely follow the calendar for Atlanta City and/or Fulton County Schools. The school day runs from 8:00AM – 4:00 PM daily; for an additional fee an after school program is available until 5:45 PM each day.

Do you have a bus program? No. Parents must provide transportation to and from the school each day for their child. We are not a boarding school, so we do not provide housing for any students.

Will my child really travel around the world? Perhaps. RCA places an emphasis on global travel, and we travel when funding is made available. International travel is not guaranteed, but it is highly emphasized as a part of our curriculum. Parents must permit their children to travel with our staff; parents do not accompany us on these trips. Parents are sometimes asked to contribute to the travel fees. If a parent is uncomfortable with this, then RCA probably is not the right school for his/her child.

How many students will be accepted? We want to manage expectations for all applicants; we typically have several hundred applicants and only 32 openings each year. However, we are grateful for your interest and we would be delighted to interview your child to see if he/she is a good fit for our school.

The Ron Clark Academy 228 Margaret St Atlanta, GA 30315

Phone: 678-651-2100

Email: admissions@ronclarkacademy.com