Garrison Forest empowers students to realize their full potential and live lives of purpose.

Garrison Forest School


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Thank you for your interest in Garrison Forest! We look forward to sharing the wonderful things that happen everyday on our campus with you and learning about your family as you explore how your child could thrive as a student at Garrison Forest.

Please explore our website to learn more about our rich academic and extracurricular programs, our day/boarding program, the benefits of all-girls’ education, and the Spirit of the Forest.

We invite you to visit campus to experience the Garrison Forest Spirit for yourself and to see why Garrison Forest students love going to school here. We are offering campus tours and an introduction to Garrison Forest every Tuesday at 10 a.m. Please call 410-559-3111 or email admission@gfs.org to learn more! 

All of us on the Admission team are here to help you navigate this process and answer any and all questions that you may have as you consider a new school.

We are accepting applications on a rolling basis for the Fall 2019 in grades where spaces remain. For questions about space availability, please call 410-559-3111.

APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR FALL 2020

For students applying to day school from Kindergarten through Grade 11, the Online Application form is due by December 13, 2019. Our preschool accepts applications on a rolling basis until a class is full. Please call 410-559-3221 to set up a Preschool tour.

Supplemental forms, Teacher Recommendations and a scheduled visit are due by January 10, 2020.

For students applying to boarding school from Grade 8 through Grade 11, the Online Application form is due by January 31, 2020.

Supplemental forms, Teacher Recommendations and a scheduled interview for boarding applicants are due by February 11, 2020.

Garrison Forest is one of the Baltimore area schools using a web-based application called Ravenna for the submission of online applications. Ravenna allows you to efficiently apply to schools and track the status of your application online.  Additionally, through Ravenna you will be able to schedule admission events and view decision notification.
 
How to start
To begin your application, go to Ravenna and create an account.  Make sure to create your account using an email address you will have access to throughout the admission season as this will be your primary email contact with our school.
 
Support or Help
If at any point you should have a question about Ravenna and your application, please contact them at help@ravennasolutions.com.  Ravenna is happy to answer your inquiry by phone, however, they require that all support inquiries are initiated through the email address you used to create your Ravenna account.  It is important that they are able to validate your access to any information about your applicant’s account to protect your privacy.

STANDARDIZED TESTING

Either the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) or Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is required for all applicants in grades 5-12 to Garrison Forest School. Test results should be sent directly to Garrison Forest by including our school code on the registration form. You may register for the ISEE on the web at www.iseetest.org or for the SSAT at www.ssat.org. GFS code for the ISEE: 210580. GFS code for the TOEFL: 5267

Garrison Forest will be hosting ISEE testing on our campus on Saturday, November 9, 2019 and Saturday, December 7, 2019. To take the ISEE on our campus, register on the ISEE website at www.iseetest.org

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the TOEFL Junior is also required for all International Students applying to grades 8-12.

A Vericant interview is required for all students from China. The Vericant assessment and writing sample will be sent to our office for review. If students successfully complete this assessment, the required personal interview and campus visit can be scheduled.

FINANCIAL AID

You can learn more about financing a Garrison Forest education and our financial aid process here. For answers to commonly asked questions, visit our FAQ's. 
 

NOTIFICATION OF DECISIONS

Each of our applicants will receive a written notice or a phone call telling them when their application folder is complete. Our Admission Committees will meet during late January and February to review all complete applications. We will announce day student decisions for all complete applicants on February 20, 2020. Boarding decisions will be announced on March 10, 2020. Feel free to contact a member of the Admission Team after decisions are announced with any questions or concerns regarding your child.

Newly accepted families are encouraged to return to our campus to celebrate your child's acceptance and to get to know us better.

Contact

Phone: (410) 559-3111

Fax: (410) 363-8441

Email: admission@gfs.org

Office Hours:

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the academic school year

9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during summer months and holidays

What does the research show?

Subtracting boys from a girl’s school environment simply adds up to many more opportunities—and better learning—for the girls.

Nearly 80% of girls’ schools students report most of their classes challenge them to achieve their full academic potential vs. 72.3% of girls at coed independent and 44.3% at coed public schools.- Dr. Richard A. Holmgren, Allegheny College, ‘Steeped in Learning: the Students Experience at All-Girls Schools

More positive academic and behavioral interactions [were observed] between teachers and students in the single-sex schools than in comparison to coed schools.- U.S. Department of Education, “Early Implementation of Public Single-Sex Schools: Perceptions and Characteristics.”

93% of girls’ school grads say they were offered greater leadership opportunities than peers at coed schools and 80% have held leadership positions since graduating from high school.- Goodman Research Group, “The Girls’ School Experience: A Survey of Young Alumnae of Single-Sex Schools”

Compared to coed peers, girls’ school grads are 3 times more likely to consider engineering careers.

Nearly 50% of all women graduating from girls’ schools rate their public speaking ability as high vs. 38% from coed schools.

Dr. Linda Sax, UCLA, “Women Graduates of Single-Sex and Coeducational High Schools: Difference in their Characteristics and the Transition to College”

Want to learn more? Visit the National Coalition of Girls Schools.