FAQ

The admission interview takes about 15 to 30 minutes. One of the Admission’s Officers will want to learn about your academic interests, as well as your involvement and interest in the arts, sports and extracurricular activities. The goal of the interview is to get to know what kind of student and person you are. This is also a time for you to ask questions.

This is an opportunity for parents to ask additional questions about Solebury School and our programs and to offer information about the needs and aspirations of their child.

Parents drive or car pool students and the following local Pennsylvania school districts provide transportation for Solebury School day students: Central Bucks; Council Rock; New Hope-Solebury; Palisades and Pennridge. We run a fleet of vans that provide transportation to students in various parts of New Jersey including Princeton, as well as Yardley, PA. There is a fee for this service. Transportation is arranged during the registration process.

Once a student has completed our application process and has been accepted to Solebury School, and we have your signed contract and payment, we will then send the I-20, which is needed to obtain a F-1 visa.

At any time during the admission process, we would love to schedule a time for you to spend the day with us. We will try to arrange a schedule that allows you to see the areas of the school you are most interested in. You'll be paired with a current student who will host you for the day. Your day will include lunch with your host and other students and an interview. Your visit will include a tour of the campus if you have not already had one.

No.

All students should expect to have 30-45 minutes of homework per school night in each full-credit subject. Most students will have some daytime study hours available, but almost all students will find that they need to do homework in the evening as well.

Yes and yes.

All school computers use the Windows 7 platform. In the library and computer room, there are 25 desktop computers with Internet T-1 hookups. A color printer, laser jet printer, and scanner are also available. All campus computers have Internet capabilities and are connected to the Solebury network. Both the Science and Math departments have a networked IBM-compatible system. The Science and Foreign Language departments each maintain a computerized laboratory containing 16 wireless laptops for use in classes, while the Math department has use of two laboratories containing a total of 39 computers. Computers for student use can also be found in the English as a Second Language Suite, Learning Skills, and the girls and boys dormitories.

Solebury School's teachers are readily available to help students outside of class. There is time in every school day when students can see teachers, all of whom have designated office hours throughout the week.

The Peer Tutoring program has a number of student volunteers to tutor other students who need extra help in particular classes.

Solebury offers two programs to help students with learning differences learn coping strageties so that they can fulfill their potential. Please see the Learning Skills section and Math Enrichment Support Program section of the website for more information in these areas.

Yes. The advisor is a teacher or administrator who is assigned to help with navigating the “ins and outs” of Solebury School. He or she is usually the first point-of-contact for parents to call with any questions regarding their child. New students are assigned an advisor at the opening of school. Advisory meetings are held every Monday from 3:10 – 3:30 p.m. Advisory is a time when students have an opportunity to touch base with their advisors and fellow students who share that advisor. It is a time to discuss any academic or social issues, and the meeting might include an outing and food.

Both boarding and day students are welcome to participate in weekend activities, which are planned by the faculty members (four faculty members are on duty (OD) each weekend) and the students themselves. Trips to New York City and Philadelphia, as well as to Great Adventure, take place during the year. The New Hope area is also full of many recreational opportunities; bicycling and hiking on the canal path and canoeing and tubing on the Delaware River are popular. Students often go into town or nearby malls to shop and to see movies. Boarding students who have parental permission may visit day students' homes on the weekends.

Solebury’s school nurse is an RN and pediatric nurse-practitioner. She oversees the student health services, provides minor medical care on campus, counsels students on health and personal issues, and is responsible for assuring that students receive proper care for any illnesses. The school uses the services of the Phillips Barber Health Center in Lambertville, New Jersey when students need to see a physician.

Daytime Study Halls – Supervised study hall will be held either in the Learning Skills Suite or in the dining hall during the designated period. All students who do not have classes must attend, except seniors in good standing (i.e., not on Academic Warning), and underclass-persons on honors.

Evening Study Hours – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, are designated for study. All boarding students are expected to be in a supervised study hall, except when they have earned "Room Study."

During the summer the Dean’s Office sends out a questionnaire to new students to help determine to best roommate matches. Returning students have the option each year to choose their roommates or whether they would like to room with a new student.

Our international student population ranges each year from 25-30 students from a number of countries. The Full-Year ESL Program enrolls about 15-20 students and offers challenging classes to improve English proficiency.

All students are required to participate in a supervised afternoon team sport or activity each trimester. Team sports meet 5 days a week from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and involve additional time for practice and games. Other activities meet only 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday). Students select activities from a list of choices during registration for classes each trimester. Participation in a physical activity is required during at least two of the three trimesters. While there is a wide offering of team sports from which to choose, we recognize that our students have a variety of interests and thus do not require students to do interscholastic athletics.