About Wait Pools
Each year Mounds Park Academy receives many more remarkably strong applications from potential students seeking admission than we are able to accommodate, both in terms of class space and Indexed Tuition.
To be considered, applications must be submitted in their entirety. The Admission Committees carefully and thoughtfully review each application that we receive. All of the students in MPA’s wait pools have met or exceeded MPA’s admission standards and, if applied for Indexed Tuition, demonstrated financial need.
Space Wait Pool
Space at MPA is thoughtfully limited due to our commitment to maintaining an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio and small class sizes—two of the reasons many families choose to pursue admission to MPA. Creating wait pools allows students to remain in consideration for admission should space become available in their respective grade level.
Indexed Tuition Wait Pool
Students in the Indexed Tuition wait pool have been offered admission, but no Indexed Tuition funds remain in our budget. These families are given the choice to enroll their student without Indexed Tuition or to remain in the Indexed Tuition wait pool to see if funds become available.
My child's application was placed in the space wait pool. What does this mean?
This means that MPA has received more applications for your child's grade level than we are able to accommodate. Offers for admission have been made for all open spaces, and a wait pool has been created for the remaining students. This will allow these applicants an opportunity to remain in consideration for admission should space become available. All of the students in MPA's wait pool have met or exceeded MPA's admission standards.
Why was my child's application placed in the space wait pool?
MPA's application pools are exceptionally strong, and attrition is low. The Admission Committees were tasked with choosing from many very highly qualified applicants. The Committees must consider class balance and make-up in all respects as they make offers of admission.
What should I tell my child?
This varies based on age, but please reassure your child that there is nothing that they could have done differently. The students in MPA's space wait pools are brilliant and kind young people whom we would love to welcome to MPA if space was available.
When will we know the final status of our application?
Initial wait pool openings, if any, will be determined leading up to and soon after April 11, 2025, MPA's first enrollment deadline. Openings may also become available later this spring or summer when there are changes to an enrolled student's plans to attend Mounds Park Academy. It is possible for a wait pool candidate to be invited for admission as early as April 1, 2025, and as late as August. The wait pool will close August 1, 2025, to prepare for the new school year.
If your child is selected from the wait pool, the Office of Admission will contact you immediately. You will have one week to accept this offer.
If your child is selected from the wait pool, the Office of Admission will contact you immediately. You will have one week to accept this offer.
What is the probability of wait pool applicants being invited for admission?
It varies each year, depending on the characteristics of the total applicant pool. It is possible that at least one or two openings will become available at each grade level.
Are wait pool applicants ranked in any way?
Mounds Park Academy does not rank applicants in the wait pool. As space becomes available, all wait pool candidates are individually reconsidered using the same process as was applied to the initial review. The Admission Committee will meet to re-review files and make decisions.
Should my child accept an invitation to attend another school?
If Mounds Park Academy is your first choice, we warmly encourage you to wait until at least April 19, 2024 before accepting admission to another school. If Mounds Park Academy is unable to offer your child a space, however, you will want the assurance of enrollment in another school of your choice. Please be aware that many schools charge a non-refundable enrollment deposit.
What if one of my children is placed in the space wait pool and one is offered admission?
Most families in this situation see MPA as their family's long-term school choice, so they accept the offer being made for the one child—even if that means having their children in two different schools for a period of time. Please note that when you accept an admission offer and enroll, your family is committing to a binding enrollment agreement that carries with it significant fees for withdrawing at a later date. It is important that a family is committed to sending the one student to MPA, regardless of if their other child is pulled out of the wait pool.
Can my child do anything to strengthen their chances of being selected from the space wait pool?
We recognize and appreciate the quality of their application already and no additional action is needed.
If my child is not selected from the space wait pool, will we be welcome to apply again next year?
Absolutely! We would love the opportunity to welcome your family to MPA in the future and will work with you to reapply for admission. Throughout the coming school year, we will continue to be in touch with your family and welcome you to campus.
My family's Indexed Tuition application was placed in the wait pool. What does this mean?
Each year, MPA receives more applications than it can accommodate with our Indexed Tuition budget. This results in the annual creation of a wait pool comprised of students whom we would absolutely love to welcome to our community, yet simply cannot offer Indexed Tuition to unless funds become available. A wait pool is created to offer these students an opportunity to remain in consideration for Indexed Tuition, should funds become available. All of the students in MPA's Indexed Tuition wait pool have met or exceeded MPA's admission standards.
What should I tell my child?
This varies based on age, but please reassure your child that there is nothing that they could have done differently. The students in MPA's wait pools are brilliant and kind young people whom we would love to welcome to MPA if Indexed Tuition were available.
What is the probability for Indexed Tuition wait pool applicants to be invited for admission?
It varies every year, depending on a variety of factors including the grade level, re-enrollment of current students, and new enrollment of prospective students.
When will we know the final status of our application?
Initial Indexed Tuition wait pool openings, if any, will be determined leading up to and soon after April 11, 2025, MPA's first enrollment deadline. In past years, additional openings have become available when there are changes in an enrolled student's plans to attend Mounds Park Academy. It is possible for a wait pool candidate to be offered Indexed Tuition as early as April 1, 2025 and as late as August. The Indexed Tuition wait pool will close August 1, 2025. If your child is selected from the Indexed Tuition wait pool, the Office of Admission will contact you immediately. You will have one week to accept this offer.
Could we pay the full tuition for the first year and re-apply for Indexed Tuition for subsequent years?
If you choose to pay the full tuition, you should expect to pay full tuition for your child’s duration at MPA.
Are Indexed Tuition wait pool applicants ranked in any way?
Mounds Park Academy does not rank applicants in the wait pool. As funds become available, all wait pool candidates are individually reconsidered using the same process as applied to the initial review. The Tuition Committee will meet to re-review files and make decisions.
Should my child accept an invitation to attend another school?
If Mounds Park Academy is your first choice, we warmly encourage you to wait until at least April 19, 2024 before accepting admission to another school. If Mounds Park Academy is unable to offer you Indexed Tuition, however, you will want the assurance of enrollment in another school of your choice. Please be aware that many schools charge a non-refundable enrollment deposit.
If my child is not selected from the Indexed Tuition wait pool, will we be welcome to apply again next year?
Absolutely! We would love the opportunity to welcome your family to MPA in the future and will work with you to reapply for admission. Throughout the coming school year, we will continue to be in touch with your family and welcome you to campus.