Admission policies and guidelines considered when accepting new students at the different levels at AECHS: Kindergarten (KG), Elementary, Middle, and Secondary:
Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-KG) Admissions Criteria
1. Age Requirement
· Applicants should be at least 1 year and three months old at the time of admission.
2. Developmental Milestone
· Applicants should be able to walk independently.
3. Inclusive Enrollment
· Non-Armenian applicants are welcome to join our Pre-KG program.
4. Admission Process
· An interview is a mandatory step in the admissions process for all applicants.
Kindergarten (KG) Admission Criteria
1. Age Requirements
· For entering KG1, ensure that students are three years old by January 31, according to Ministry of Education regulations.
· Clearly communicate the cutoff date for age eligibility.
2. Immunization Records
· Require submission of up-to-date immunization records to ensure the health and safety of all students.
3. Parental/Guardian Engagement
· Encourage parental involvement and assess the commitment of parents to support their child's early education.
4. Readiness Assessment
· The KG Head of Department conducts age-appropriate interviews and assessments to evaluate a child's readiness for KG, including basic cognitive and social skills.
· To consider a KG1 student ready for school, the child must have transitioned out of diapers.
Required Documents for both Pre-KG and KG Departments
· Personal civil extract
· Two passport photos
· Immunization Record and a completed AECHS medical form.
· A completed AECHS student application form
Elementary and Secondary Admission Criteria
1. Age and Grade Placement
· Verify that students meet the age and grade requirements for the Elementary and Secondary levels.
2. Academic Records
· Review previous academic records, if applicable, to gauge the student's academic background.
3. Entrance Exams
· Conduct entrance exams, to evaluate students' proficiency in core subjects such as Mathematics and language arts. Students are required to pass at least one of the subjects.
· Arabic, English, Math, and sciences (1 questionnaire that has 3 different parts including biology, physics, and chemistry)
· For Lower Elementary, the exam will include an oral and a basic written exam
· For Higher Elementary, there will be written exams in the following subjects: Arabic Language, English Language, and Mathematics
· For all Secondary grades, there will be written exams: Arabic Language, English Language, Mathematics, and Sciences (1 questionnaire that has 3 different parts including Biology, Physics, and Chemistry)
· Students applying to the Grade 7 will be exempted from the science entrance exam.
· Students applying to the Grade 12 will have an entrance exam according to the section they have chosen:
General Sciences: Arabic, English, Math, Physics
Life Science: Arabic, Biology, English, Math
Sociology and Economics: Arabic, English, Math
4. Interviews
· Conduct interviews with students and parents to understand the student’s general personality attributes, interests, and family values.
5. Behavioral and Social Skills
· When further assessment is required, refer the student to the school counselor and/or psychologist for a one-on-one interview.
· Submit a certificate of conduct from the previous school.
Required Documents for Elementary and Secondary Departments
· Personal civil extract
· Two passport photos
· Equivalent letter for students coming from abroad
· Grades of the last two years certified by the previous school
· Certificate of success, certified by the Ministry of Education
· Certificate of conduct from the previous school
· Immunization Record and a completed AECHS medical form.
· A completed AECHS student application form
Steps Administrators Should Take Before Accepting a Student
1. Application Review
· Thoroughly review each student's application, ensuring that all required documents are provided.
2. Interview
· Conduct a one-on-one interview with parents in the presence of the student.
3. Selection Committee
· Establish a selection committee to collectively assess applications, interview results, and other relevant information (Principal, Academic Director, Head of Department, School Counselor).
4. Transparent Communication
· Clearly communicate the admission criteria and process to parents and applicants, fostering transparency in the selection process.
5. Orientation Programs
· Conduct orientation programs to familiarize accepted newly students and their families with the school's culture, policies, and expectations.
6. Waitlist Management
· Implement a fair and transparent waitlist management system in case the number of qualified applicants exceeds available spaces.
· Prioritize students with higher entrance exam results.
· Give priority to siblings of students currently enrolled at the school and the children of staff.
7. Buddy Program
· Have Homeroom teachers assign a buddy/classmate to accompany and guide all new students throughout the first week of school
· Have the “Buddy” help newcomers get familiarized with the school campus, and general rules and mostly provide a sense of support