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How To Apply

**2024-2025 APPLICATIONS OPEN OCTOBER 16TH**

Admissions Policy

Admission is open to any student regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin who demonstrates qualities such as, but not limited to, the potential to succeed within First Presbyterian Academy’s rigorous college preparatory curriculum, an appropriate level of social maturity, the desire to partner with the school in fulfilling its Mission/Vision and the ability to satisfy required school standards.

Admissions Process

Admission to FPA is a two-part process involving both APPLICATION and ENROLLMENT.  All existing families with enrolled students are given the opportunity to re-enroll during our two-day Enrollment Blitz, which takes place November 2-3, 2023. After the Blitz ends, our Priority Re-enrollment period for existing families takes place November 5-17, 2023. The final stage for enrollment is Open Enrollment where all families, regardless of status, are given the opportunity to enroll in the school. Open Enrollment begins Monday, November 27, 2023. 

Our entire admissions process is described below. If you have any questions, please contact the school at 864.678.5107.

Steps to Apply 

  1. Attend Campus Tour 
    • Click (HERE) to submit an inquiry regarding your primary campus of interest and someone from our Admissions Office will contact you shortly to schedule your private tour
  2. Complete Online Application
    • Submit Non-Refundable $150 New Student Application Fee
  3. Submit Required Records
    • Educational Testing and 504 Plan or IEP (if applicable)
    • We will request the following records directly from your student's current school: Transcript, Report Cards, Attendance, Discipline Reports and Standardized Test Results
  4. Schedule Student Shadow Day (grades 4-12)
    • Lower School
      • Optional for grades 4-5
      • Students can shadow for either a half day or full day
    • Upper School
      • Strongly recommended for middle and high school applicants
      • Students are recommended to shadow for a full day 
  5. Schedule Academic Testing (if applicable)
  6. Schedule Family Interview (if required)

FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS ONLY

  1. Submit Student Essay (300 words on “Why I Want to be a Student at FPA at SF”)
  2. Family Interview
  3. Mandatory Shadow Day (unless summer applicant)
  4. TWO Teacher Recommendation Letters
  5. All acceptances are tied to academic and behavioral probation periods *Exceptions: Families who have recently moved to the area and/or homeschooled students intending to enter at the start of their junior year

FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ONLY

  1. English Teacher Recommendation Letter (must be from current school year)
  2. English Language Testing Results (provide 1 of the 4 listed below)
    • TOEFL
    • TOEFL Jr.
    • SLATE/ITEP
    • CEFR
  3. Personal Essay (300 words on “Why I Want to be a Student at FPA at SF”)
  4. Copy of Passport
  5. All academic records must be translated into English by a certified translator.

Completion of Application

Once all of the Application steps are complete, we will review your student’s file to make a decision with regard to acceptance to FPA. We take into consideration prior academic success as reflected in testing and academic records, the family interview, the shadow day experience, onsite admissions testing, and references if requested. After a decision is made, you will receive communication regarding acceptance directly from the Admissions Office. If your student is approved for admission to FPA, you will be contacted with information on completing the second part of the process, which is the Enrollment step.

ENROLLMENT

  1. Complete Online Enrollment Packet
    • Submit Non-Refundable Enrollment Fee
      • Fee varies based on grade level
      • See our Tuition & Fees sheets for details under the Admissions tab on this website
  2. Submit the Following Required Documents
    • Birth Certificate (long form)
    • South Carolina Immunization Form
    • Custody Decree (If applicable)
    • Parent Handbook Acknowledgement Form
    • DSS 2900 Statement of Child’s Health (preschoolers only)
    • Hand Sanitizer Use Form (preschoolers only)

COMPLETION OF ENROLLMENT

Once all of the Enrollment steps are complete, your student will be considered fully enrolled. You will begin receiving communication from the school via our weekly eBlasts to keep you informed of upcoming school events and important dates such as the start of school and Back-to-School Day.

Apply Now