How to Apply GWAC | GEMS World Academy Chicago

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest in GEMS World Academy Chicago. We are committed to enrolling students and families who are supportive of our goal to prepare students to be resilient, empathetic, and morally responsible contributors to the local and global communities. Our aim is for you to find our admissions process to be thoughtful, personal, seamless, and comfortable. Our admissions team is here to help you at any point; no question is too small.

Ready to apply for 2020-2021?

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Admissions Dates & Deadlines

We are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis for the 2019-20 school year. If you would like to apply for the current school year, please use the button below:

Apply for 2019-2020

For 2020-21 admissions, we offer two admissions cycles:

Priority Admissions

This is a great option for siblings of current GEMS students, families for whom GEMS is the first choice, and those applying to our key entry years (preschool, junior kindergarten, grades 6 and 9). Students who enroll during Priority Admissions do not pay our one-time new student fee.

Application Submission Deadline: October 28, 2019
Application Profile Completion Deadline: December 1, 2019
Admissions Decision Notification: Week of December 9, 2019
Admissions Response Due by: January 5, 2020*

Regular Admissions

The dates for regular admissions are most closely aligned to fellow independent schools in Chicago.

Application Submission Deadline: January 6, 2020
Application Profile Completion Deadline: February 16, 2020
Admissions Decision Notification: Week of February 24, 2020
Admissions Response Due by: March 16, 2020*

GEMS ADMISSIONS

The Application Process

Visit

Though it is not required before applying, we highly recommend you attend an upcoming event or take a personal tour to learn more about our mission, philosophy, values, and approach. Visiting is the best way to determine whether GEMS is right for your child and family.

Visit

Apply

Apply online here. After you submit the application, we will guide you toward a complete application. Requirements vary by grade, but include submission of historical school records, test scores, and report cards, a parent meeting with admissions, and teacher recommendation(s), and a grade-appropriate assessment:

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Decision

Decisions are issued according to the timeline of your admissions track.

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Enroll

If your child is admitted, you will be provided with a link to pay the enrollment deposit and sign the enrollment agreement. Enrollment is not secured until both the agreement and deposit are received. Our enrollment deposit is 10% of tuition.

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Admissions Requirements

After you submit the application, we will guide you toward a complete application. Requirements vary by grade, but include submission of historical school records, test scores, report cards, a parent meeting with admissions, teacher recommendation(s), and a grade-appropriate assessment:

Preschool-kindergarten: playgroups conducted by our early learning staff
Grades 1-4: school visit/shadow day and GEMS assessment
Grades 5-10: school visit/shadow day and ISEE, SSAT, ACT, Aspire, or PSAT scores
Grades 11-12 Diploma Program: school visit/shadow day and ISEE, SSAT, ACT, Aspire, or PSAT scores, world language assessment (where applicable)

To inspire inquiring, knowledgeable, reflective, and intercultural learners to become morally responsible leaders.

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