CAC Admissions
ADMISSION PROCEDURES
We welcome your interest in Cairo American College, a private coeducational day school offering an American curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Like other private schools, we require information that helps us to determine whether there is a good match between our program of instruction and the applicant's educational needs. This document is provided to assist you in the application process.
All applicants to CAC must submit the following:
- Completed Application for Admission (front and back), signed by parent or guardian and with one photograph of the applicant attached.
- Medical examination form, to be completed by a physician within 4 months prior to the student's entry in school.
- Two Medical History forms, to be completed by the applicant's parents.
- Complete, official school records for the past two years (three years for students applying to Grade 12). Records must be forwarded by the applicant's previous school(s) directly to CAC. In the case that the records are not in English, an official English translation must also be submitted.
- A completed and signed release form authorizing CAC to request school records from previous schools.
- Copy of the applicant's passport or birth certificate.
An application fee of $350 must be paid to the cashier at the time of application for admission or re-admission. This fee is not refundable, but for first-time applicants will be credited to the Capital Fee upon enrollment.
In addition to reviewing previous records, CAC often administers tests to applicants at all grade levels, to facilitate decisions regarding admission and placement. All of the above documents must be received before a testing appointment can be made. In the case of students applying for August admission, the counselors are available 7-14 days prior to the opening of school. Families should plan their arrival date accordingly so that students will be ready to enter the first day of school.
All fees for the semester must be paid before students can be admitted to classes. If the sponsoring employer is making payment directly to the school, parents should ensure that their company or institution has made arrangements to pay the fees before each semester begins.
The following policies regarding admissions should also be noted:
- In terms of admission priorities, CAC gives first consideration to qualified U.S. citizens. Other applicants are admitted as space is available.
- Applicants of Egyptian citizenship must provide the school with a letter from the Minister of Education authorizing the student's enrollment at CAC.
- Applicants for Pre-Kindergarten must be four years old on or before September 30 of the school year for which an application is made.
- Applicants for Kindergarten must be five years old on or before September 30 of the school year for which an application is made.
- The senior year must be completed in residence by students intending to graduate from CAC and students must complete the graduation requirements before their 20th birthday.
- The school has very limited academic support services. As with any applicant, those with special needs may be assessed to determine the appropriateness of admission based on their ability to succeed in the standard curriculum in a normal classroom setting, as required by school policy.
- Students with significant emotional/behavioral problems will not be admitted.Non-native speakers of English who are not fluent in the language may be admitted if space is available in the ESL (English as a Second Language) program. In the secondary school, admission to the ESL program also depends upon the applicant's achieving a sufficient score on the English language placement examination. The ESL program must be successfully completed by the end of Grade 10.
Parents and students should be aware of the following policies regarding the school's curricular requirements and guardianship of students:
- Cairo American College is a private, secular American school. All students must satisfy the curricular requirements as outlined in the school's policies. These include participation in health courses (which include sex education), mixed physical education classes with a swimming component and other specific graduation requirements for secondary school students.
- Students admitted to Cairo American College must reside with their parents. Guardianships, in lieu of residing with parents, must have prior approval of the school.
All questions regarding admissions should be directed to the office of the Director of Admissions. We look forward to welcoming you to Cairo American College.
Registrar/Director of Admissions
AOK/na 8/05
PREFERENTIAL CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION
The Superintendent will not admit more students than the facilities of the Cairo American College can accommodate in light of the school's goal of providing a high quality education.
In keeping with its mission, Cairo American College gives priority for admission as follows:
First priority:
Applicants who are U.S. citizens* (or who are children of U.S. citizens);
Second priority:
Applicants who are children of non-U.S. expatriate employees of U.S. based firms/organizations;
Third priority:
Non-U.S. applicants who have been enrolled in U.S. schools or overseas schools that offer an American curriculum immediately prior to their coming to Cairo;
Fourth priority:
Egyptian citizens**;
Fifth priority:
All others.
In addition to these priorities, decisions regarding admission of applicants may be based on other factors including, but not limited to, time of application, and the school's wish to maintain a cultural balance in the student body so as to maintain the American character of the institution.
Upon reaching facility or programmatic limitations, a waiting list for admission of second through fifth priority students (listed above) will be developed and administered by the Director of Admissions. Only applicants who have paid application fees and for whom the following documents are received will be considered for the waiting list:
• completed application form
• signed release form authorizing CAC to request records from previous schools, and
• complete, official school records for the past two years (three years for students applying to grade 12).
Thirty days prior to the start of the semester, admissible applicants will be placed in accordance with the preferential conditions for admission stated above. Admissible applications received thereafter will be considered in the order they are received.
Non-native speakers of English who are not fluent in the language may be admitted if space is available in the school's English as a Second Language (ESL) program. In the middle and high schools, admission to the ESL program also depends on the applicant's achieving a sufficient score on language placement exams.
Notes: * Citizenship is established on the basis of passport and/or official identification card and/or birth certificate.
** Egyptian citizens need to present the written approval of their Ministry of Education for their entrance into the school.
Board approved and issued: May 11, 1993
Revised: January 20, 1998
ADMISSION OF STUDENTS
Admissions
Admission to Cairo American College is dependent upon whether or not the school can meet the educational and personal needs of the student. A student requiring significant educational support or who cannot function physically, emotionally, or academically within the mainstream of school life is ineligible. Given the academic expectations at CAC, a student’s prior academic and conduct history will be taken into consideration during the process to determine admission.
Students will be admitted to CAC on a full-time basis only except for those who are admitted under the provisions of Policy 7.507, Programs for Children with Special Needs.
CAC does not admit married or pregnant students.
Students admitted to CAC must reside with their parents. Guardianships, in lieu of residing with parents, must have prior approval of the school administration.
Children whose native language is not English may be required to take specific language examinations to determine whether or not they can be admitted. Admission to CAC is provisional for all E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) students. Any student who, apart from his need for special English instruction, has been recommended for any special educational programs in his previous schooling will generally not be accepted.
Admission of E.S.L. students is also dependent on the availability of adequate facilities and staff resources. A suitable ratio of English-speaking and E.S.L. students must also be maintained within each grade level to ensure the overall quality of education at CAC.
Exceptions to the admissions policy must be approved by the Board upon recommendation by the Superintendent.
Procedures
Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year. Families seeking admission for their children should make an appointment with the Director of Admissions. Procedures to be followed in applications/admissions are found in the accompanying regulation, 8.201-R
.Board approved and issued: April 13, 1993
Revised: January 20, 1998, March 20, 2001, March 2002
EXCHANGE STUDENT PROGRAM
Purpose
To provide an opportunity for high school students wishing to study at CAC for one semester, under the guardianship of an individual or family living in Egypt.
Eligibility
Students must be enrolled in an English medium, U.S. curriculum school.
Applicants to the exchange program will be sixth priority candidates and will be considered only if there is space after higher priority candidates are served.
Students of all nationalities are welcome to apply, but Egyptian applicants must have Egyptian Ministry of Education approval for enrollment at CAC.
Students requiring ESL support and/or who have special needs are not eligible for the exchange program.
The exchange program is limited to grades 9, 10 and 11 only.
Academic Requirements
Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in core academic subjects for the previous academic year and must meet all other admissions criteria as per Board policy (Section 8.2, Admissions).
Duration
Enrollment in the exchange programs is limited to one semester. If the student wishes to extend the period of study (s)he would be treated as a regular admission, on a retroactive basis.
Tuition and Fees
Exchange students will be required to pay the regular tuition for the semester of attendance plus, registration and capital equipment fees.
Guardianship
The sponsor must agree to take full responsibility for the student and provide room and board within their home. The student must live in Cairo under the full legal guardianship of the sponsor. All legal procedures, e.g., visas and legal guardianship, and cost associated with the guardianship are the sole responsibility of the sponsor.
Approved: June 4, 1996
Revised: April 10, 2001
AGE CONSIDERATIONS IN ADMISSIONS
Admission to Kindergarten
Admission to kindergarten is determined by age and through assessment of the applicant's readiness to benefit from the CAC kindergarten program. To meet the age requirement, applicants must be five years old on or before September 30th of the school year for which they wish to enroll. In addition, applicants must be judged 'ready' for kindergarten through the school's assessment procedures.
Exceptions
Exceptions may be made due to unusual circumstance such as when the certified birth date is unreliable. Factors to be considered in the decision for an exception include gender, data from a development profile, and information gathered from the child’s preschool experience.
Requests should be submitted in writing to the Elementary Principal who will convene an admissions committee consisting of the Principal, Director of Admissions, school psychologist, a kindergarten teacher, and others as deemed appropriate. The committee’s decision will be final. It is also understood that the child will enter kindergarten on the same ten school day trial basis as all other children.
Admission to Grade 1
Admission to first grade is determined by age and readiness. To meet the age requirement, applicants must be six years old on or before September 30th of the school year for which they wish to enroll; and/or have successfully completed the CAC kindergarten program or its equivalent, as determined by CAC. In addition, the applicants must be judged 'ready' for first grade through the school's assessment procedures.
Admission to Middle School/High School
In addition to other requirements for admission noted elsewhere in CAC board policy, applicants to the middle and high school must be judged to be able to successfully satisfy CAC graduation requirements before their 20th birthday.Board approved and issued: April 13, 1993
Revised: June 6, 2000
CONTACT INFORMATION
Amina A. O'Kane
Director of Admissions/Registrar
Cairo American College
P.O. Box 39
Maadi, 11431
Cairo, Egypt
Phone: (202)-755-5507 or 755-5508
Fax: (202)-519-6584
E-mail: registrar@cacegypt.org |
