Admission Policy

Students at Highlands International School are accepted under the following conditions:

1. Space is available.

2. The program(s) needed by the student are available at HIS.

3. The parent(s) and student must agree to the student’s participation in the school’s Christian activities and Biblical studies. If a parent or student cannot agree to this, the student will not be admitted to the school.

4. The results of an admissions interview between the designated HIS administrative personnel and the parent and student are satisfactory.

5. The parent(s) and student must agree to abide by the guidelines and policies as stated in the Parent/Student Handbook and all other HIS administrative and board policies.

6. Parents must follow the proper application process.

7. If at any time it is discovered that a student has been admitted under receipt of false documents or statements, or if it is discovered that records or statements were intentionally withheld to help secure admission for the student, the student will be dismissed from HIS. No refund will be made of registration and capital fees.

If it is discovered there was no intent on the part of the parent(s) to intentionally mislead the school, no penalties will be incurred and fees and tuition will be subject to normal regulation related to refunds.

8. If information related to English deficiencies, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, etc. are discovered after a student has been accepted for enrollment the student may be removed due to HIS’s inability to adequately handle the particular deficiency or problem.

If this is the case, all fees and tuition will be subject to normal regulations related to refunds.

9. Applicants with known deficiencies may be offered probationary admittance for one semester if the director feels the deficiencies will be corrected by the end of that time Probationary admissions are reviewed each semester by the director. Under most circumstances, a student will not be placed on probationary admittance for more than one semester.

10. Learning Disabled Students:
a) A learning disabled student is described by HIS as a student at any level of intelligence with a severe discrepancy between intellectual ability and academic achievement.
b) Learning disabled students must be able to function and participate independently in the mainstream classroom.
c) Determination of the school’s ability to meet the needs of the learning disabled student’s ability to function in the mainstream classroom will be based on one or more of the following:

• Recommendations made by a qualified professional
• Observations and recommendations of previous educators
• Academic records and progress notes from previous school years

d) Parents may be asked to provide documentation of assessment results obtained from consultations with a qualified educational psychologist or physician. In the event that previous psychological assessment has not been obtained, the parents may be asked to obtain diagnostic assessment prior to consideration for enrollment. Such assessments would be at the expense of the parents.

11. HIS is unable to admit students classified as mentally, emotionally, and physically handicapped. (Guidelines listed below.)
a) Mentally retarded as defined by the American Association on Mental Deficiency:
Mental retardation refers to significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior, and manifested during the developmental period (up to 18 years of age).
b) Emotionally disturbed as defined by HIS as a condition that adversely affects educational performance by exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics:

• An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors
• An inability to build and maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.
• An inappropriate or pathological behavior

c) HIS defines physically handicapped as one with severe orthopedic, auditory, visual or other health impairments that preclude the student from functioning within the physical facilities of the school.

12. Priority Admissions List:
a) Returning students who are in good standing academically, behaviorally and financially. (Includes children of NICS personnel and faculty/staff members.)
b) Children of incoming NICS personnel and of incoming non-NICS HIS staff.
c) New students who have met enrollment criteria as specified in items 1-11.
d) Priority is given to siblings of currently enrolled students attending other schools providing the admissions requirements are met.