Admission
FAQs
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Academic Life Questions
On average how much homework should I expect my child to have each night?
For 5th and 6th graders, 1 hour per night. For 7th, 8th and 9th graders, 1 ½ to 2 hours per night.
What is their daily schedule like?
For our boarding students, the house parents get the boys up at 6:30 am each weekday morning. The boys have time to shower and dress for classes as well as perform some basic room clean up before leaving for the dining room. Breakfast is served family style at 7:15 am.
Our academic day begins at 8:00 am with a five minute announcement session attached to first period so that everyone has time to settle in and catch up on the day's events. With this in mind, our drop off window for day students is 7:30 am - 7:50 am at the Student Center. There are FOUR class periods in the morning and for the younger grades, a 15 minute recess that includes a healthy snack. At 11:50 am, all of our school community comes together in the dining room for our daily lunch program followed by a buffet meal which includes a hot lunch as well as a generous salad bar and freshly made soup each day. Post lunch, the students have two more academic periods. Each of our class periods is 50 minutes with five minutes in between to allow for the boys to get from one class to another.
Classes are completed each day at 3:00 pm and the boys head off to athletics until 5:00 pm. Day students are then picked up at the Student Center and our boarders return to their houses to get cleaned up for dinner. Dinner is served family style at 5:45 pm. Often our faculty bring family members to our meals so it is not unusual for younger children to be present during breakfast and dinner. Study hall follows the meal at 6:30 pm and lasts for 90 minutes. The boys are divided into study hall groups by class and each section is monitored by a faculty member as well as several proctors. The boys are welcome to ask the faculty member on duty for help understanding and completing assignments. Once study hall is over, the boys return to their houses for down time where they can watch TV and socialize with their friends. Bedtime varies by age; for the younger grades, lights out time is 9:00 pm whereas the older students have until 9:30 or 10:00 pm.
Admissions Questions
Where can we stay when we visit Hillside School?
Below is a brief list of those area hotels that are closest to campus. As we are only 35 miles west of Boston, there are also many options in the city that families can use.
Embassy Suites |
508-485-5900 |
I am coming to campus and want to take my son out to eat. What are some nearby restaurants?
In the local Marlborough area, we have many restaurant options. These include the standard fast food chains (always a favorite with the boys) and others that adults may favor including Italian, Chinese, American, Thai, Indian to name a few. Boston, being relatively close by, offers an even broader range of eating establishments. We have a menu book and are happy to have you look through it when you come to campus.
What are Hillside’s application requirements?
We ask that all of our student applicants and their families complete a thorough and comprehensive application process. This includes:
- A completed application form,
- $50 application fee for American students or a $100 application fee for international students,
- Submit an up to date transcript from the candidate’s current school,
- Submit any applicable academic testing and psychological evaluations,
- Schedule and complete an on-campus interview with the Admission office,
- Request that both the current math and English teachers submit candidate recommendations.
Who qualifies for Financial Aid?
Financial aid is awarded on a need basis. A family must demonstrate financial need in order to qualify for assistance. We require that all completed financial aid paperwork (including the application to School and Student Services) be received at Hillside no later than February 15th. This allows us time to carefully consider each family's needs and make awards for the upcoming academic school year. Families are typically notified of financial aid awards via a letter in March.
Do we need to have an on-campus interview?
Changing schools is a major decision and we have found that the prospective student and his family are most excited about the possibility of becoming a member of our community once a visit to campus has been completed. We also then get to meet and talk with both the student and the family about how Hillside School can provide a quality academic education in a nurturing environment. We highly recommend visiting while school is in session. A visiting family will be toured by a current student and has the chance to meet faculty and administrators and see the program in operation. Afterward, the family will meet the Admission staff and have an opportunity to ask more questions about the school.
Who typically attends Hillside School’s summer session?
Hillside offers a summer term that is attended both by current students, prospective students as well as both boys and girls looking for a summer program that includes academic stimulation, outdoor activities and exposure to the arts. More information can be found on our website page “Summer Term”. The sessions are a great introduction to Hillside School if you are considering the school for an upcoming academic year.
When are admission decisions made?
Hillside uses a “rolling admission process”. Once your file is complete, the Admission office will notify you of its decision. However, no financial aid decisions are made until March.
Am I permitted to speak with other parents prior to enrollment?
Yes, please call the Admission office and we will connect you with several current parents.
When do you schedule Open Houses?
We usually offer two Open Houses – one in the fall and one in the spring. Please call the Admission office for specific dates and times.
Does Hillside provide transportation for day students?
No, we do not provide transportation but we are happy to connect you with other families in your area so that you can make carpooling arrangements.
Does the entire tuition need to be paid prior to the first day of school?
No, Hillside offers a 10-month payment plan starting in June and ending in March.
Family Communication and Transportation Questions
How do you manage all of the student travel requirements?
The Dean of Residential Life coordinates student travel. We work closely with families to ensure that the boys are transported to airports in a safe and timely manner. Generally, we prefer that faculty do the airport runs, but in some circumstances we will utilize a reputable car service with family approval. Click here to view our updated travel planning guide for boarding students.
We also encourage boys to visit their friends in each other's homes from time to time. This can be a great way for a boy to make positive connections with other boys and their families while away from home. The Dean of Residential Life coordinates home visits which require a completed Off Campus Permission Form."
How do I get in touch with my son?
When a student is enrolled, the family receives a residential life primer that lists all of the phone numbers of the different houses and the best time to call. As well, each boy is issued a weekly phone time that he will use to call home. Furthermore, Hillside places an administrator on duty (AOD) each weeknight and each weekend. The AOD carries the Hillside emergency cell phone and is available at any time to handle any emergency that may come up.
When are the drop-off and pick-up times for weekends?
- Pickup time on Friday afternoons is from 5:00-5:30 pm as it is any other weekday. If we schedule an early release, students may be picked up as early as 3:00 pm.
- Drop-off time on Sunday evenings is from 5:00-5:45 pm. Students are expected to be at dinner by 6:00 pm on Sunday evenings. Exceptions to this schedule may be granted on a case-by-case basis.
If I have a question, whom do I call?
- For feedback on your child's progress in school, please contact his advisor.
- If your child will be absent due to illness, please contact Mrs. Cuikay at (508) 303-5727.
- If you want permission for your child to miss some portion of a day due to a doctor's appointment, family function, etc., please contact Mr. Boston at (508) 303-5713.
- If you want to take your child out to dinner on a weeknight, please contact Mr. Foster at (508) 303-5726.
- If you want to invite a 7-day boarder to your house for the weekend or you want your 7-day boarder to come home for the weekend, please contact Mr. Foster at (508) 303-5726.
- If you wish to make travel arrangements that involve planes, trains, or buses, or you wish to host someone for a long weekend, please contact Mr. Foster at (508) 303-5726.
- If you have health or medical questions, please contact Mrs. Latour, our School nurse, at (508) 303-5721.
- If you have an emergency after 5:00 pm and the switchboard is closed, please contact our administrator on duty at (508) 868-7794.
- If you want to know if a sporting event has been cancelled due to weather or for any other reason, please check our website at www.hillsideschool.net or call Mrs. Cuikay at (508) 303-5727.
How do we know if a sports team will be late returning from a game?
This is difficult to predict as there are many variables including delays in the game, weather and traffic. If we are playing a Boston area team (Fessenden, Roxbury Latin, Milton to name a few), return time may be anywhere from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. If we are playing a team that is even farther away (Landmark, Thompson Island, etc.), return time may be after 7:00 pm. Mr. Foster and Mrs. Cuikay do their best to provide estimated times of return on each away game.
On Campus Life Questions
How many students occupy a room/house?
With the opening of our sixth dorm-house, Hillside School moves closer to its goal of having less than four students to a room. Many rooms are very spacious and can accommodate up to four students; though triples are preferred. As well, the two newer houses have an abundance of doubles. Additionally, Hillside School strives to have three faculty house parents in each home with 12-20 boys in each house.
What do the boys do on weeknights and weekends?
Not including the academic study hall each weeknight from 6:30 - 8:00 pm, the boys may avail themselves of an open gym with basketball, deck hockey and the occasional game of dodge ball. As well, there is Tuesday night at the movies in the Alison-Taplin Lounge for boys who are in good standing with their house parents and the Dean's office. Additionally, each individual house has special events each week like Monopoly tournaments, baking cookies, movie night, pizza delivery or even a quick trip to Wendy's for "frostys and fries".
Weekends are a more relaxed time on campus. Sleeping until 9:00 am is encouraged and a good nap can be worked in. On campus activities include some video game time, answering email, plus games on the fields and in the gym. In addition, the Alison-Taplin Lounge and the Library are also available. Some of our regularly scheduled enrichment activities during the year are: the Museum of Fine Arts, The Big E (an agricultural fair), the New England Auto Show in Boston, Old Sturbridge Village, the Museum of Science, a show at the Wheelock Family Theater, a Boston Harbor cruise, a walk on the Freedom Trail, the Boston Common Gardens and Swan Boats, a Boston College basketball game or a College of the Holy Cross football game, and other area events that are both cultural and fun. These combined with the occasional movies and mall trip make for a balanced weekend curriculum.
What do we do if my son gets ill or needs to see a doctor?
Hillside employs two fulltime nurses to care for the medication and healthcare needs of our boys. All faculty and administrators are certified each year in first aid and CPR. We have a consulting physician and a consulting psychiatrist that help us care for our boys. Additionally, Marlborough Hospital is a short car ride away. In the case of an extended and/or contagious illness, we may ask a family to have their son at home until he is well enough to attend classes. We do this to help protect the boarding population from the spread of illnesses.
What are meals like?
Hillside School's dining program is among the finest in the boarding school industry. We do not use an outside service and our chefs are as much a part of the resident faculty as any other employee group on campus. Our boys work with the chefs to keep the dishes and servery clean. Our meals are served family style for breakfast and dinner, while lunch is a buffet. This allows us to hold community meeting every day before lunch. A wide variety of entrées are well prepared and beautifully presented each week and a plentiful salad bar and soup of the day are always available.
Can the boys have…cell phones, TV's, video games, refrigerators, computers and other small appliances?
Very little is needed in the way of personal appliances when a student attends Hillside School. Our houses are well furnished with a TV/DVD player, a microwave and a refrigerator. We pay particular attention to what, when and how much snack food your son has available thus a community kitchen is a must. Computers are allowed for academic purposes and for personal use on the weekends. Video games are allowed as well but may only be played at designated times and only during the weekend. Students are only permitted to use cell phones when traveling to and from campus. We do not allow unlimited access to the phone, as we want the boys to interact with each other face to face. If your son needs a cell phone to travel with, it will be maintained in the Dean of Residential Life's office until the student is on the way to the airport or another home stay.
Is my son allowed to bring items with wheels to school?
Students may use rollerblades, skateboards, bikes and scooters in designated areas (as outlined in the Student Handbook) provided that the rider is wearing a helmet. Students wishing to have wheeled items on campus must fill out a registration form which is kept on file with the Dean of Students.
Do the boys do their own laundry and have other chores?
For the convenience of our boarders, we utilize an outside laundry service. This service is required for 7-day boarders but optional for those students who reside with us for only five days per week. We also have laundry machines in each house for faculty and for students if a clothing emergency should occur. Part of living in a community is for each member to be responsible for its upkeep. Doing a small job every day, and doing it well, gives a sense of ownership to the boys. Whether it is taking out the trash, vacuuming the common area or keeping personal space neat and orderly, all the chores lend value to the community.
Do the boys go to church?
Yes. Our population is diverse religiously and we try very hard to meet the many spiritual needs of our community. Hillside employs a Chaplain for on campus non-denominational ecumenical services. We also offer choices for off campus religious services at local churches or synagogues. Catholic, Baptist, Jewish and Methodist are a few of the regular houses of worship that we visit.
What special events are students required to attend during the year?
We request that all students attend our special events where we celebrate our school community. In addition, we always love to see students' families here for these festivities and find that the boys really appreciate family support during these events.
- Fall Family Weekend
- Fall Awards Ceremony
- Winter Carnival Weekend
- Winter Awards Ceremony
- Spring Fling Weekend
- Spring Awards Ceremony and End of Year Awards Ceremony
- Graduation
Please see our calendar for specific dates.
What is the "daily" dress code and what is the "formal" outfit and when are the students required to wear it?
For each school day, the boys are required to wear dress pants in blue, gray or brown, a dress shirt (solid colors of white, pink, yellow or blue), a tie, a belt, dress shoes and socks. At each of the awards ceremonies and at graduation, students are required to wear a formal outfit which consists of a blue blazer, gray pants, and white shirt along with a tie, belt and dress shoes. For the detailed dress code, please click here and select Dress Code on our forms list.
What if my son needs new articles of clothing or shoes while school is in session?
We encourage families to mail items from home. Many families have also had success when they order from well-known companies such as L.L. Bean or Lands End and have any needed articles shipped directly to their son. If the need is more urgent than these two options, please contact the Dean of Residential Life and we can arrange for a faculty member to purchase the required items at the local mall. To see the complete recommended list of items for all boarding students, please click here and select Dress Code and Recommended Clothing List for Boarding Students.
