Germantown Friends School is very proud of our Community Scholars Program--29 Community Scholars are currently enrolled in grades K-12 and since the programs's founding, 146 Community Scholars have graduated.
- The Community Scholars Program enrolls four students of color each year, entering grades 6-9.
- Scholarships are granted on the basis of student academic record, teacher recommendations, and demonstrated financial need. (There are income restrictions).
Scholarships are assured until graduation from GFS, assuming continued good standing and financial need.
Requirements
Residency- While there are no residency requirement, special attention is given to Germantown residents.
Age and Grade- To apply for the grades listed below, an applicant's date of birth must fall between the listed dates:
If applying to: Birthday between:
6th Grade 9/1/98 and 8/31/99
7th Grade 9/1/97 and 8/31/98
8th Grade 9/1/96 and 8/31/97
9th Grade 9/1/95 and 8/31/96
Application Process
A) Test Registration
1. Register by calling the Admissions Office at 215-951-2345. Walk-ins can be accommodated at 8:45 a.m.
2. Community Scholars Exam date: Saturday, September 26, 2009.
Test site Is:
Germantown Friends School
31 West Coulter Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144
All Students must report to Yarnall Auditorium in the Sharpless Building.
Students should arrive by 9:15 AM
Test will begin promplty at 9:30 AM
Test should be completed by 12:30 PM.
3. Test results will be sent by mail 4-5 weeks after the exam.
4. Twenty students will be selected to continue the application process as semi-finalists.
B) Semi-finalists Process
5. Students selected as semi-finalists will receive and be asked to complete and submit the following information:
A completed applicaiton.
Copies of transcript and school records.
Teacher recommendations.
A completed financial aid form and a copy of all parents/guardians 2008 1040 Federal Income Tax Forms.
6. Twelve students will be selected as finalists.
C) Finalist Process
7. Selected finalists and their parent(s) or guardian(s) will be required to visit GFS.
Students will spend one day visiting classes and additional testing will be administered.
Parents will be interviewed and given a tour of the campus.
8. Up to four scholarship winners will be selected.
9. Grants are awarded based on financial need and 2009 1040 Federal Income Tax Forms.
Qualifications:- Grade average of "B" or above- Strong teacher recommendations- Financial need - based on annual income of approximately $40,000 and below.
"In 1963, when black churches were bombed in Birmingham, Alabama, people at GFS discussed supporting neighborhood families there with care packages. Then we saw a better response, closer to home. The result was our Community Scholars Program, which has brought low-income minority neighborhood students to GFS for more than 40 years. That was a seminal moment in the history of the school."
Ted Wolf '47, GFS parent and grandparent, former CEO of Checkpoint Systems -