Q: Is acceleration, or the advancing of one or two grades, required?
A: Acceleration is required and is one of Latin School's many distinctive characteristics. Educational institutions have the responsibility to place students in courses that meet their individual needs. Research confirms that the notion that age equals grade overlooks individual differences and that academic ability and inclination are much more accurate determinants of placement. For 85 years, Latin School has existed for students looking for (and often, needing) a challenge on the next level.
Q: What advantage does a small school offer?
A: The biggest advantage is closer, more personal attention to each student's needs, especially critical at this stage in his or her development. With 223 students and twenty-one full-time and seven part-time faculty, CLS boasts a 10:1 student/teacher ratio with the average class size at 19.
Q: How much financial assistance is available?
A: CLS has never turned a student away with demonstrable financial need. With a financial aid budget exceeding $200,000, we ensure that no academically qualified student will be denied the CLS experience. Nearly 30% of the students receive some form of financial assistance. Work-study grants are available to nearly all student and honors scholarships are available to students with outstanding entrance exam scores plus additional tuition assistance is possible in many cases.
Q: What steps are taken to acclimate incoming students?
A: Peer Counseling, a program in which upper-class students volunteer to help new students in their transition, is offered to prep and freshmen students. These students are assigned peer counselors with whom they can talk about any problems that develop as they adapt to high school. During the first two weeks of the new school year, the guidance counselor coordinates an orientation program that helps each student meet new friends, adjust to the routine and get involved in class and student body activities.
Q: How demanding is the first year?
A: Course work for the first year, though demanding, is reasonable. Students can typically expect to spend about two hours a night on homework. The Prep and Freshman Study Skills course, Mentor Center, Peer Counseling and close personal attention on the part of the faculty are all geared to smoothing the transition and fostering satisfaction for the first year student.
Q: What opportunities does Latin School offer outside the classroom?
A. CLS has over twenty extracurricular groups, such as ski club, bowling club and yearbook, in addition to fifteen athletic teams, which offer students an array of events and activities outside the classroom. Dances and service opportunities are also extremely popular.
Q: How many students take the Advanced Placement (AP) exams?
A. In 2007, 106 AP tests were taken by 55 students in 11 different subject areas. Eight students were awarded AP Scholar status (excelling in three or more AP exams).
Q: Does the transition to college come easily?
A: In alumni surveys, the vast majority report exceptional academic success and normal social adjustment. In all levels of schooling, readiness, responsibility and emotional maturity are much stronger predictors of success than age. Indeed, 98% of our graduates hold bachelor degrees, 48% hold master's degrees and 30% hold doctorate degrees.
Q: Is transportation easily available?
A: Latin School is conveniently located at 11th and Madison in Covington (five minutes from downtown Cincinnati), next to the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. It is easily accessible by Metro and Tank bus services. In early August, a student list prepared by zip code is mailed to all parents to enable them to form car pools.
Q: What are the school hours?
A: The school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. The building is open from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. every day. Many parents drop their children off on their way to work and then use car pooling in the afternoon.
Q: How do I learn more about Covington Latin School?
A: Each February, we host our open house for prospective students and their parents. Our Welcome Week offers interested students the opportunity to "shadow" a Latin student for 1/2 a day. However, we also arrange individual appointments to meet with prospective students and their parents or for "shadowing." For more information, please contact Carl Goodmonson, the CLS Admissions Counselor, at (859)291-7044 or at carl.goodmonson@covingtonlatin.org.