The Enrollment Process
Admission to Greater Houlton Christian Academy is obtained by written application, testing, and a family interview with the head of school. A child should be four years old on or before October 15th to be eligible for pre-kindergarten. Students in grades 7 through 12 must also have a personal interview and a pastoral reference or letter of recommendation.
Prospective students are tested for academic aptitude and proper grade placement. Please note that Greater Houlton Christian Academy is currently not equipped to enroll students who are seriously deficient academically, have severe behavioral problems, or severe learning disabilities.
Enrollment takes place after your child has been accepted. Payment of the registration fee will hold a place for your child until July 1st. On either July 1st or August 1st you are to begin the tuition payment plan of your choice. The last payment for all students is June 1st.
There is currently a cap of 20 students per grade level. Students are enrolled at the Academy on a first-come, first-serve basis. We do accept students transfering part-way through the school year, though we encourage that you enroll your child before the school year begins when it is at all possible.
You can start with the enrollment process right now by downloading our Student Application Form, printing it out, and sending in the completed form to:
Greater Houlton Christian Academy27 School Street
Houlton, ME 04730
office@ghca.com
If you are an international student looking to join us for a year or more, please visit our International Students Page for more details. We also have a special Financial Form for our international students that you should download.
Enrollment Registration Fees
There is a discount for families registering before May 3rd. Download our Tuition Rates and Fees PDF for details.
New Enrollment
| For the first child | $100.00 |
| For each additional child | $80.00 |
Re-enrollment
| For the first child | $50.00 |
| For each additional child | $40.00 |
| For the first child | $100.00 |
| For each additional child | $80.00 |
Tuition Rates for the 2010-2011 school year
NOTE - the following fee schedule is approximate. Download our Tuition Rates and Fees PDF for exact numbers.
| Annual Tuition | 10 Month Payments | 12 Month Payments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-kindergarten | $2565.00 | $256.50 | $213.75 |
| Kindergarten - Grade 12 1 | $3995.00 | $399.50 | $332.92 |
| Foreign Student 2 | $7000.00 | $700.00 | $583.33 |
Notes:
- GHCA offers a reduced tuition rate for each additional child in a family. Contact us for details.
- Canadian students within driving distance of GHCA can enroll under the standard, non-foreign rate. International students should consult this page for further details.
Late Tuition
The school is dependent upon tuition payments being paid on time each month; however, we understand there may on occasion be a legitimate reason for a late payment. There will be no late fee assessed, but we ask you to notify GHCA's accounting deparment to make arrangements for payment.
- If after an appropriate amount of time accounting does not hear from you, a notice will be sent asking for your immediate response.
- If no response if returned, a member of the Finance Committee will personally contact you to determine the status of your account and to discuss arrangements for payment.
Additional Fees
The following additional fees apply to students taking part in these activities and programs:
| Junior High Basketball: | $50.00 |
| High School Basketball: | $100.00 |
| Grade 7-12 Baseball / Softball: | $50.00 |
| Grade 7-12 Cross Country: | $20.00 |
| Band Sectionals (all grades): | $100.00 |
| High School Fall Retreat: | $20.00 |
| Wireless network one-time setup: | $10.00 per laptop |
| Microcontroller class / Robotics club: | $50.00 (student keeps hardware) |
Additional fees may apply on an individual basis. For example, online courses and special AP classes may have a fee either tied to the school or from the course provider.
Laptop Initiative
GHCA requires grade 9 - 12 students to own and bring a laptop or netbook computer as part of our Laptop Initiative Program. The average cost of a netbook computer is $300, but careful shopping can often result in even better deals. Used and refurbished equipment is often a good choice for families in financial need. Please visit our Laptop Initiative page for details.
The role of fundraising
The actual cost to educate each child at GHCA is approximately $5,000. The difference in this cost and per-student tuition is made up through our Annual Fund. Fundraisers are an important part of keeping tuition affordable. It is expected that families who enroll their children at GHCA will do their part, as they are able, to assist with our fundraising events. We need your help.
Student Referral Program (SPR500)
This program is designed to help families reduce their tuition while spreading the word about GHCA's many benefits. To take advantage of SPR500, simply tell someone new about the advantages of the GHCA experience, then ask them to list you as a reference on their application. You'll then need to contact the GHCA office (207-532-0736) to let us know the name of the family you referred. You will be eligible for the referral incentive of up to $500 off your tuition when application has been accepted for enrollment. The following guidelines apply:
- Only one referring family may receive the one-time tuition reduction per application.
- The referring family must contact the school office to notify office of the referral.
- The family being referred for enrollment must name the referring family on their application.
- Incentive is prorated based upon the start date and term of the new student enrollment.
- Referred Applicant must be accepted for enrollment.
- Only one accepted applicant per referred family qualifies referrer for the incentive.
Tuition Aid and Scholarship Programs
NEW - This year we will utilize the online services of Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) to process tuition assistance applications. FAST provides us with a need-based financial analysis service which includes a recommendation to the school of what a family should reasonably contribute toward tuition. All information from FAST is kept confidential. Results are reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee who makes recommendations to the Head of School based on next year's budget. Upon approval by the Head of School, families will be notified the amount of tuition assistance that is available for them.
Contact our Business Office (532-0736) for application instructions. Tuition assistance is not available for Pre-Kindergarten due to the fact that it is an already heavily-discounted rate. The online submission deadline for all applications is May 15, 2010. Once you've received the material you'll need from us, you can visit our own FAST Application Page.
A Tuition Scholarship Program is available to families that qualify. Re-enrolling families shall receive priority consideration through June 1st, after which all applications shall be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Tuition accounts must be current for an application to be considered. Scholarships are only offered to students enrolled in the first through twelfth grade. Subject to the limits of available funds and based upon the criteria of the program, decisions are made in the order in which applications are received. Forms may be obtained in the office beginning April 1st and returned to the attention of the Scholarship Committee.
It may also be beneficial you to check into the Maine Children's Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships to Maine children in K-12 to help pay for part of public, private or home school. They award 75% of school tuition up to $1,700. Visit their website for income guidelines and more. Applications are accepted until April 30.
27 School Street