Admissions
Mid-Term Enrollment
Julie Andersen
Enrollment Director
Learn more about Oliverian School
Schedule an appointment to learn more or apply today.
Admissions & Enrollment
As long as we have space available, we offer rolling admissions throughout the year, and encourage families to get in touch at any time. We know that when your child is struggling, finding the right school can’t always wait. We will help guide you through the admissions process and partner with you in determining the appropriate time for your child to transition to our school. Our priority application deadline is February 1st for the following school year. However, we understand that some families need help immediately, and waiting until fall isn’t always the right choice for your child.
Yes. We work with transcripts from all types of schools, including public schools, private schools, homeschool programs, and online schools. We accept partial credits and will work with you to ensure your child gets credit for the work they’ve already completed. Our goal is to meet your child where they are academically and help them move forward.
Sometimes, waiting until fall means watching your child struggle for months longer than necessary. A mid-year transition allows your child to start fresh in a supportive environment right away. Students who join us mid-year benefit from smaller class sizes, immediate access to therapeutic support, and a community that understands what it’s like to need a different kind of school. Many families tell us they wish they had made the switch sooner.
“Enrolling our daughter at Oliverian School mid-year was one of the best decisions we’ve made for her. Having the option to join a new school outside the traditional enrollment cycle was invaluable for our family. She had been struggling at her previous school, where the environment wasn’t a good fit and she was dealing with a difficult bullying situation. We knew she needed a change, but we were worried we’d have to wait until the next school year to give her one.
Oliverian made it possible to quickly make that transition. From the moment she arrived, she was welcomed into a warm, accepting community where she felt comfortable, supported, and safe. The difference was immediate—she became more confident, engaged, and eager to learn again. The mid-year enrollment option truly helped us solve a stressful situation and gave our daughter the fresh start she needed to grow both academically and emotionally.
We are incredibly grateful for Oliverian and the opportunity it provided our family when we needed it most.” – Oliverian Parent
We know starting at a new school mid-year can feel overwhelming. That’s why every new student goes through our onboarding program, which pairs them with a peer mentor who knows what it’s like to be new at Oliverian. For the first two weeks, students receive additional support and engagement from our staff to help them settle in, build connections, and feel comfortable in their new environment.
Therapeutic Support & School Avoidance
Yes. Oliverian is a hybrid model between a traditional boarding school and a therapeutic program. We’re a college preparatory boarding school first and foremost with built-in therapy and support. Our on-site therapists are master-level clinicians who understand the challenges teenagers face. While we provide the academic rigor students need for college, we also recognize that emotional well-being and mental health are equally essential.
Our entire model is designed to reduce the pressure and anxiety that often leads to school avoidance. With class sizes of just 4-7 students, a 2:1 student-staff ratio, and staff trained specifically to work with students who have struggled with school avoidance, we create an environment where showing up feels manageable. We treat every moment as a fresh start with no judgment or shame. If your child misses a class or has a hard day, we help them get back on track without making them feel worse about it. It’s about building confidence one day at a time.
We’re intentional about how the day starts because for students who struggle with school avoidance, anxiety can build the night before. Mornings at Oliverian are designed to be manageable and engaging, starting with a healthy breakfast and a fun, creative Pillar class such as art, music, stewardship, or adventure. Core academics don’t begin until 10:30 a.m., so students aren’t waking up to a calculus test. Starting the day this way helps students build confidence and makes showing up feel doable.
Yes. Many of our students have experienced school refusal or avoidance before coming to Oliverian. What makes our approach different is that we’ve built the entire school around supporting students who have felt overwhelmed, anxious, or unable to engage in traditional school settings. Our small community of 40 students, relational approach to learning, and therapeutic support help students rediscover that school can be a place where they belong and succeed.
Yes, many of our students live with anxiety, depression, or both. Our clinical team and teaching staff work together to support students’ mental health while keeping them engaged academically. We understand that some days are harder than others, and we meet students where they are. With on-site master-level clinicians and a community built on understanding and acceptance, students learn to manage their symptoms while continuing to grow academically and socially.
Social & Emotional Needs
Yes.. We intentionally build in activities and opportunities to foster friendships in every aspect of students’ lives on campus. Time in the dorm is a mix of structured activities and free time, academic advisory takes place in small “crews” that cultivate supportive relationships, and afterschool time is filled with optional clubs and activities that allow students to connect over shared interests. Because many of our students have experienced feeling different or left out at their previous schools, there’s a shared understanding and openness here that makes connection easier. Students aren’t just classmates; they become a community.
Loneliness is one of the hardest parts of struggling in high school. At Oliverian, our small size means no one gets lost in the crowd. Students live, learn, and grow alongside the same close-knit community. Our small dorms and classes, built-in social activities, and relational approach to teaching mean that students build genuine connections with both peers and adults. Many students tell us that for the first time, they feel truly seen, known, and accepted.
Family Connection & Communication
We know that sending your child to boarding school doesn’t mean you want to be less involved. We see parents as partners in their child’s growth, and we want you to feel connected and informed every step of the way. Each student has an assigned faculty member who calls families once a week to provide a full update on academics, social life, and overall well-being. You’ll never be left wondering how your child is doing! For those parents who seek more involvement, our Head of School offers weekly videoconference meetings for parents to get to know one another and learn more about what’s going on at school. Finally, we welcome families to campus twice a year for Family Weekends – opportunities to have your own Oli experience!
Families are welcome to visit, and we encourage parents to stay connected with their child through calls and messages outside of academic hours and before lights out. Many families experience an improved relationship with their children when they are removed from the daily power struggles and instead are able to focus their communications on connection and care.
Academic Questions
We support students with a variety of learning differences, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder (Level 1), dyslexia, and math-based learning disabilities. Many of our students have IEPs or 504 plans from their previous schools, and Oliverian is built with all of those supports already in place. Our small class sizes and individualized approach mean that students get the accommodations and attention they need to thrive.
Our average class size is 4-7 students. This means your child won’t be one face in a crowd of 30. Teachers know each student’s strengths, challenges, and learning style. Students can’t hide or get lost, but they also can’t be overlooked. This size allows for real discussion, individualized attention, and the kind of relationships that help students feel confident asking questions and taking academic risks.
Yes. Oliverian is a college preparatory boarding school with a dedicated college and transitions counselor who guides students through their after high school plans. While we provide the therapeutic support students need to heal and grow, we never lose sight of preparing them for life after high school. Our academic program is rigorous and designed to help students build the skills, confidence, and transcripts they need to pursue college or other post-secondary opportunities.
Oliverian is designed for students who need something different than what traditional schools offer. Our 2:1 student-staff ratio, class sizes of 4-7 students, on-site master-level clinicians, and community of just 40 students create an environment where struggling students can finally thrive. We combine college prep academics with wrap-around support, treating the whole student rather than just focusing on grades. Every student is known, valued, and supported.
Absolutely. Many of our students come to us with IEPs or 504 plans, and we’re prepared to provide the accommodations and support outlined in those plans. Our small class sizes, individualized teaching approach, and built-in support systems mean that students receive what they need to succeed academically and emotionally.
Our schedule is intentionally designed to work with teenage rhythms, not against them. Dorm parents help students rise around 7:15 am for a healthy, delicious breakfast at 8:00 am. The morning starts with experiential classes in areas like art, music, stewardship, or adventure. By the time core academic classes begin, the teenage brain is truly awake and ready to learn. This provides a much less stressful morning and a less anxiety-producing start to the day.
Lunch is at 12:10 pm, followed by more classes, then CREW or Wellness. The academic day wraps up at 4:00 pm. Afternoons are filled with clubs, activities, and trips off campus. Dinner is at 6:00 pm, and after dinner, teachers lead Learning Labs to provide homework support. Students have free time until dorm check-in at 9:00 pm on weeknights and 10:00 pm on weekends.
Weekends allow students to sleep in and recharge. We plan robust trips and activities both on and off campus, giving students chances to explore, try new things, and build friendships outside the classroom.
Oliverian is a 100% boarding school. All of our students, and nearly all staff, live on campus, which allows us to create a close-knit community where students build meaningful relationships and receive consistent support throughout the day and evening.
When all students board together, there’s no divide between those who go home at 3 pm and those who stay. Research by The Association of Boarding Schools found that boarding students felt better prepared for college and reported more satisfying academic experiences than schools with 100% boarders. At Oliverian, every student shares the same rhythm of life, creating the kind of deep connections that can be transformative for students who have felt isolated at their previous schools.
The Admissions Process
Our admissions process is designed to help us get to know each other quickly but thoroughly enough to make a mutually confident admissions decision.
Schedule a Call
Your initial, confidential phone call gives us a chance to “meet” you, hear about your situation, and discuss your prospective student’s appropriateness for Oliverian. It’s also a great opportunity to hear about the school from someone who knows it extremely well.
Apply
Your initial, confidential phone call gives us a chance to “meet” you, hear about your situation, and discuss your prospective student’s appropriateness for Oliverian. It’s also a great opportunity to hear about the school from someone who knows it extremely well.
Visit & Interview
Once we’ve had a chance to discuss your student on the phone, review your application, and meet each other, the Oliverian Admissions Committee will make a decision and inform you by telephone. Start to finish, the admissions process can take as little as three days if we receive all requisite information quickly.
Decide
While the campus visit is typically the final step in our admissions process, it can happen whenever it’s most convenient for you. Some families visit prior to formally applying while others visit after their application has been fully reviewed—often with bags packed ready to enroll the student that day if all goes as hoped. The visit is critical for helping both parents and prospective students get a true “gut” feel for the school setting, culture, and faculty. That’s very important for a voluntary school like ours! The visit gives the school and the family a chance to interview each other and ask critical questions. When a visit is logistically not possible, we can arrange a telephone interview instead. In some cases, our admissions team can visit and interview a student at home or another school or program.
Enroll
Once we mutually determine that your student is a great fit, we will send you a contract and schedule an enrollment date. Enrollments can take place any weekday when school is in session, but we prefer not to enroll new students on weekends when students and faculty are often off campus, having fun in town, on the trails, or on the slopes! When you arrive we will give you our usual warm Oliverian welcome and a full orientation. You and your student will be assigned to a team that includes an advisor, dorm parent, and counselor. Prior to your arrival, we will work closely with you to answer your detailed questions about everything from school breaks to a packing list.
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