How to apply to Polaris Academy
Five steps. We have tried to make the application thoughtful without being onerous, because we want to lower the friction for the families who most need a place like this.
Multiple pathways qualify
Multi-pathway eligibility is itself a research-supported best practice in gifted identification (National Association for Gifted Children, 2019; Belin-Blank Center, n.d.). Any one of the following is enough to apply.
- Identification as gifted by a school district (any state).
- Standardized assessment at or above the 95th percentile (CogAT, NNAT, WISC, or comparable).
- Above-grade-level coursework portfolio.
- Educator, mentor, or family-friend nomination paired with a work sample.
If you are unsure whether your child qualifies, please apply anyway. The Navigator Profile and family conversation often surface readiness that test scores miss.
Five steps
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Family Interest Form
A short online form. Tell us who your child is, what they wonder about, the session you would like, and any considerations we should know up front.
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Navigator Profile
Your child's voice in their own words, drawings, or a short voice memo. What they read, what they make, what they argue about. There is no right answer.
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One Adult Recommendation
A teacher, mentor, librarian, coach, or family friend who has watched your child think. We ask three short questions and recommenders submit directly.
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Optional Work Sample
Any medium: writing, art, video, code, build photos, a recording. Optional, and not weighted more heavily than the Navigator Profile.
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Family Conversation
A 15-minute video call with our admissions lead. Two-way: we want this to be a great fit for your family, and you should leave with your real questions answered.
When to apply
- Rolling admissions: November through April for the following summer.
- Priority deadline: February 1. Applications received by this date receive first consideration for session choice and Compass Fund awards.
- Family conversations: typically scheduled within two weeks of completed application.
- Decisions: released within four weeks of the family conversation.
Plain-language admissions criteria
Polaris admissions decisions are about fit, not ranking. We are looking for Navigators who would benefit from a cohort of intellectual peers and a daily program designed for the ways gifted children think and feel. Specifically:
- A pattern of intellectual curiosity that pulls them, willingly or restlessly, past their grade level in some domain.
- Readiness to work in a cohort of peers (we are not seeking children who are perfectly socially polished; we are seeking children ready to try).
- A family who has read this site honestly and believes Polaris is a fit, including the social-emotional design.
- We do not weight extracurriculars, "achievements," or family connections in admissions decisions.
Begin with the Family Interest Form
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