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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is your average class size?

The average class size is 14. All classes in Preschool through Kindergarten have a teacher and a teaching assistant.

2. Which world languages do you offer?

All children beginning in Preschool study a world language. Preschoolers learn Spanish and Junior Kindergarten students are exposed to both Spanish and French. Students in Kindergarten through grade 8 are required to study either French or Spanish.

Prior to entering Kindergarten, students make their language choice and they will study this language through 4th grade. At the end of 4th grade, as our students prepare to move up to Middle School (which begins in 5th grade), they may either continue with the same language or switch. Students in 7th grade have the option of studying Latin, a two-year course of study, in lieu of French or Spanish.

3. Are you required to participate in the Virginia Standard of Learning (SOL) program?

No. Congressional's belief in the importance of innovative, dynamic teaching is one reason the school does not participate in the SOL program. Our SOL-independence empowers teachers to introduce new resources and explore challenging new material. Teachers can tailor their teaching to their students.

Congressional's own benchmarks of achievement are fully articulated. For each school, a concise scope and sequence outlines curriculum and learning objectives by subject area. Assessment of student performance includes a teacher's direct observation of a child's understanding. The external indicator we use is Educational Records Bureau (ERB) testing.

4. What specialty classes does Congressional offer?

Children in all grades have specialized teachers for physical education, music, art, and world language. Middle School students also study speech and drama which includes debating, public speaking and broadcast journalism.

5. Do you have an after school sports program?

Congressional offers an extensive after school sports program with Junior Varsity and Varsity teams that play other local schools.

Visit our Athletics page to view all the sports offered.

6. Are student required to wear uniforms?

All students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 are required to wear uniforms. They are optional for younger children.

7. Do you offer transportation?

Congressional School operates 4 community stop bus routes throughout Northern Virginia. Each route offers 2 or 3 community stops and has been designed to service the widest possible area while also limiting ride time to 60 minutes or less.

Please contact Julio Lopez at 703-533-9711, ext. 400, for further information or visit the transportation page on our website.

8. Does Congressional offer before- and after-school care?

Congressional's Extended Hours Program (EHP) is available in the morning from 7:00-8:00 am and in the afternoon from 3:30 to 6:00 pm. We do not provide transportation for children who are in EHP.

Visit the EHP page for more details.

9. Does Congressional School offer financial aid?

Congressional School is committed to accepting and enrolling a well-qualified and diverse student body. To that end, we make every effort to ensure that motivated, talented, well-rounded students have the opportunity to receive an education at Congressional, regardless of cost.

Financial aid decisions are made independently from admissions decisions. Financial aid is based solely on demonstrated need as determined by our Financial Aid Committee, which relies on the analysis provided by the School and Student Services for Financial Aid (http://sssbynais.org/parents) as well as the availability of funds and the number of applicants for financial aid. Financial aid is available beginning in our Preschool classes.

We know that financing an independent school education can be a difficult process, and we would like to help in any way we can. For any questions concerning financial aid, tuition or payment plans, please do not hesitate to call our Director of Admission and Financial Aid, Gretchen Herbst: 703-533-1064.