Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Portledge existed?
Portledge was founded in 1965 and graduated its first senior class in 1976.

How many children attend Portledge?
For the 2006-2007 school year, Portledge has 414 students enrolled; 161 in Lower School (Pre-nursery through 5th Grade), 92 in Middle School (Grades 6, 7, 8) and 161 in Upper School (Grades 9-12).

Who goes to Portledge?
Except for having good character, academic ability, and lots of energy, there is no typical Portledge student. Our students have varied interests, cultures, and economic backgrounds. In all, we have quite a remarkable and interesting group of students: among others, we have artists, athletes, classical musicians, hopeful rock stars, scientists, writers, preps, techies, history buffs and nature lovers. Many possess multiple talents and interests. Since we are a small school with such variety in so many areas, cliques are unlikely to form – thus our welcoming community leads to a broadened exposure and friendships with a diverse array of interesting people. Most Portledge students live within 15 miles of the school, a semi-circular area which encompasses Great Neck, Manhasset, Port Washington, Herricks, Hempstead, Hicksville, Syosset, Oyster Bay, Locust Valley, Brookville, Huntington, Melville and the many towns in between. Additionally some come from Queens, Southern Long Island, and further East.

How many students are in a classroom?
The student/teacher ratio is 7 to 1. We have an average of 12 students in a classroom.

How many students are in one grade?
Lower School has two sections in each grade with an average of 11 students in each section. In Middle School and Upper School, grade size increases somewhat with Middle School having an average of 31 students in a grade and Upper School having an average of 40 in a grade.

Do all Portledge graduates go to college?
Yes. Portledge is a college preparatory school. Occasionally a graduate will decide on an alternative plan for a year or two before attending college.

Where do Portledge students come from?
Most live within a 15 mile radius of the school.

What do I do about transportation if my child attends Portledge?
Public school districts are required to provide your transportation to Portledge if you live within 15 miles of the school and if you notify them by April 1st. Contact your school district’s transportation office to get further information. If you live beyond the 15 mile radius, sometimes we can help with carpool or bus suggestions.

How do I begin the application process?
First, please call the Admissions Office to ask questions, to request an information package, and to arrange to take a tour of our campus. You can begin an application by completing the Registration for Application form you receive in our admissions package.

What is the application deadline?
Decisions to accept, reject, or wait list are made by the Admissions Committee as applications are completed, usually beginning in early February. Since spaces are limited, it is advantageous to complete the process as early as possible.

Is Financial Aid available?
Portledge School seeks the most qualified candidates from a variety of backgrounds, and it is the desire of the school to make financial aid available to students who could not attend the school without such support. Although it is our goal to accommodate all students who are accepted to the school, our budget is limited and priority is given to current students. The admissions and financial aid decisions are separate ones. Families may apply for financial aid by completing an annual confidential application which is processed by the School Scholarship Service (SSS). Once completed, the information is forwarded to Portledge for evaluation by the Financial Aid Committee.

Applications for financial aid are sent out in December and must be filed with SSS by February 1st. Decisions regarding financial aid awards are communicated beginning in mid-March. All awards will be reviewed annually.