Admission and Affordability
FAQs

Middle & Upper School FAQs

Middle & Upper School

Admission FAQs

List of 13 frequently asked questions.

  • What kind of student does Crossroads seek to admit?

    Crossroads seeks to admit students with a broad range of talents and interests in academic as well as non-academic areas. The Crossroads community is a blend of cultures, ethnicities, socio-economic levels and religions.
  • What are the primary Middle and Upper School entry points and how many new students do you add to the class?

    Sixth, seventh and ninth grades are our largest entry points. We enroll approximately 30-40 new students to sixth grade, 30-35 to seventh grade and 30-40 to ninth grade. In other grade levels, spaces become available through attrition.
  • When may I come see the School?

    We offer multiple ways to experience our dynamic campus:
    • On-campus tours take place during the school day. 
    • We offer on-campus open houses.
    • Small Group Interviews take place on campus as part of the application process.
    Please click here to learn more and to register.
  • What is your policy on ISEE and SSAT testing?

    Since the 2021-22 admission season, Crossroads School has not required nor accepted the ISEE or SSAT.  We strive to have an equitable application process and are aware of the inequities surrounding access to testing resources. We design our application to provide us with a holistic view of each student without the necessity of test scores.

    If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 310-582-4451, email us at admission@xrds.org.
  • Can we visit the School again after decision letters are mailed?

    Absolutely! We understand the process of choosing a school can be overwhelming and anxiety-filled. We aim to make the process as easy and accessible for you. Please email us at admission@xrds.org as soon as possible if you would like to schedule a revisit.
  • Is it necessary to reapply to Crossroads if my child is not admitted for the upcoming academic year?

    Yes. We have found that it is crucial to have the most current and complete information possible when considering an applicant for admission. Students wishing to be considered for the subsequent year must reapply. 
  • What is the application fee?

    Our application fee is $175. If the application fee is a financial barrier, please email admission@xrds.org to request a fee reduction or waiver.
  • What are the K-12 tuition and fees?

    You can find our latest tuition and fees here
  • Does Crossroads offer scholarships?

    While there are no scholarships at Crossroads, grants through our Affordability Program are allocated based upon financial need. Please see the Affording Crossroads page for more detailed information. Socio-economic diversity is one of the School’s founding commitments. Crossroads dedicates over $10 million in grants to families from a wide range of income brackets, benefiting one in four students.
  • Does knowing a current parent or Trustee at Crossroads help an applicant’s chance of admission?

    No. Current parents and Trustees are not involved with the admission evaluation process, so an applicant’s relationship with them has no influence on admission decisions.
  • Is priority given to alumni children/siblings (legacy), the siblings of current students or employee children?

    While we give preference to sibling, alumni and employee families, we do not guarantee admission. Ideally, we would like all members of a family to attend Crossroads, but we know that what is right for one child might not necessarily be right for another. We look at each child individually and thoughtfully with an eye to their particular needs, strengths and learning styles. Our goal is to ensure that each child feels secure and successful in our learning environment. 
  • Which students qualify as legacy applicants?

    Legacy applicants are defined as either 1) the adopted or biological children of a parent who attended Crossroads School, or 2) the biological or adopted siblings of Crossroads graduates. Step-children, foster children or other children living in the home will not automatically qualify for legacy status, but will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The depth of each legacy applicant’s connection with the School (whether the parent graduated, how long they attended Crossroads, how active the parent has been as an alumnus/alumna, etc.) may also be taken into account in the applicant review process.
  • Where do Crossroads students go to school when they graduate?

    Students are advised to find the school most suited to their talents, interests and aspirations. This is the strength of our college guidance program, which results in high acceptance rates. Please view our most recent college attendance list here.

Middle & Upper School

Program and Philosophy FAQs

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

  • How does Crossroads support diversity and inclusion?

    One of the five founding commitments in the Crossroads philosophy is to the development of a student population of social, economic and racial diversity. Our community is a blend of cultures, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, religions and family types. Within our community of learners, 56% identify as students of color and 38% of our K-12 faculty members identify as people of color. Our families come from 91 different zip codes, and one in four students receives grant awards from our Affordability Program.

    Beyond our demographics, Crossroads has, since its inception, been at the forefront of equity and inclusion. Our classrooms are filled with rich and challenging conversations, our students learn how to activate their voices and our community understands our role in making the world a more inclusive place for all.
     
    Crossroads recently launched our groundbreaking Equity & Justice Institute to deepen and extend our work and find meaningful solutions to the challenges our students will inherit, including racism, sexism, poverty, war, environmental degradation, educational inequities, religious persecution and genocide.

    Learn more about Crossroads' commitment to diversity and inclusion here.
  • How many students are in a class?

    In the Middle School, the sixth grade has approximately 85 students, while the seventh and eighth grades have approximately 115 students each. Middle School class sizes range from five to 20.
     
    There are approximately 140-150 students in each grade of our Upper School, grades nine through 12. Class sizes average 19 students, yet there can be as few as five and as many as 25, depending on the subject.
  • Is Crossroads a school for the arts?

    While we are not an arts school, our commitment to the arts is equal to our commitment to traditional subjects. We view the arts curriculum as a disciplined and integral part of our inspired program. The arts at Crossroads emphasize problem-solving, risk-taking and critical analysis. Crossroads is a strong, college preparatory school whose students are particularly attractive to colleges and universities because of the balance we provide between academics and the arts.
  • Why has Crossroads eliminated the Advanced Placement (AP) program?

    In 2007, after comprehensive study and community dialogue, Crossroads School decided that the Advanced Placement (AP) program did not best serve our students as an advanced-level curriculum and compromised our ability to fulfill the commitments in our Statement of Philosophy. We therefore decided to replace AP courses with our own internally designed Crossroads Advanced Studies (CAS) courses. We believe that this change, one that many nationally recognized independent schools have also made, assures a more stimulating, challenging and relevant academic program for all of our students.
  • What is Crossroads athletics program like?

    Crossroads offers a comprehensive and competitive athletics program for grades six through 12 as well as developmental athletics teams for fifth graders. Crossroads' athletics program inspires students to pursue competitive team sports, which further friendships, build character on and off the field and instill school and individual pride. For those who participate in interscholastic athletics, the experience is as much a part of their education as any other subject in school. Please visit the Athletics area of our website for further information.
  • How does college counseling work at Crossroads?

    Please visit our College Counseling web pages for an in-depth explanation of this important process.