The Miami Valley School is Dayton’s only independent, nonsectarian day school for grades Pre-K through 12. Driven by our core values of Integrity, Celebration, Grit, and Kindness, The Miami Valley School’s mission is to challenge young people of promise to become self-sustaining learners and compassionate global citizens. More at www.miamivalleyschool.org.
General Info:
Address: 5151 Denise Drive, Dayton, OH 45429
Phone: (937) 434-4444
Website: http://www.miamivalleyschool.org
Q&A with The Miami Valley School:
What makes The Miami Valley School unique?
The MVS Immersion Method. This teaching methodology reflects our shared beliefs of how all students learn best. It is our articulation of the best practices of education, founded on the principles of deep student experience and tailored to meet the needs of the individual learner. The Immersion Method dispels the notion that the teacher is the sole provider of information. Rather, it confidently proclaims that students learn more deeply via actual experience instead of teacher-centric content delivery. The power of the Immersion Method can be seen in classrooms daily and is especially evident during our Immersion term, when students in all grades choose one area of passion to study in-depth for two to four weeks depending on grade level. This signature program is what student and alumni alike speak about as a transformational experience in their lives.
What is The Miami Valley School’s age/grade range?
At MVS we have just under 500 students in grades Pre-K through 12. Our youngest learners turn 3 by September 30 of their first year at MVS and our oldest students are seniors in high school. The school is divided into the early childhood school (students aged 3-5), lower school (K-5th grades), middle school (6th-8th grades), and upper school (9th-12th grades).
What is your enrollment policy? Are there any key dates parents should be aware of?
The MVS admission committee looks for applicants who will thrive at MVS and contribute positively to the MVS community. The application process includes an online application form plus, depending on the age of the applicant, recommendations, school records, applicant statement, and assessment. The process is detailed on this page of the school website – https://www.miamivalleyschool.org/admissions/admissions-process/.
Families should begin the application process by February 1 to guarantee consideration for any openings for the following school year. Later applications will be considered for any remaining spots. Applicants for full classes may be placed in a waitpool, and we regularly draw from our waitpools as enrollment settles before and during each school year.
Do you offer financial assistance?
Yes! We never want our tuition to be a barrier to attending our school. Indeed, half of our students K-12 receive some tuition assistance each year. The enrollment and financial aid committee does its utmost to meet each family’s level of financial need. In addition to tuition assistance, certain endowed scholarships are available for the most promising middle and upper school applicants. Details about financial aid are on this page of the MVS website: https://www.miamivalleyschool.org/admissions/tuition-aid/. Interested scholarship applicants and their families are asked to contact Anne Dettmer, Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid, by February 1 via email: [email protected].
What are the standard school day hours?
The school day starts at 8:00 a.m. Our early childhood school students may choose a half-day option that lets out at 11:30 a.m., and the regular school day ends between 3:00-3:30 p.m. depending on the age of the student. Many students, particularly in the older grades, stay on campus for athletics, clubs, after-school care, or other activities.
Does The Miami Valley School offer before/after school care? Does The Miami Valley School offer afterschool activities?
Yes! Under normal circumstances, all students may be dropped off as early as 7:30 a.m., although our early drop-off policies have had to be adjusted due to COVID-19. The early childhood, lower, and middle schools offer after-school care until 6:00 p.m., and upper school students are free to remain on campus until that time as well.
Early childhood and lower school students have many after-school club options to choose from. Students in grades 4-12 may stay for athletic team practices or other activities including performing arts rehearsals, club meetings, academic team practices, etc.
Does The Miami Valley School have a homework policy?
Yes, and it varies depending on the age of the student. Our younger learners have just a bit of work for home to help them develop good study habits and time management skills and extend their learning. As students get older, their homework expectations increase, with some daily work as well as long-term assignments. The more advanced the courses chosen, the higher the expectations. However, we are extremely careful about ensuring homework is meaningful and manageable for all of our students, especially considering their extracurricular and family obligations.
Does The Miami Valley School offer support for students with special needs?
We have learning support specialists in each of the lower, middle, and upper schools to provide light support with academics, executive functioning, etc. However, we are not equipped to accommodate extensive educational needs.
What specialty classes / extracurricular activities does The Miami Valley School offer (gym, art, language, sports etc.)?
Where to begin?! Our early childhood school students take advantage of the entire MVS campus and have separate classes with dedicated teachers for Mandarin, Spanish, performing arts, physical education, and library. Our lower school students have all of those co-curricular classes with separate teachers as well and also have science, visual art, and social emotional learning classes with specialized teachers, all in addition to their other subjects.
Middle school students have separate, specialized teachers for all of their classes, which include a choice of Mandarin, Spanish, or French along with computer science/makerspace, visual and performing arts, physical education, library, health, and social emotional learning. Upper school students have a robust and challenging curriculum supported by many elective options, all built upon and expanded from the lower divisions and all taught by teachers who specialize in the fields in which they teach.
At MVS we have two school counselors who support all of our students’ social-emotional learning, both in and out of class. Our 9th graders take a transitions class early in the year as they launch on their upper school experience. All of our 11th and 12th graders take a two-semester class in small groups with our college counseling director who guides them along the college process.
In addition, all students also have classes and projects through our greenhouse and gardens program.
Competitive athletic teams are offered 4th-12th grades. 4th-12th grades also have opportunities to participate in additional performing arts productions and ensembles, including choral, instrumental, and strings. And so much more! Come for a campus tour to learn more!
What are The Miami Valley School’s safety policies?
The school employs two full time school counselors, a full time registered school nurse and a full time Campus Safety and Security Coordinator who is also trained as an EMT. All employees are trained yearly in emergency response, first aid, anaphylaxis, blood borne pathogens, and A.L.I.C.E. procedures. The School’s Rapid Response Team and Leadership team review emergency operational manuals and engage in table top exercises for various emergency situations. Emergency “go bags”are placed in every room to allow for preparedness in case of emergency or injury. Additional traning is provided before field trips and overnight immersion trips.
