General School

What is the daily schedule?
For Early Childhood and Lower School students, class begins at 8:30, Dismissal is at 3:15. Upper School students begin homeroom at 8:20 and are dismissed at 3:40. Supervised drop-off is available as early as 8:00am and is included in the tuition. Before-hours car is available with our Early Bird Program from 7:30am – 8:00am and after-hours care is available from 3:15pm – 6:00pm for an additional fee.

Do you provide transportation to/from school?
The State of Connecticut provides free school bus service for all students who are residents of the Town of Fairfield. This service includes morning and afternoon pick-up/drop-off but does not include a late pick-up time in the afternoon; all students involved in after-school activities must make other arrangements to be picked up. Unquowa is not currently able to provide transportation for students who reside outside of Fairfield. Many families coordinate with one another to carpool or split the cost of private transportation.

Is there a dress code?
We do have a daily dress code for students in PreK – Grade 8 as well as a gym uniform for students in Grades 3 – 8. Details and purchasing information are in our Family Handbook, beginning on page 6.

What is homework like at Unquowa?

Our Early Childhood philosophy of homework is that of “play with a purpose” which instills the love for both learning and school. In kindergarten, optional activities and games that reinforce math and reading skills, in addition to general curiosity and creativity, will be added by the teacher to the list of nightly activities students may choose from. Homework increases gradually from grades 1 – 4. Homework expectations are outlined in our Family Handbook, beginning on page 10.

Which towns do most of Unquowa’s students come from?
Our community is diverse. Most students are from lower Fairfield County, many from Fairfield, Westport,  Bridgeport, Easton, Stratford, Milford and Trumbull.

Is there an after school program?
Yes, there are many choices! From sports teams, to activities like Improv and Inventors Club, to our Owls after hours care. Read more about after school activities.

What is your vacation schedule?
Our first day of school is the first Tuesday after Labor Day. Long breaks include a two-week winter vacation as well as a two-week spring break at the end of March.

High School Placement

Where do students go after graduating from Unquowa?
Most choose to continue at nearby independent day-schools. Some choose their local, public high school and a small percentage go on to boarding schools. Read our About U.S. newsletter to learn more about where the Class of ’24 is going to High School and the fall plans for our Class of ’20 now that they’ve graduated from High School.

What is the process for high school placement?
Our high school placement conversations with families begin in seventh grade, and our High School Placement Coordinator and Head of School work closely with families throughout the eighth grade year to insure a smooth high school application process and an outcome that provides our graduates with the best fit for the next stage of their education.

Application Process

What is your application deadline?
February 15. Applications received after the deadline will be accepted and reviewed based on availability.

When will I be notified of an admission decision?
New student contracts are sent in late February and due back in mid-March.

Financial Assistance

How do I apply for financial assistance?
The Unquowa School uses the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts. All information related to the parents’ financial circumstances will be treated confidentially.

What is the deadline for applying for financial assistance?
The deadline for completing the financial aid application including relevant supplemental documents is February 1st for new families and March 1st for returning families. 

What types of payment plans are available?
The Unquowa School offers three different payment plans: a one-time payment, a two-time payment, or a ten payment plan option through FACTS.

Is financial aid automatically renewed each year?
The Unquowa School requires families receiving financial aid to reapply each year. As long as the student remains at our school, financial aid will generally be renewed each year according to demonstrated need. Changes in such things as income, family status, or the number of children attending tuition charging institutions may result in an increase or decrease in an award. Every application is reviewed annually.

What happens if the parents are divorced or separated?
The Financial Aid Committee will consider the assets of both parents before making any award. Therefore, it is necessary that both parents and their current spouses, if any, complete separate applications.

When will I be notified of my financial assistance award?
Returning students will receive their award letter during the review period which usually extends from the middle of March until the end of May. Newly accepted students (with completed financial assistance applications and all supporting documentation) will receive information about their award as part of their enrollment agreement