The admissions process starts with a parent tour and meeting during which we explore a child’s needs, strengths, learning experiences, and the parent's aspirations for their child. This meeting is equally important for siblings of current students.
All applicants, including siblings, are required to complete an online application and pay an application fee. The fee is reduced for sibling applicants. We consider a range of evidence—abilities, aptitudes, and potential giftedness—as well as results from cognitive testing. We also consider factors such as a child’s curiosity and enthusiasm. Mackintosh requires formal testing for all students entering grades two and above. We are happy to provide a list of providers for testing services.
Applicants are invited to spend a full day in a Mackintosh classroom with current students and staff. Student visits are scheduled between October 15th and January 31st.
Parents will be contacted within three to four days of a student visit. During the follow-up conversation, we will discuss your child’s response to the visit and our observations and evaluation. During the discussion we will jointly determine next steps:
Placement in Applicant Pool: Successful applicants will be placed in the applicant pool for admissions consideration in March.
Application Held Pending Further Evaluation: On occasion, we may need additional information or evaluation to accurately determine fit. This may include a second visit day, further testing, or meetings with professionals who may have worked with your child. We will make every effort to help families navigate this process prior to the admissions decisions in March.
Recommendation for Alternate Placement: If we determine that Mackintosh is not ideally suited to your child’s learning needs, we will let families know of this decision immediately, so that they may continue to explore other opportunities for their child.
Mackintosh Academy will make final admissions selections from the applicant pool. Priority is given to qualified siblings of current students. We consider many factors in filling classroom openings to provide for a balanced learning community. These factors may include learning style, exceptionalities, gender, social traits and cognitive capacity. Admissions decisions are announced according the the ACIS Denver Consortium agreed upon notification dates.
Mackintosh Academy will accept rolling admissions in classes with available openings. Qualified candidates may be offered a position at the school immediately.
Enrollment and re-enrollment in Mackintosh Academy is completed through the Mackintosh Academy Student Enrollment and Tuition Payment Agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of enrollment, including financial obligations. The re-enrollment procedure for current families begins in January of the school year. Families are required to re-enroll and pay a deposit by the published deadlines in order to secure their child a spot for the next academic year. Deposits are non-refundable. New offers of enrollment will go out after the published deadline for current families. Families requiring an extension must provide such a request in writing. While every attempt will be made to provide reasonable extensions, the Academy reserves the right to deny the request based on the circumstances and number of new students applying.
In keeping with ACIS guidelines, current families who have applied to another ACIS school will be provided a grace period during which the deposit may be fully refunded upon notice of acceptance to another ACIS school. Parents making a decision outside of the grace period remain responsible for the complete terms of the contract.
The enrollment process for current families and new families involves online enrollment and electronic signature of the Student Enrollment and Tuition Payment Agreement and payment of the deposit through FACTS. At that time, families will also choose a payment plan through FACTS. Note: All terms and conditions in the Student Enrollment and Tuition Payment Agreement will be considered binding upon Mackintosh Academy and the parent(s) that signs the document. Alterations to the document must be accompanied by a written addendum, signed by the Head of School and the parent(s), to be considered effective.
Mackintosh Academy partners with Dewars Insurance to provide tuition insurance for families. Under the terms of our contract, tuition insurance is required for families paying tuition in installments and strongly recommended for all families. An electronic copy of the Dewars Agreement will be provided to all families during the enrollment process. Families should note that tuition insurance does not go into effect until “after attending more than fourteen consecutive calendar days beginning with the student’s first class day of attendance in the academic year.”
In addition to the contractual terms in the Enrollment Agreement, families are asked to make careful note of the following:
Families are asked to choose a payment plan at the time of enrollment. Changes to the payment plan will incur a $50 administration fee.
Mackintosh Academy cannot accept cash payments greater than $2,500.
Tuition payments, Before Care and After Care charges, supply fees and other incidental fees will be invoiced and payable through FACTS. All families are required to have a FACTS account. In the case of two household families, parents may choose to have separate FACTS accounts or may have a primary parent account.
Unpaid tuition and other fees remaining at the end of the school year and delinquent payments will result in a withholding of report cards, teacher recommendations and other student records until the account balance is settled.
Families making tuition payments from more than one household (separated, divorced, grandparents, etc.) are required to complete a separate Student Enrollment and Tuition Payment Agreement for each household. Separate parties may choose different payment plans. All parties are jointly responsible for tuition payments. Mackintosh does not make any determination as to the allocation of payments between parties, but will set up payment plans according to instructions from the responsible parties.
Reimbursement requests for materials purchased for the Academy, as previously approved by the Head of School, must be submitted to the business office within 60 days of incurring the charge.
At Mackintosh Academy, socioeconomic and ethnic diversity are important to us. We understand that affording an independent school education is a stretch for many families. We offer Tuition Assistance to as many students as possible. Tuition Assistance is based solely on demonstrated financial need. We strive annually to increase our funding through a variety of community resources including our Solar Scholars Fund.
Parents interested in applying for tuition assistance must complete an online application through FACTS Grant and Aid prior to any consideration for financial assistance by Mackintosh Academy. Financial assistance forms and instructions will be sent to currently enrolled Mackintosh Academy families in November of the previous year with submission of the materials required by mid-January for priority consideration.
The Tuition Assistance Committee will determine award designation by the end of January. Financial assistance letters and addenda will be sent to families within two weeks of the re-enrollment contract deadline. All financial assistance awards must be accepted by the re-enrollment deadline. Families offered tuition assistance who do not return their signed contract and signed addendum by the deadline may no longer be considered eligible for the initial award.
Families with students who are new to Mackintosh Academy will also be required to complete the FACTS application for consideration for tuition assistance. The Tuition Assistance Committee will determine new financial awards after finalizing awards given to existing families. Tuition assistance awards for new students will be given within one week of the new student enrollment deadline. Families offered tuition assistance who do not return their signed contract and signed addendum by the deadline may no longer be considered eligible for the initial award.
Tuition assistance priority is given to families already receiving assistance, then current families with new financial circumstances, followed by siblings of current families and then new students in new families. Families must re-apply for tuition assistance on an annual basis. Tuition assistance information is confidential. Only the Tuition Assistance Committee will be privy to this sensitive and personal information.
Contract Addendum
The Director of Enrollment Management, in consultation with the Business Manager, will prepare a Tuition Addendum for each student receiving tuition assistance or a scholarship. These addenda must be signed by the parent(s) and the Head of School to be appended to the online contract signed by the parent(s). A copy of signed addenda will be stored in the Business Office.