582 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
Phone# 401-784-0021 Fax# 401-784-0023
The Idea
After co-founding Dorcas Place, an adult literacy and learning center, Sister Mary Reilly felt
proud and accomplished. Yet as she watched so many young, low income mothers at Dorcas
Place struggle to find a better life, she began to think that if these same women had had a
supportive opportunity earlier in their lives, perhaps things would be different for them. Perhaps
the significant personal and financial challenges they faced would be non-existent, maybe they
would be working, in college, confident and independent. Sister Mary was again inspired and
quickly took action.
Believing that reaching young women at an earlier age could help break the cycle of poverty
and prepare young girls for the challenges of their lives, she envisioned a unique middle school
for girls. Sister Mary was convinced that the transitional timeframe between the ages of 10-14 is
significant in terms of influence in a young woman’s life and confident that a challenging yet
nurturing school environment, rooted in social justice could turn lives around. The roots of
Sophia Academy became established.
At the same time that this transformational thinking was taking place here in RI, the 4th United
Nations World Conference on Women was underway in Beijing, China. Reports from this
conference stated profound concern for the “girl child” which confirmed Sister Mary’s idea that
girls must be reached developmentally, educationally, and emotionally at the transitional ages—
the most crucial time in their lives. Fortified by the findings of the conference, Sister Mary began
the process of making dreams become reality and changing lives one girl at a time. Thus,
Sophia Academy was born.
The Mission
A school of abundant opportunity where middle school girls discover their potential and become
confident and compassionate young women prepared to meet the challenges of their world.
An Overview
Sophia Academy is a non-profit, non-denominational private middle school for girls from low
income families in Providence. Founded as an educational alternative for girls who are most at
risk of repeating the cycle of poverty, Sophia Academy provides a gender-specific, holistic
educational experience that is focused on the academic, spiritual, cultural, and social growth of
the girls and their families.
Founded
September, 2001
Grades
Enrollment
60 students (must be a Providence resident)
Statistics
Sophia Academy student body is reflective of the demographic of the
Providence public school system. This year the students identify
themselves as follows: 56% Hispanic, 24% Black, 2% Asian,
4% Caucasian, and 15% Multi-Racial
5-8
582 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
Phone# 401-784-0021 Fax# 401-784-0023
Educational Highlights
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15:1 student-teacher ratio
All faculty trained in Gender Responsive and Responsive Classroom Model
8th Grade Justice and Gender Seminar
Mentoring program for students
Post-Graduate
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Placement
128 Sophia Academy Graduates, 93% high school graduation rate
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High Schools
Bishop Keough, Central, Classical, DelSesto, Cooley Health & Science, Hope, Green
School, LaSalle Academy, Lincoln School for Girls, The Met School, Providence
Academy for International Studies (PAIS), St. Mary Academy-Bay View, School One, St.
Raphael’s Academy, Textron Chamber Academy, Wheeler School
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Colleges
Barry University, Bay Path Community College, College of the Desert, Community
College of Rhode Island, Johnson & Wales University, Lincoln Technical Institute,
Manhattanville College, Monroe College, Rhode Island College, Sanford Brown, Sawyer
School, University of Rhode Island, Western State Colorado University
Tuition
Full tuition is $12,500 per year. Family contributions range from $40 - $125 per
month, depending on their need.
Funding
At Sophia Academy, we depend largely on grants and donations.
Head of School
Gigi DiBello, M.Ed., gdibello@sophia-academy.org
Admissions Committee
Meg Governo, Assistant Head of School, Ana Ceballos, School Secretary, Sarah RodriguezBeerman, School Counselor
Website
www.sophia-academy.org
582 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
Phone# 401-784-0021 Fax# 401-784-0023
Application for Admissions
Applying for entrance into grade_________________________ For Academic Year____________________________
Applicant’s Full Name
_______________________________________________________________________
Last, First and Middle
Home Address
________________________________________________________________________
Number and Street
________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code
________________________________________________________________________
Date and place of Birth
________________________________________________________________________
Racial/Ethnic Identity
________________________________________________________________________
Name(s) and age(s) of Siblings
Applicant Lives With
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Parent(s) or Other (Name & Relationship)
Parent/Guardian Information
___________________________
Mother/Parent/Guardian’s Name
____________________________________
Father/Parent/Guardian’s Name
Home Address
___________________________
Number & Street
____________________________________
Number & Street
___________________________
City, State & Zip Code
____________________________________
City, State & Zip Code (if different)
___________________________
Telephone Number
____________________________________
Telephone Number
E-Mail Address
___________________________
____________________________________
Place of Birth
___________________________
City/Country
____________________________________
City/Country
Highest Education Level
___________________________
____________________________________
High School Diploma/GED/College
High School Diploma/GED/College
___________________________
Job Title
____________________________________
Job Title
Employment
_______________________________ ____________________________________
Name of Employer
Name of Employer
(CONTINUED ON BACK OF PAGE)
582 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
Phone# 401-784-0021 Fax# 401-784-0023
Application for Admissions (continued)
Name of Person Responsible
for Tuition
Names of Relatives and/or
friends who attend/have
attended Sophia Academy
Current School
________________________________________________________________________
Name & Relationship to Student
_______________________________________________________________________
Name & Relationship to Student
_______________________________________________________________________
School Name/ Principal’s Name
Does your child currently have an IEP?
Does your child speak more than one language?
____________ yes ___________ no
____________yes ___________ no
________________________________________________________________________
If yes, what languages does she speak?
________________________________________________________________________
Has your child repeated a grade?
___________ yes
__________ no
________________________________________________________________________
If yes, please describe the circumstances.
________________________________________________________________________
Has your child ever missed a significant amount of school (more than 10 days)?
____________ yes
__________ no
________________________________________________________________________
If yes, please describe the circumstances.
Personal Reference
________________________________________________________________________
Name and phone number of a nonfamily member who can speak about your daughter’s
ability to succeed at Sophia Academy. The reference may be the teacher, school counselor
or school leader who provided her letter of recommendation (required).
□
I give Sophia Academy permission to speak with my daughter’s current school
personnel should there be any information on this application that may require follow up.
Upon completion of this application, Sophia Academy may request further pertinent records from the student’s current school. The
Release of Records Statement form, when signed by a parent or guardian, serves as authorization.
Signature of Parent/Guardian
For office use:
Date received_____________________; Complete application: Status:
Transcript_________; Standardized Test Scores: _________; Financial Statement________; Parent Reflection_____; Student
Reflection
582 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
Phone# 401-784-0021 Fax# 401-784-0023
Parent/Guardian Reflection – please complete on a separate piece of
paper.
1. Why do you want your daughter to attend an all girls’ school?
2. Please describe what kind of student your daughter is. What does she do well?
3. Please describe your educational goals or hopes for your daughter. Do you expect her
to graduate from high school and college? What will you do to help her to reach her
goals?
4. Please describe your own educational experience. What was middle school like for
you? Did you graduate from high school, attend or graduate from college? Do you have
any special training or technical skill? Do you own or have you owned your own
business?
5. We expect our students to do between 45 minutes and an hour and a half of homework
each night. In your opinion what does your daughter need to help her be successful
meeting this expectation?
6. What types of activities does your daughter like to participate in outside of school, after
school or on the weekends?
7. At Sophia Academy we believe that to be truly successful, a student’s growth needs to
be comprehensive - academic as well as social and emotional. How would you describe
your daughter’s social and emotional capabilities? Have there been or are there
currently challenges she faces in these areas? What support has she received or needsif any, to achieve her social and/or emotional goals?
8. How does your family spend the summer? Do you travel out of the state or country?
What types of activities does your daughter do during the summer months?
9. How have you been involved in your daughter’s school in the past (for example, have
you been a class parent or PTO member)? What may prevent you from participating in
school related activities such as family potlucks or a weeknight meeting?
10. We expect our families to provide at least 10 hours a year of community service within
the Sophia Academy community. This may include helping out in the office, light
building maintenance work, chaperoning a trip, or car-pooling other students who may
need a ride to and from a special afterschool program. How do you think you or another
member of your family might help out?
11. Is there anything else you want us to know about your daughter or your family?
582 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
Phone# 401-784-0021 Fax# 401-784-0023
Student Reflection – Families, this is to be completed by your daughter
on a separate piece of paper.
1. What do you think it will be like to attend an all girls’ middle school? What do you
think you will like about being at a school with only girls?
2. Sophia Academy is a small school where we believe it is important to support
and help one another. Please describe a time when you did a good job helping
someone; it could be a friend, a family member or even someone you don’t
know. How did you help her or him?
3. Please describe a time when you loved or were excited to learn about something.
What made this a good experience for you? Why was it special?
4. We all have challenges. Please tell us about something that is difficult for you to
do. It could be a subject at school that’s hard for you or something completely
different like making friends or getting along with siblings. If you have gotten help
with your challenge, tell us what that experience was like.
5. Please submit a copy of a piece of graded work that you are proud of and tell us
why you chose that piece of work.
6. What are your dreams for yourself? Do you want to graduate from high school or
college? What do you want to do when you grow up?
7. We are constantly surrounded by people who are in some ways similar to us and
some ways different. Have you ever had a friend or do you have currently have
a friend who is very different from you in some way? How is she/he different and
what is that like for you?
8. Is there anything else you want us to know about you? You could share an
activity you like, a hobby, sport or just something special or unique about you. It’s
okay if you choose not to share anything.
582 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
Phone# 401-784-0021 Fax# 401-784-0023
Release of Records Statement
Student’s Name & Present Grade
________________________________________________________________
Last, First, & Middle and Grade
Present School
________________________________________________________________
Name of School
________________________________________________________________
Principal
________________________________________________________________
Street Address
________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code & Telephone Number
I hereby authorize my daughter’s school named above to forward the
following information to Sophia Academy in order to facilitate an accurate
academic evaluation: report card; all previous and current standardized
test scores, disciplinary action, and permanent health record, IEP
assessments and all other pertinent information.
_______________________________________
Signature of parent or guardian
_________________
Please return the signed Release of Records Statement to:
Assistant Head of School
Sophia Academy
582 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI 02907
401.784.0021
www.sophia-academy.org
Date
582 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
Phone# 401-784-0021 Fax# 401-784-0023
To Complete the Application Process
Please make sure that all sections of the applications are complete and include with
this application:
o Current and last year report cards– Literacy Plan (if applicable)
o All previous and current NECAP Standardized test results (from
current school)
o Sophia Academy Recommendation Form (in a sealed envelope)
completed by a teacher or administrator who knows your daughter well –
this may include a school counselor or coach.
o IEP (Individualized Educational Plan for students who have learning
challenges)
o A sample of graded work that your daughter feels proud of (see Student
Reflection page, question #5)
Thank you for thoroughly completing the enclosed application and return all
information to Meg Governo, Assistant Head of School, 582 Elmwood Avenue,
Providence, RI 02907 no later than April 15, 2015.
SPECIAL NOTE: If your daughter is accepted to Sophia Academy, you will be
required to provide financial documents that verify your annual income. Such
documents may include: your tax return, proof of SSI support, or FIP statement.