Frequently Asked Questions

Each fall, every child is assessed in academic areas to establish goals for the upcoming year. Individual progress of the child is communicated through parent-teacher conferences and written narratives, twice a year. Fall narratives address the type of learner your child is, their interests and characteristics, and their strengths and weaknesses, as well as learning and progress goal setting. Spring narratives address what your child has learned, a summary of progress, goals achieved or approached, and a look ahead at needs for the summer and the following year. These evaluations become part of the student’s formal record in place of traditional report cards.

At Marylhurst, we believe that homework is an opportunity to deepen understanding and extend classroom learning at home. Homework assignments begin in the first grade and increase in quantity and responsibility as children move through the upper grades. We expect that families will help children find time and space to do their homework, and will encourage children to reach out to teachers when they need help with an assignment. Homework should be done by children, and parents should expect to support and assist their children with the process. In the earlier grades, homework is primarily about the process, but students quickly gain pride in the great work they do. In upper elementary and middle school, missed homework assignments will impede work in the classroom. All primary/middle school classes also assign summer homework. Summer homework is thoughtfully designed, and we build our fall curriculum to be reliant upon the completion of summer homework.

The Marylhurst School does not participate in traditional standardized testing. We are aware of the importance of children being exposed to the testing process and understand that test-taking is an essential skill. We utilize the Educational Testing Bureau for infrequent formalized testing; specifically, the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP). The CTP is a broad assessment for students in areas such as reading, listening, vocabulary, writing, and math used nationally by many independent schools. Marylhurst faculty administers the CTP to 5th and 8th-grade students once per year. Results are reported as a percentile rank amongst students of similar demographics. Parents are always given the option to opt-out of any standardized test.

Marylhurst is committed to a low student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 10:1 students per teacher. Ratio ranges are developmentally appropriate; they are smaller in preschool where students need more help, and broader in the primary grades where students need more independence.

Marylhurst does not provide food service on campus. To support Marylhurst’s efforts to instill good eating habits, we ask that parents provide nutritious food choices and be sensitive to allergies that may be present in a given class. This information will be given to you by the teachers of each classroom community.