Entrance Evaluation Process

1. EVALUATION PURPOSE
   In the admissions evaluation, which become more formal as the grade level advances, the school attempts to determine if the student is developmentally ready for school, has the basic skills required to enter the grade level in question, and will be able to cope successfully with the heavy demands imposed by a bilingual educational program. English, Arabic, and Math entrance evaluations have been designed by the school to evaluate basic language and math skills reflecting our curriculum. The English and Arabic evaluations assess reading, writing and oral language skills. The Math evaluation assesses basic grade level mathematical skills. 
2. EVALUATION DATES
   After meeting all the basic qualifications, the Admissions Office will inform the parents about the suitable dates and times for the evaluation of their children.
3. EVALUATION FEES
   All evaluation fees are non-refundable unless a cancellation is made by parents 5 business days prior to the evaluation date.
4. RE-EVALUATION
   With the Principal’s approval, a maximum of one re-evaluation will be allowed for a student, in which case additional fees may apply.
5. EVALUATION DECISION 
   The evaluation decision will be made by the Principal in each division after careful review of the results of the admission’s evaluation, recommendations made by the examining teachers, and the previous school’s academic and behavior records.  
6. EVALUATION RESULTS
   Grades 1-12 evaluation results will normally be provided to parents three working days after the evaluation. Preschool parents will be advised of admission's final results after all interviews are completed around the beginning of March. This is done through the Admissions Office. 
7. CONFIDENTIALITY 
   BBS reserves the right to deny admissions to any student without stating the reasons, to maintain the confidentiality of references given by the student’s previous school, or when the school officers believe that it is in the best interest of the school or the student to do so.
8. ALTERNATIVE GRADE LEVEL
   If a student is applying for admissions in a certain grade level and he/she did not pass the entrance evaluation in the level which he/she applied for, BBS may offer him/her acceptance in a lower grade level depending on his/her previous records, age, and abilities observed during the school’s entrance evaluation. Thus, it is the family’s decision whether to accept or deny this offer. However, the family cannot request a change in grade once they have accepted the offer.

Pre-K Interviews 

• There will be no formal interviews with PreK children. However, NEW families and their children will be required to book a date for a Meet & Greet session as a part of the enrollment process. This is an important step to be considered for admissions.
• The sessions are conducted weekly during February each year and may continue depending on placement availability.
• Each session lasts approximately 30 minutes.
• According to the BBS Admissions Policy, we will be accepting students conditionally based on the Admissions priorities and the number of seats available.
• The final acceptance results are expected to be announced by the beginning of March.

Preschool Interviews (KG1 and KG2) 

• Preschool faculty interview children, on one-to-one basis, in the presence of their parents and submit their recommendations to the Pre-School administration.
• These interviews assess the development of the child’s social, emotional, speech, language, and fine motor skills (in both Arabic and English).
• The interviews are conducted on a weekly basis during the month of February each year, and may continue depending on placement availability.
• Each interview is untimed; approximately 30 minutes is a usual time frame. 

Elementary Entrance Evaluations (Grades 1-5)

• Students seeking admissions into BBS Elementary school will be evaluated in Arabic, English and Math. These evaluations will be based upon the minimum level of skills that a student would be expected to have attained in the present grade to allow them to cope with the next grade’s level at BBS. For example, a student in grade two seeking enrollment for entry to grade three at BBS will be required to sit for entrance evaluations based upon grade two skills. Students must achieve the grade level expectation in Arabic, English and Math in their grade two evaluations to be considered for acceptance to grade three at BBS. Eligibility for enrollment will be determined by these metrics, as well as by reviewing the student’s records from previous schools.

• These evaluations are usually administered for a group of students throughout the school year (once a month in February, March, April, May and August).

Middle School Entrance Evaluations (Grades 6-8)

• Students seeking entry to Middle School sit for a range of Arabic paper-based and computer-based International Diagnostic and Admissions Test (IDAT) in English and Math, in addition to an interview with the school Counselor. Suitability and eligibility for enrollment is judged on the above factors as well as information and report cards provided by previous schools. 

High School Entrance Evaluations (Grades 9-12)

• Students seeking entry to High School will have a more rigorous evaluation in Arabic paper-based and computer-based International Diagnostic and Admissions Test (IDAT) in English and Math. Students must meet average/above average standards in all three areas, in addition to having their previous academic/behavior school records reviewed, in order to be considered for admissions.
• The Guidance Counselor will meet with the new students and their parents before completing the admissions process to select the courses which the student has to study in order to complete the requirements for the BBS High School diploma. Credits from a previous accredited school are simply attached to the current BBS transcript but they are not transferred. Minimum graduation requirements must be met during the time the student is at BBS. New students are not encouraged to apply for 12th grade admissions to BBS High School.
• Entrance evaluations are usually administered for a group of students throughout the school year (once a month in February, March, April, May and August).