Garrison Forest School
A Baltimore area independent Day and Boarding college preparatory school for girls with a coeducational two-year-old through Pre-Kindergarten program, Garrison Forest School is dedicated to the intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, moral, physical and spiritual growth of its students.
The school seeks to develop within each student a strong sense of integrity, identity and self-esteem, reflecting its motto Esse Quam Videri: "To be and not to seem.".
Top 5 Rankings
All-Girls Schools
Garrison Forest School ranks among the top 5 all-girls schools (out of 21 all-girls schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- Community Size Large student body (number of students)
- Offering Breadth Most sports offered
| Definition of Terms | 2020 School Data | Garrison Forest | Boarding School Avg. |
| School Focus | College Prep | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered (Boarding) | 8-12 | 9-12 |
| Grades Offered (Day) | Pre-K-12 | 9-12 |
| School Type | All-girls | Co-ed |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1910 | 1907 |
| Campus Size | 110 acres | 125 acres |
Student Body
| Enrollment | 548 students | 302 students |
| % Students of Color | 33% | 25% |
| % International Students | 10% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 27% | 70% |
| Average SAT Score | 1202 | * National Avg. »View |
| SAT range (25th-75th percentile) | 1130 - 1275 | - |
| Average ACT score | 27 | *National Avg. » View |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | No | No |
Academics and Faculty
| Saturday Classes | No | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Formal (School Uniform) | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 15 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 9:1 | 7:1 |
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 15 | 18 |
| ESL Courses Offered | No | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 78% | 70% |
| Summer Program Offered | Yes | Yes |
| Summer Program Details | Link to Summer Program Details | |
Tuition Cost
| Endowment Size | $42 million | $24 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $60,215 | $59,140 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $31,470 | $33,082 |
| Tuition international students | $63,630 | $53,975 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 47% | 40% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $18,350 | $25,000 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | Yes | No |
Acceptance Rate
| Application Deadline | Dec. 13 / rolling | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | No | No |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Director of Admissions | Catie Gibbons | |
Course Listings
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
AP / Advanced Courses
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 15 | 18 |
| Courses | Art History, Art Portfolio, Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Economics, English Language, Environmental Science, French Language, French Literature, Latin Literature, Psychology, Spanish Language, U.S. History, World History | |
Sports
| # Interscholastic Sports Offered | 19 | 16 |
| Sports | Badminton, Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Golf, Indoor Soccer, Lacrosse, Polo, Riding, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Tennis, Track, Volleyball, Winter Track | |
Extracurriculars
| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 33 | 23 |
| Extracurriculars | Saintly Speaking Newspaper Club or Organization: Academic Team, Debate Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Forum (Student Government), Green Club, Habitat for Humanity Chapter, Honor Council Advisory Board, International Relations Club, Math Study Hall, MS Book Club, MS Current Events, MS Keyboarding, MS Life Skills, MS Math Games, MS Newspaper, MS Writers Circle, Oasis Literary Art Magazine, One Love, Peer Tutoring - English, Politics Club, Riding Club, Robotics Team, Service League, Service League (community service groups), Soup Kitchen (community service group), Spanish Club, Spirit Boosters, STITCH, Student Diversity Leadership Council, The Paw Print (student newspaper), The Ragged Robin (yearbook) Arts and Music Programs: Musicale Event Club | |
College Matriculation
| Year: 2008 - 2012 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled) | |
| University of Maryland | 15 | |
| University of Virginia | 14 | |
| Syracuse University | 11 | |
| Kenyon College | 6 | |
| Cornell University | 5 | |
| University of Richmond | 5 | |
| Duke University | 4 | |
| Johns Hopkins University | 4 | |
| Georgetown University | 3 | |
| Princeton University | 3 | |
School Notes
-
The school's primary commitment is to develop and maintain a strong academic program designed to foster a spirit of inquiry, intellectual independence and enthusiasm for learning. Students are expected and encouraged to achieve their potential through a traditional program enhanced by innovative approaches. They are challenged, in and out of the classroom, to lead, to serve and to make decisions and to accept responsibilities for consequences. Respect, trust, warmth and joy combine to create an atmosphere in which all members of the school community can grow. Ultimately, the goal of Garrison Forest School is for each student to become confident and prepared to contribute to a complex and challenging world.In addition to strong academics and community, Garrison Forest School offers a variety of signature programs.
- Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) is an experiential research program for juniors and seniors in partnership with the Johns Hopkins University. WISE participants are paired with JHU faculty and work as a member of a research team. Placements are made in JHU`s Whiting School of Engineering, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Archeological Museum. The project culminates in a final oral and written presentation for JHU and GFS faculty.
- The Jenkins Fellows Program empowers GFS students to promote and commit to global community service. Sophomores and juniors are invited to research opportunities and fellows are selected through a competitive application process. Jenkins Fellows immerse themselves in summer service and return to campus to present reflections on their experiences to the community. Jenkins Fellows serve as leaders of the student Service League Board for the remainder of their time at GFS. Recent projects include volunteering in an orphanage in Cambodia, working with Habitat for Humanity in Milwaukee, WI, volunteering in a hospital in the Czech Republic, mentoring children and working with tribal elders on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana and supporting young woman survivors of human trafficking in a Sicilian (Italy) community center.
- Independent Senior Project (ISP) students complete a twoweek unpaid internship in a professional environment at the end of their senior year. Recent ISP sites include Smithsonian Institution, Under Armour, Roominate (Silicon Valley start-up), T. Rowe Price, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Special Olympics, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Baltimore Magazine, NASA`s Goddard Space Center, Walt Disney Family Museum and Habitat for Humanity, as well as schools and other non-profit organizations.
- The Equestrian Institute is designed to give competitive riders the opportunity to advance their skills, expand their horsemanship knowledge and compete at a high level while enjoying the benefits and camaraderie of riding in a school program. Participation in the Equestrian Institute will combine an in-depth equestrian program with a full Garrison Forest academic curriculum uniquely customized for top riders. Students in grades 6-12 are eligible to apply for this rigorous and personalized program that prepares girls to rise to the academic and athletic challenge of being student-riders at Garrison Forest and in college.
- Garrison Forest School accreditations: Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS), National Association of Independent Schools (AIMS)
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Elizabeth Littlefield '78 - President and CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
- Lara Schwartz '85 - Vice President of External Affairs for The American Association of People with Disabilities
- Helen Whitney '61 - Oscar nominated producer, director, and documentary writer
- Nicole Hansen '12 - Nationally ranked climber
- Rachel Pohl '74 - Help found ArtCorps, a health and human rights nonprofit
- Tiffany Thomas '85 - Set Director for HBO's Game Change
- Learic Cramer '96 - Northrup Grumman engineer and race car driver
- Julie Bowen '87 - Emmy Award-winning actress
- Beth Botsford '99 - Olympic Gold Medalist
- Adele Smith Simmons '59 - President of the Global Philanthropy Partnership, senior advisor to the World Economic Forum, first female dean at Princeton
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