Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the required age for students entering Kindergarten at Bethany?

Children must be five years old by September 30.  Prospective kindergarten
 students are screened in February to determine their readiness for school. 

Is bus service provided to Bethany School?

These public school districts provide bus service: Fairfield, Lakota, Princeton, Winton Woods. 

What are the school hours?

Bethany School begins each day at 8:00 am, and students are dismissed at 2:50 pm. Students can be dropped off as early as 7:30am.

Is there before and after school care at Bethany School?

Our morning extended day  program runs from 7:00 to 7:30 am daily.  No breakfast is provided, but students may bring in their own breakfast items. Our afternoon extended day program is staffed by Bethany teachers, who work with students on homework assignments, provide healthy snacks, and supervise games appropriate to the age level of the children.  The program runs from 2:50 to 6:00 pm each day.  

Starting in the2024-2025 school year, the extended day program will be offered at no additional cost to families. 

Does Bethany School serve a hot lunch?

Bethany School provides a variety of  lunch options including some hot items.  Students may purchase lunch or they may bring their own lunch.  For more information, go to the Programs tab and select the Lunch option. 

What are Bethany School's grade levels and how many classes are in each grade?

Bethany School is a K-8 school.  There are two classes at each grade level.  Kindergarten-2nd  grade classes are self-contained.  Team teaching is in place in third through sixth grades.  Bethany students in seventh and eighth grades change classes each period, like a junior high school.

Are there scholarships available?

Bethany School participates in EdChoice Expansion Scholarship program.  Financial aid is available and is based on need.  Funds are limited so it is important to apply early.

Does Bethany administer standardized tests?

Bethany School currently uses AimsWeb testing to benchmark and progress monitor our students three times per year.

Where do Bethany graduates attend high school?

Our students are eagerly sought by many area high schools.  Badin, Cincinnati Country Day, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, LaSalle, McAuley, Moeller, Mount Notre Dame, Roger Bacon, St. Ursula, St. Xavier, Seven Hills, Summit Country Day, Ursuline and many other schools offer Bethany graduates a terrific and fulfilling high school experience.  A high school fair is held in the Bethany Activity Center each fall for the area high schools to showcase their many offerings.

What extracurricular activities are available?

Bethany School offers volleyball, basketball, and track as well as an ever changing number of after school activities.  Some of the most recent include: Theatre Basics, Clay Class, Eco-Club, Chess Club, Design Lab,  Mock Trial,  Robotics,  Power of the Pen, Card-Making, and WEBBY Dance.

Students who are musically inclined may sign up for Bethany Singers or for private music lessons (piano,  violin, guitar).

How many students are in each class?

All Bethany School class sizes are 15 per class, with a total of 30 per grade.

Studies on class size suggest that elementary school pupils tend to learn more in classes of 20 or less.  Teachers spend more time talking with individual students in smaller classes, and students are more likely to ask for help outside of class.  *Researchers found that adding 5 students to a class decreases the odds of students being on task by nearly one-quarter.  The study found that students were twice as likely to be disengaged in classes of 30 as they were in classes of 15.

*from Education Week, March 2008.

Do Bethany students travel on field trips?

Yes!  We offer field trips at all grade levels to various locations as a way of helping the students see first hand many of the things they have been discussing in class.  Many grades include an overnight experience (Mammoth Cave for grade 5, The Wilds for grade 7, and Washington, D.C. for grade 8). In addition, teachers sometimes schedule speakers, presentations, zoo outreach, and concerts — all of which visit campus.

Questions?

Contact the admissions department:
admissions@bethanyschool.org
513.771.7462, ext. 1109