Admissions Minimum Qualifications
Once you apply to Milton Hersey School, your application could be discontinued at any step in the process, whether because Admissions Minimum Qualifications are not met, additional admissions considerations, or because each year the school receives many more applications from students than it can accept.
To be considered for enrollment, a child must meet the following five criteria:
Come from a low-income family
To meet the requirements of its Deed of Trust, Milton Hershey School reviews the family income of an applicant as part of its admissions criteria. The school considers income as it relates to the Federal Poverty Level and U.S. Census definitions. Non-cash benefits are not considered.
Each family’s situation is different. Please call us for help in determining your student’s financial eligibility for admission.
Be 4-15 years old at the time of enrollment
Milton Hershey School’s Deed of Trust also states the age range of students who may be admitted. A student must be 4 to 15 years old on their enrollment date—the date they arrive and begin classes. This date applies regardless of how many times a student has applied.
Have the ability to learn at MHS
To be eligible for admission, children must attain a score of 80 or higher on an I.Q. test. In addition, applicants must have demonstrated capacity to learn within the parameters of MHS academic programs, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Be free from serious behavioral problems likely to disrupt the classroom or student home life at MHS
Milton Hershey School is a unique learning and living environment. It is centered around group home living with eight to 12 other people who include other students, houseparents, and sometimes their children. There are strong expectations for behavior in the student homes, in the classroom, and across the campus. Serious behavior problems can affect the fundamental nature of this unique program.
Applicants are individually assessed for a wide range of behaviors. Milton Hershey School will assess the circumstances and potential impact of “serious behavioral problems,” defined as behavior that would be likely to disrupt life in the classroom or in the Milton Hershey School student home.
Overall, have the ability to participate in and benefit from the MHS program
Milton Hershey School is a private school. It does not have the same programs and is not required to provide the same services as a public school.
A child cannot participate in and benefit from the Milton Hershey School program if:
- They require academic or other services MHS does not provide
- They are unable or unwilling to meet behavior expectations
Even if a child meets all the Admissions Minimum Qualifications, Milton Hershey School is not always the right fit for an individual child.