Admission Policies

Families are asked to carefully review all admissions-related information, including the tuition contract and the relevant school handbooks and forms. By submitting an application, parents and guardians confirm that they have read, understood, and agree to the terms, policies, and procedures outlined in these documents.

Admissions decisions are made through a careful, individualized review process. Each application is considered in relation to the student’s growth potential, learning needs, and alignment with the school’s mission, vision, and core values.

Decisions also take into account:

• The availability of places in the relevant grade or program
• The level of academic and well-being support required
• The school’s commitment to enrolling a diverse and balanced student body

We strive to support a wide range of learners; therefore, admission may be declined if an applicant does not meet the school’s academic expectations or if assessment results indicate learning needs that the school is not currently resourced to support.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national or ethnic identity, sexual orientation, or religion.

The language of instruction is English. For this reason, a student’s ability to access the curriculum and engage successfully in learning is closely connected to their level of English language proficiency.

There is no English language proficiency requirement for admission to PreK3 and PreK4.

In Kindergarten through Grade 5, students complete age-appropriate English language assessments in reading and writing. These assessments are used solely to understand each student’s language development and to determine the type of language support they may need. They do not affect admission decisions. 

As part of the admissions process, applicants in Grades 6–12 are required to complete an English language assessment in reading and language structure. This assessment helps the school evaluate grade-level readiness and may be required before an admission decision is issued. Results also inform appropriate student placement and, where applicable, the level of language support required.

To support appropriate class placement and learning continuity, we use a math assessment as part of the admissions process. The assessment is designed to understand a student’s quantitative reasoning skills and grade-level readiness. Results are used to inform placement decisions and to identify any additional academic support that may be beneficial.

The timeline below provides general guidance for families applying for the upcoming school year.

Mid-February: Re-enrollment forms are sent to current NOVA families
End of February: Deadline for current families to confirm re-enrollment
March: Rolling admissions begin for new applicants, subject to availability
June: Late admissions deadline

Summer and during the school year, applications may be considered on a rolling basis, depending on space availability.

Financial Aid

Families applying for Financial Aid are required to complete a Financial Aid application and submit all supporting documentation to the School Account Coordinator no later than the third week of May. All submitted materials are reviewed and evaluated. Financial Aid decisions for the following school year are communicated by the first week of June at the latest. Financial Aid awards do not exceed 50% of tuition and cannot be combined with any other school-approved discount.

Admission is based on a careful review by the Admissions Committee, which assesses whether the school can effectively support the student.

• Admission is offered when the school determines that it can:
• Support the student’s academic learning and development
• Provide appropriate social and emotional support
• Meet any identified physical, learning, or developmental need within the school’s available resources

This approach helps ensure that all students are placed in an environment where they can learn, grow, and feel supported. 

Placement is determined through a careful, individualized review. Our goal is to place each student in a grade level where they can engage confidently with the curriculum and grow socially, emotionally, and academically.

Early Education Center (PK3–Kindergarten): Candidates are placed primarily by age. Families are encouraged to consult the academic year age and grade placement chart for guidance. Children applying for PK3 are admitted only if they demonstrate age-appropriate social interaction, independence and are fully toilet-trained.

Elementary and Secondary School Placement: Placement is determined by considering a combination of factors, including the student’s age, developmental readiness, and previous school experience. The final placement decision is made by the School Principal following a review of the completed application and supporting materials. It is important that students have completed a full academic grade level (American system equivalent) before advancing to the next grade. Students who have not completed a full grade level at the time of enrollment will typically be placed in the same grade level.

Elementary School Placement (Grades 1–5): Placements are based on a student’s date of birth and educational experience. While there may be valid reasons for placement outside the typical age range, the school's general policy is not to place students in a grade level where they would be significantly older or younger than their classmates.

Secondary School Placement (Grades 6–12): Placements are based on official translations of previous school records, and the school's achievement and language proficiency assessments are administered at the time of enrollment.

Transfer student records are reviewed carefully to determine alignment between previous programs and courses and those offered at NOVA. For students transferring from educational systems with different start and end dates, grade placement is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Factors Considered in All Placement Decisions (PK3–Grade 12)

Across all grade levels, placement decisions may take into account:

• Age
• Readiness and prior academic performance
• Previous school recommendations
• Achievement and language proficiency assessment results
• Additional assessments, if deemed necessary
• An interview with the student

Students are generally expected to be no more than 18 months older or younger than the average age for their grade and to be under 20 years of age at the time of graduation.

An admissions committee comprised of division admissions officers, division principals, the manager, and the director reviews the completed applications and financial aid information, if applicable, in accordance with the admissions calendar. This committee holds the final decision on acceptance. Any grievances arising from admissions/placement decisions will be referred to the school’s Advisory Board. The director holds the final authority over admissions decisions. 

In the event that there are more applicants than seats available at any grade level, students will be admitted according to the following priority system:

• Children currently attending NOVA who have indicated that they are returning by the applicable deadline 
• Children of employees of the US Embassy and all related agencies
• Children of families who are servicing regular tuition  
• Children of employees of all other foreign diplomatic missions
• Children of families with non-resident status in N. Macedonia
• Siblings of current students and children of NOVA alumni
• Children of families with Macedonian citizenship 

These categories reflect the school’s support from stakeholder groups that helped during the school's founding, have historically supported the school, and have limited school options available to their family members. If there are no available seats in the given grade, the school may refer the case of the new applicant to the admissions committee, which may further refer it to the school’s Advisory Board.

As an international school, we are committed to maintaining a diverse, multilingual, and globally representative student body.

To support this balance, the school aims to ensure that no single mother tongue, other than English, accounts for more than 50% of the overall student population at the whole-school level. This guideline helps preserve an international learning environment in which students benefit from daily exposure to diverse cultures and perspectives.

Students admitted under Admissions Priority Categories 1 through 4 are not subject to this guideline, in recognition of the school’s commitments to diplomatic and international organizations.