Garrison Forest School Tuition and Overview
Garrison Forest School (GFS) is a non-denominational, private college preparatory boarding and day school located on a 110-acre campus at 300 Garrison Forest Road in Owings Mills, Maryland. The school serves students from Pre-K through 12th grade, with a focus on girls' education in kindergarten through 12th grade and a co-educational program for Pre-K and daycare.
Academic and Community Focus
Garrison Forest School is dedicated to the intellectual, 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." GFS aims to foster a spirit of inquiry, intellectual independence, and enthusiasm for learning. Students are challenged to lead, serve, make decisions, and accept responsibility for consequences both inside and outside the classroom. 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.
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.
Signature Programs
In addition to strong academics and community, Garrison Forest School offers a variety of signature programs. These include:
- Women in Science and Engineering (WISE): This experiential research program for juniors and seniors is conducted in partnership with Johns Hopkins University (JHU). WISE participants are paired with JHU faculty and work as members of a research team 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: This program empowers GFS students to promote and commit to global community service. Sophomores and juniors 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. They also serve as leaders of the student Service League Board. Recent projects include volunteering in an orphanage in Cambodia, working with Habitat for Humanity, 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 two-week unpaid internship in a professional environment at the end of their senior year. Recent ISP sites include the Smithsonian Institution, Under Armour, Roominate (a Silicon Valley start-up), T. Rowe Price, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Special Olympics, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Baltimore Magazine, NASA’s Goddard Space Center, the Walt Disney Family Museum, and Habitat for Humanity, as well as schools and other non-profit organizations.
- The Equestrian Institute: This program 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 combines an in-depth equestrian program with a full Garrison Forest academic curriculum uniquely customized for top riders.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Garrison Forest School's tuition varies depending on whether a student is a boarding or day student. For the academic year, the yearly tuition for boarding students is $70,475, while the yearly tuition for day students is $41,150. For international students, the tuition is $78,185.
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Garrison Forest School is committed to making its education accessible to a wide range of families through a robust financial assistance program, flexible payment options, and transparent policies. The school offers need-based financial assistance to qualified families, beginning in Kindergarten. While the school cannot guarantee assistance, it strives to offer assistance to the widest socioeconomic range of students its funds can afford. The average financial aid grant is $18,350.
To assist families with the payment of tuition, Garrison Forest offers payment options for Day, Regional, and National boarding students, using FACTS Tuition Management Systems for all tuition payment plans unless 100% of the tuition is paid by July 1. Payments made to FACTS will be automatically withdrawn (ACH) from an active checking/savings account or charged to a credit card (MasterCard, Discover, or American Express; no Visa). FACTS charges a convenience fee for credit card payments, in addition to their enrollment fee.
Payment options include:
- Paying 100% of the tuition directly to the School by July 1.
- Making two payments to FACTS: 65% by July 5th or the 20th and 35% by November 5th or the 20th.
Each February, current families who are up-to-date with their account are extended an Enrollment Agreement allowing them to secure their child’s place in the class for the next fall. Families are asked to pay approximately ten percent of the tuition for the next school year to secure their child’s space.
Garrison Forest also offers merit-based legacy scholarships for new or current day students entering Grades 8-12 to board at Garrison Forest. These awards recognize exceptional character and academic achievement, covering the difference in cost between day and boarding tuition.
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The Young Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of two Garrison Forest alumnae, sisters Hyatt Young ’42 and Elizabeth “Betty” Young ’40. Both sisters chose to support Garrison Forest School through trusts that provided significant scholarship funds upon their passing.
Academics and Student Life
Garrison Forest School maintains a student-teacher ratio of 8:1, with an average class size of 15 students. The school offers 15 AP / Advanced Courses. The average GPA is 3.63, and the graduation rate is 100%. The average standardized test scores include an SAT score of 1250 and an ACT score of 28.
The school offers a summer program and has an application deadline of January 15 / rolling.
Garrison Forest School provides various opportunities for students to express themselves, including the GFS Dance program. Whether a first-time performer or a seasoned dancer, there's a space on the stage for every student. Under the direction of Heather Malone-Wolf, the Director of Dance, students find a supportive place to grow their craft. Dance opportunities include classes in the Middle School, audition-only troupes in Middle and Upper School, and student-run clubs. Dancers perform several times throughout the year, including a spring show each year.
Riding and polo programs are also integral to student life at Garrison Forest. Riders and polo players consider their teammates and fellow equestrians as family. The school's facilities emphasize the opportunity to spend quality time at the barn with their horses as part of their normal school day.
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Campus and Location
Garrison Forest School is located in Owings Mills, Maryland, where the average home value is $400,654. The school's campus is situated in a peaceful natural setting, providing a conducive environment for learning and growth.
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