Woodside Priory School

Academic Counseling & Resources

The Network
Students have an advisory network that includes their teachers, the Academic Deans, and an academic advisor (boarding students also have a residential advisor). A team of academic and personal counselors and an academic resource center staffed by a learning specialist are also available. The overriding goal is to assure that all students have access to the resources they need to develop their knowledge and skills and to become lifelong learners.

The Team
The counseling team, which is headed by the Director of Guidance and Counseling, includes the academic deans, the campus minister, the learning specialist, the Director of College Counseling, a personal counselor and others as needed. Students frequently turn for assistance to an individual member. However, the team is structured and trained to work together in considering both academic and personal aspects of students' needs.

The Environment
The campus atmosphere is one of students who generally encourage each other, help each other, and wish each other well. Older students set the tone; younger students learn and grow into it. Two ongoing student-to-student support programs are peer tutoring, offered by the campus honor society, and peer counseling, a supervised program offered by students who choose to take this training during their activity period.

Web Accomodations

Standardized Tests
Students will take a series of standardized tests as part of the Priory’s educational experience. 

Middle School

Comprehensive Testing Program (ERB)
Comprehensive Testing Program (ERB) is an assessment of skills in reading, vocabulary, writing, mathematics, verbal and quantitative reasoning.  It is administered during the fall semester to all grades. 

Upper School

The Explore Test
The Explore Test (Grade 9) is administered at the Priory in early October.  The Priory registers students for this test.

The PSAT
The PSAT exams (Grade 10 and 11) are administered at the Priory every October.  The Priory registers students for this test.

The following tests are used for college admissions

The SAT & SAT Subject Tests
Students register at www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/reg.html. It is the student’s responsibility to register for these tests.

The ACT
Students are responsible for registering online at www.actstudent.org.  It is the student’s responsibility to register for this test.

Advanced Placement (AP)
AP exams are administered on campus for AP classes taught at Priory.  The Priory registers students enrolled in these classes for these tests.

Test of English As A Foreign Language (TOEFL)
It is recommended that International students register for the Test of English As A Foreign Language (TOEFL).  The computer-based TOEFL is offered year-round at multiple sites.  Students are responsible for registering online at www.ets.org/toefl It is the student’s responsibility to register for this test.

Students with Diagnosed Disabilities
Accommodations are provided to students with disabilities.  A student must present current documentation from a licensed, private specialist, substantiating the disability, i.e. medical, psychological and learning.  Students will be granted academic accommodations that are supported by the documentation and considered reasonable, such as extended time, use of computer for written work, alternative test site.

Non-standard Administration of SAT or ACT Exams
The College Board offers non-standard administration for the PSAT, SAT, Subject Tests, and the Advanced Placement exams.  In order to qualify students must apply for accommodations  (www.collegeboard.org/student).  Documentation must be on file at the Priory.

The ACT exams also offer accommodations to qualified students.  In order to qualify students must apply to ACT for accommodations  (www.actstudent.org).  Documentation must be on file at the Priory.