Home » About Cascadilla » FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Does The Cascadilla School have any boarding students?. Any day students?

Yes, The Cascadilla School has both day students and boarding students..

Is there a dress code at Cascadilla?

Cascadilla does not have a formal dress code, but students are expected to be neat and clean and to dress appropriately for each occasion.

What do boarding students do when they are not studying?

Recreational trips for boarding students, chaperoned by faculty members, are regularly scheduled. These include skiing at Greek Peak with the Ski Club, hiking in Treman State Park, walking in the Cascadilla Gorge, and taking field trips to art galleries, museums, theater performances, and sporting events. Students swim and exercise at the YMCA. Popular events organized by the International Club have included dinners with ethnic music and food from countries around the world, dances, barbecues, ice skating, bowling, sleigh riding, a boat cruise on Lake Cayuga, a visit to Ithaca’s annual Apple Festival, and excursions to nearby attractions such as Niagara Falls. Teachers sponsor visits to local restaurants, the local farmers’ market, and trips to the movies or for shopping. Holiday events include the annual pumpkin-carving at Halloween and a home-cooked dinner provided by a faculty member during the Thanksgiving Vacation.

What do boarding students do for food?

All boarding students are enrolled in a customized meal plan provided by Cornell Dining.

How many international students are enrolled each year?

About twenty.

How many students of color attend Cascadilla?

About one-third of our students are students of color.

What is the geographical distribution of students? Where do students come from?

In recent years, Cascadilla students have come from seventeen different countries on five continents: Angola, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United States.

How many new students join each year?

About 15. In September 2006, 21 new students joined us.

How are roommates chosen for new boarding students?

If possible, international students are paired with American students. Some single rooms are also available.

What is a typical day like at Cascadilla?

Most students have five hours of academic course work between 8 am and 4 pm. All students and teachers share a common lunch period. The afternoon program varies from day to day and may include physical education, photography, drawing, Driver Education, student clubs, and special courses such as Kaplan’s SAT test preparation program. Students also have opportunities to get extra help for their classwork or tutoring. After dinner, boarding students typically [study, watch TV, or see a movie. Spend time at Cornell or in Collegetown. Cornell activities lectures, plays musical performances movies.]

Are the dormitories open during school vacations?

All dormitories are closed during the Winter Recess in December and January and during the Spring Recess in April. The dormitories are open during the Columbus Day Vacation in October, the Thanksgiving Day Vacation in November, and the Memorial Day Vacation in May. During the Thanksgiving Vacation, boarding students are invited by a faculty member for a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner. See the calendar.

What is there to do on weekends?

The School sponsors movies and occasional parties on the weekends. In winter, there may also be ski trips that include transportation, instruction, and equipment rental. [Spend time at Cornell or in Collegetown. Cornell activities lectures, plays musical performances movies.]

Is there a driver training course offered at Cascadilla?

Yes, The Cascadilla School offers a New York State certified Driver Education program in the Spring semester as well as in its Summer Program.
See Driver Education

Are Cascadilla students allowed to have cars on campus?

While boarding students may not keep motor vehicles on or near the Cascadilla campus, those day students who are licensed to drive have the privilege of driving cars to campus. A boarder may ride in a day student’s car with the written permission of his or her parents and the Dorm Supervisor. Parking at the School is limited.

How do families visit the school?

The School holds an Open House once a year, usually in October, when parents, families, and the public are invited to visit and learn about Cascadilla.

What is the enrollment of the school? How large are classes?

The School’s enrollment is typically about 60 students. Classes are limited to no more than 15 students.

How far are you from major cities?

We are a four-hour drive from New York City, 4 hours from Toronto, 4 ½ hours from Philadelphia, and 6 hours from Boston. See Directions

What is the nearest airport?

The Cascadilla School is located in Ithaca, New York, which is served by the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. There are direct flights to Ithaca from Detroit, Philadelphia, and New York (La Guardia) on Northwest and US Airways. Airports within about an hour’s drive of Ithaca include Syracuse, Binghamton, and Elmira. See Directions.

Do I need to take physical education or participate on an athletic team?

Thirty hours of physical education are required each semester. You can meet this requirement either independently or through the School. Intramural sports, such as soccer and basketball are typically organized for interested students and all boarding students have a yearly pass to the YMCA.

Who is the Head of The Cascadilla School?

Patricia T. Kendall is the Headmistress.

Can you go into a student dorm of the opposite sex?

Visiting hours in the dorms are 5 to 8:30 pm. During this time, a student may invite friends into the dorm to visit. The Dorm Supervisors regularly monitor these visits.

Boarding Students

Should I bring a computer? What kind?

Many boarding students do bring a personal computer, but computers for student use are available in the School building throughout the day and into the evening.

How do Cascadilla students do their laundry?

Two laundromats are located close to the dorms in Collegetown.

What are dormitory closing and lights-out policies?

Students are to be in their rooms by 9 pm Sunday through Thursday and by 10 pm on weekend nights.

How does the dining program work? Is there food available at night?

All boarding students are enrolled in a customized meal plan provided by Cornell Dining. Each dorm room is also equipped with a refrigerator for student use.

Can I order take-out food?

Yes, Collegetown has dozens of ethnic restaurants, many of which sell take-out food.

International Students

Do I need to be fluent in English? How good does my English need to be?

You do not need to be fluent in English -- our long-established English As A Second Language Program (ESL) accepts students at a beginning level as well as at more advanced levels.
See English As A Second Language Program

Are there any support systems or special clubs specifically for international students?

We are a close-knit community in which students have constant and easy access to Cascadilla’s ESL teachers, Dorm Supervisors, student mentors, and the International Club.

Is there financial aid for international students?

There is extremely limited financial aid for non-United States citizens.

Academic

What classes am I required to take?

As each student will earn the necessary credits for graduation differently, the faculty and Head of School work closely with students and parents to determine the course load that will best fit each student’s academic capabilities and personal life goals.

How much homework will I have each night?

Homework is assigned in all classes.

What is the student to teacher ratio at The Cascadilla School?

5 to 1

What are the hours of the school day?

Most classes are taught between 9:00 am and 3:40 pm. There is also a supervised study session after school when teachers are available for individual help.

What is the average class size?

5

What is the ratio of boys to girls at Cascadilla?

Cascadilla is typically comprised of approximately 50 % boys and 50% girls. In 2006-07, we enrolled 28 boys and 23 girls.

What is the ratio of boarding students to day students?

Cascadilla has roughly 30 % boarding students and 70% day students

What services are available for students with disabilities? Is there academic support for students with learning differences or special needs?

We have professional resources to work with individuals with disabilities and small classes in which our teachers can quickly discover the individual learning styles and learning strategies students need to be successful. We are able to modify the curriculum as needed, and can administer exams (including AP Exams) to accommodate individual disabilities. Please contact the School office for further information about your specific concerns and needs.

What college counseling resources are provided for students?

We provide substantial individual assistance to all students applying to college, from assembling the necessary forms and letters of recommendation to writing application essays. The School’s library maintains a large collection of admissions catalogs for colleges and universities, and many useful resources are also available nearby at Cornell University. International students are also prepared for the Test of English as a Foreign Language Exam (TOEFL), regularly required for non-native speakers for admission to American colleges and universities.

Where do Cascadilla graduates go to college?

Recent Cascadilla graduates (2001-10) were accepted at 19 of the top 50 colleges and universities in the United States (as ranked by U.S. News & World Report). See the list of colleges that have accepted Cascadilla graduates.

Parents

What if my child needs more support?

Teachers are always available for extra help.

What about drugs and alcohol?

Drugs and alcohol are not tolerated at The Cascadilla School. Appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken.

How do we keep in touch?

Set up parent conferences, email us, call, or just stop in the School office.

If you do not see a question that you are interested in asking, please email us at admissions@cascadillaschool.org

Cascadilla School · 116 Summit Street · Ithaca, New York · 14850

Tel. 607-272-3110 · Fax. 607-272-0747

email: admissions@cascadillaschool.org

Copyright ©2009 Cascadilla School