Our placement process is intentional and student-centered, like everything at Flint Hill. The process involves many voices and steps in creating a well-composed class that becomes a tight-knit community the following year.

Strong student-teacher relationships create a safe environment where students are willing to be themselves, take meaningful risks, and challenge themselves as learners. Our process starts with placing each student with their best-fit teacher to facilitate that foundation. While all of our teachers are excellent educators, each student has a best fit based on style, personality, and interests. We then begin building the class around the best-fit teacher, taking into account friendships, social dynamics, learning styles, and balance. Each year, we purposefully reshape our classes so students have a different social experience and the opportunity to make new friends.

During the placement process, the Lower School team analyzes the students’ admission files, including interview notes, recommendations, questionnaires, transcripts, testing reports, and notes from conversations with the family. This review helps us consider the best-fit teacher and friends as well as the students' learning styles, passions, and needs.

The Lower School team takes all of this feedback and very intentionally creates classes for the following year. The first round of class placement takes countless hours to complete because our student support team ensures that all perspectives are considered and that each student is placed in the best possible class. We then thoroughly review the placement list in early August, just in case any new information needs to be considered before we share the lists with parents.

In the Middle School, we recognize the unique challenges facing students in early adolescence and the importance of developing impactful, trusting relationships and a climate of physical, emotional, and intellectual safety. Our Advisory Program fosters a sense of belonging and personal development for each student while building a community within the advisory group. Each student is matched with a caring adult who will guide and support their social, emotional, academic, and physical growth while serving as a connection between the student, teachers, coaches, and parents. Our advisory structure and activities are rooted in Developmental Designs' philosophy, and all our advisors undergo training to ensure consistent and effective implementation.
Strong student-advisor relationships create a safe environment where students are willing to be themselves, take meaningful risks, and be challenged as learners while also striking a balance. All of our advisors are excellent educators, and in Middle School, our primary focus in advisories is to form balanced groups of compatible students with varying styles, personalities, genders, and interests. In each advisory, we are also intentional about creating a blend of Huskies who are brand new to Flint Hill and those with a longer history at the school. Students returning to Flint Hill are placed differently from the previous year to ensure a new experience and dynamic. For students new to Flint Hill, the Middle School team considers stated interests and class connections. At the end of this process, we hope to have balanced advisory groups in place for all 7th and 8th graders next year.

Advisory experiences supplement our students' day-to-day academic and social-emotional growth. Our placement process is intentional and student-centered, like everything else at Flint Hill. The process involves many voices and steps in creating a well-composed advisory that becomes a tight-knit community the following year.

Upper School advisors include a broad group of educators, faculty across all disciplines, and certain staff members who support the student body through administrative roles. Strong student-advisor relationships create a safe environment where students are willing to be themselves, take meaningful risks, and challenge themselves as learners while also striking a balance. While all of our advisors are excellent educators, each student has a best fit based on style, personality, and interests. Our process starts with placing each student with their best-fit advisor to facilitate that foundation. During the placement process for new students to Flint Hill, the Upper School team reviews admission files, considering students’ interests and traits. These components help us consider best-fit advisors and social connections.