Frequently Asked Questions
We encourage families to ask questions. Listed below are some of the most common inquiries, but please let us know if you have additional questions. We are happy to help!
GENERAL QUESTIONS
- What makes Bolles different from other schools in the area?
- What type of students attend The Bolles School?
- What is the profile of The Bolles School faculty?
- What is the student-teacher ratio?
- What percentage of the graduating class of 2020 qualified for some form of merit-based award as academic, leadership, athletic scholarships or service academy appointments?
- How many Advanced Placement courses are offered at Bolles?
- Of the students taking an Advanced Placement exam, what percentage scored a 3 or higher over the past three years?
- What are the hours of the school day?
- Is extended day available?
- At what grade level do after-school sports begin?
- Does Bolles offer any merit-based scholarships?
- Is bus transportation available?
- Are there opportunities for parents to volunteer at Bolles?
- Are Bolles students required to wear a uniform?
- Does my child need to bring lunch to school each day?
- Does Bolles offer a Post Graduate Year?
What makes Bolles different from other schools in the area?
What type of students attend The Bolles School?
What is the profile of The Bolles School faculty?
What is the student-teacher ratio?
What percentage of the graduating class of 2020 qualified for some form of merit-based award as academic, leadership, athletic scholarships or service academy appointments?
How many Advanced Placement courses are offered at Bolles?
Of the students taking an Advanced Placement exam, what percentage scored a 3 or higher over the past three years?
What are the hours of the school day?
For a variety of reasons, the starting and ending times of the school day vary from campus to campus.
Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus Hours
PK: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
KG - Grade 5: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Lower School Whitehurst Campus Hours
PK: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
KG - 4: 8 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Grade 5: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Middle School Bartram Campus Hours
7:30-8 a.m. - Students may arrive and go to the dining hall or the library where there is supervision. Breakfast is served in the dining hall each morning and may be purchased by students through their “My School Bucks” account.
8:00-8:30 a.m. - Zero Hour: Students are encouraged to go see their teachers during this time for help.
8:30 a.m. - Advisory on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
8:45 a.m. - 1st class on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
8:55 a.m. - 1st class begins on Wednesdays (late start morning/no Zero Hour)
The school day ends at 3 p.m. every day. For more middle school schedule info, click here.
Upper School San Jose Campus Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
8-8:30 a.m - Zero Hour:
8:30 a.m.-3:10 p.m. - Classes
Wednesday
8:45-9:15 a.m. - Zero Hour
9:15 a.m.-3:10 p.m. - Classes
Is extended day available?
Extended Day is available at both of our lower school campuses. Morning Extended Day begins at 7:15 a.m. and students may stay in afternoon Extended Day as late as 5:30 p.m.
Middle School Extended Day is provided for the safety and security of our students from 3–5:15 p.m. on the Bartram Campus. Students in extended day must be picked up or on a shuttle bus by 5:15 p.m. The 5:15 p.m. shuttle from the Bartram Campus to the San Jose Campus is available to students who are being picked up at San Jose. Those students riding the shuttle must be picked up immediately upon arrival at the San Jose campus. For those students remaining in Middle School Extended Day after 5:15 p.m., an overtime fee of $20.00 per ¼ hour or fraction thereof will be assessed.
At what grade level do after-school sports begin?
The opportunity to play after-school sports begins in middle school. In lower school, after-school athletic classes are offered just for fun through the Advantage Program.
Middle school students may begin participating in after-school sports in the 6th grade. However, football is not offered to the middle school students until they begin 7th grade.
Does Bolles offer any merit-based scholarships?
Is bus transportation available?
Are there opportunities for parents to volunteer at Bolles?
Absolutely! We welcome and encourage Bolles parents and even grandparents to volunteer at Bolles. We have an active and vibrant Parent Association that orchestrates multiple special events during the school year that add to the richness of the Bolles experience. Volunteering is also a great way to make new friends and quickly become part of the Bolles community.
Are Bolles students required to wear a uniform?
Does my child need to bring lunch to school each day?
Children may bring lunch to school or may purchase a school lunch. Healthy and delicious offerings are available for purchase every day in the school cafeteria and parents set up a lunch account for their child which operates by a declining balance based on the student’s purchases. Food service at Bolles is provided by FLIK.
Does Bolles offer a Post Graduate Year?
Yes. Bolles offers students the opportunity to study in a post-graduate year. Students take a full academic load and participate in activities along with the senior class, including support from the college counseling office. Students may be day or boarding and will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the school year.
ADMISSION QUESTIONS
- How many openings are there at Bolles each year and in what grades do those openings occur?
- What if we miss the first round of admission decisions? Is there still time to apply?
- Does Bolles have long term wait lists or accept early applications?
- Do admission materials need to be submitted all at the same time?
- How do we know to which lower campus we should apply?
- What are the important admission dates that I need to mark on my calendar?
How many openings are there at Bolles each year and in what grades do those openings occur?
We welcome applications to Bolles! In lower school, the main entry points at both campuses are PK, KG and Grade 5 at the Whitehurst Campus because at each of those grade levels we add a full new class every year. Openings at other lower school grade levels are due to attrition and therefore we are not able to predict the exact number available. However, we have many new students enter Bolles each year at many different grade levels and if you are interested in Bolles for your child, we encourage you to apply.
In Middle School, the main entry points are 6th and 7th grades. There are a limited number of spaces available at 8th grade each year.
In Upper School, the main entry point is at 9th grade. There are a limited number of spaces available at the other Upper School grades each year.
What if we miss the first round of admission decisions? Is there still time to apply?
Yes, even after the first round of admission decisions are completed, we continue to accept applications for any available openings that may occur as we move into the spring and summer. Once the first round of "fixed date" admission notifications take place, we move into rolling admission for all grade levels. At that point, in lower school, we only test on a space-available basis, but encourage families to complete applications with all the required documents so that should a sudden opening become available, their child’s file is complete and testing can be scheduled as soon as possible.
Does Bolles have long term wait lists or accept early applications?
Do admission materials need to be submitted all at the same time?
No, required admission materials do not need to be submitted at the same time. However, we ask that you please pay attention to the due dates of individual items and the date by which a student’s file needs to be complete. In order for lower school students to take part in their admission visit/testing, their application needs to be complete with all the required items. In all grade levels, files need to be complete in order to be considered by the admission committee.
In the middle and upper schools, files need to be complete in order to be considered by the admission committee.
How do we know to which lower campus we should apply?
The Bolles lower school experience is equally wonderful at both of our lower school campuses. We encourage families to apply to whichever campus is most convenient for them. Often, families choose the lower school campus that is closest to where they live, but occasionally proximity to work is the main consideration. Although the application requires that you choose a campus of preference, if it truly does not make a difference, you may indicate a first and second choice of campuses to the lower school admission director through an email or phone call. The admission process at both lower school campuses is the same.
What are the important admission dates that I need to mark on my calendar?
Please contact the Admission Office with any questions:
(904) 256-5030 or Email.
Adam Edgecombe '98 Alumni Testimonial
Ponte Vedra Beach Campus, Class of 2026
The History of Bolles