Admissions
Tuition & Affordability

Sarah Lyman Scholarship

The Sarah Lyman Scholarship attracts exceptional young women to Laurel School. The merit scholarship covers full tuition and fees for the student’s years in the Upper School regardless of financial need.

The Scholarship

We are pleased to award the Sarah Lyman Scholarship to up to five young women who show exceptional promise and who will inspire the Laurel Community. This scholarship recognizes accomplished incoming Ninth Grade students who have achieved excellence in academics and have demonstrated, through their classroom work and extracurricular activities, a true commitment to our values statement: “Committed to building a just and inclusive world, Laurel girls are courageous, creative, ethical and compassionate.” This merit scholarship covers full tuition and fees for the student’s years in the Upper School regardless of financial need. Eligible students are also automatically considered for partial Dream. Dare. Do. merit scholarships.

Consideration for a Sarah Lyman Scholarship is highly selective. In recent years, the visibility of this program has increased which has made the pool of candidates both larger and stronger. Winners of the merit scholarship are young women who have proven themselves to be outstanding in multiple ways. Successful candidates will have demonstrated excellence in their current school and community settings, both academically and through participation in co-curricular activities. They must also demonstrate to the selection committee strength of character, leadership potential, and academic excellence in the classroom and on nationally-normed standardized tests.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants to Laurel School have many personal and academic strengths; all of our students naturally meet an elevated standard of excellence. Merit awards recognize students who continue to stand out for academic performance, even among a student body made up of high achievers. Scholarship winners typically rank in the top ten percent of their class, maintain a grade point average at or above 3.5, and score in the top twentieth percent of independent school norms on the ISEE.

To be eligible for scholarship consideration, a girl must:
    • Be currently enrolled in Eighth Grade in the United States
    • Maintain an impressive record of participation in school or club athletics, fine or performing arts, debate, student government, scouting, church or civic activities, community service, etc. 
Candidates compete for full and partial merit scholarships, some qualifying for additional need-based tuition assistance. The most competitive nominees have met or exceeded the following standards:
    • EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER: Recommendations from teachers, school administrators, and community leaders should reflect the candidate’s superior character.
    • DEMONSTRATED CHARACTER: By presenting an outstanding record of participation in activities such as school or club athletics, visual and performing arts, debate, student government, scouting, church or civic activities, or community service, candidates have the opportunity to display their potential to be outstanding leaders at Laurel.
    • ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: Successful candidates demonstrate outstanding academic achievement by earning a strong grade point average throughout a challenging middle school curriculum and posting standardized test score commensurate with their ability.

Application Process

Candidates for a Sarah Lyman Scholarship will progress through two rounds of the application process:

ROUND 1:
*waived for Eighth Graders who are enrolled at Laurel School

ROUND 2:
Selected students will be invited to attend an additional on-campus event and also be interviewed by a committee member. This event will take place at Laurel's Lyman Campus on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
    • Current Laurel students will be notified of scholarship decisions prior to re-enrollment (January 27, 2025).
    • Prospective students will be notified of scholarship decisions on February 13, 2025.

About Sarah Lyman

The Sarah Lyman Scholarship attracts exceptional young women to Laurel School. The merit scholarship program was named for Sarah Lyman, the second longest-serving Headmistress (1904-1930) who was instrumental in shaping the school we are today—a nationally recognized academic institution for girls and young women.

A visionary, Sarah Lyman grew the school on Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland and then in 1928, moved the school to Shaker Heights on our 11-acre Lyman Campus. An exceptional educator, she knew that academic excellence was essential for girls.

FAQ

Are current Laurel students eligible?
Yes! The process for current Laurel Eighth Graders varies slightly.  Find out more by contacting the Laurel Admissions Office.

Is family income a consideration?
No. The Sarah Lyman Scholarship is awarded regardless of financial need.

What does the scholarship include?
Students awarded a Sarah Lyman Scholarship receive full tuition and fees for her four years in the Upper School at Laurel.

If I don’t get the Sarah Lyman Scholarship, can I still get a partial merit scholarship? 
Yes! For eligible students and by the discretion of the Scholarship Committee, students who do not receive the full Sarah Lyman Scholarship will be considered for Dream. Dare. Do. scholarships which typically range from $2,000 - $10,000 depending on the year (number of applications, quality of applicants etc.)

Lyman Campus | Laurel School

1 Lyman Circle
Shaker Heights, OH 44122
Phone: 216-464-1441
Admissions: admissions@LaurelSchool.org
General: info@LaurelSchool.org

Butler Campus | Laurel School

7420 Fairmount Road
Novelty, OH 44072
Phone: 216-464-1441
Admissions: admissions@LaurelSchool.org
General: info@LaurelSchool.org
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