Our students thrive while creating not just successful lives, but lives of joy and meaning. At Heathwood, you will find what you expect from a strong Episcopal school:

  • Innovative instruction from highly qualified teachers
  • A challenging curriculum featuring opportunities for hands-on, experiential learning both on- and off-campus
  • Robust extracurricular offerings and proud traditions
  • Students who are well prepared for college and beyond.

Admission Process

We encourage all families to come to Heathwood for a tour. Parents have told us that the Heathwood experience really comes alive on campus.

The admission process looks a little different depending on the age of the prospective student. The information below will explain the admission process for each of our different grade-level groups. 

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Early Childhood Admission Process

For Ages 2-4

The following steps must be completed prior to an invitation to enroll. The Admission team will work closely with each prospective family to ensure a smooth process.

Application

The application is available using the button-link above and is sent electronically from the website to our office. There is an $80 application fee.

Applicants to the Early Childhood 2’s program must be 2 years old by September 1 of the year they enter school.
Applicants to the Early Childhood 3’s program must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they enter school.
Applicants to the Early Childhood 4’s program must be 4 years old by September 1 of the year they enter school.

Student Visit

Prospective students will spend some time visiting in their appropriate grade level. Heathwood teachers observe each candidate's cognitive, physical and social/emotional development while the prospective student has the opportunity to experience a "day in the life" of a Heathwood student.

Given the ages of our Early Childhood applicants, student visits look a little different for this division. There is no required visit for EC2 applicants. For our prospective EC3 and EC4 students, we host a group play visit for each age group that lasts an hour and a half. Prospective students experience lessons and activities led by our Early Childhood related arts teachers, while our classroom teachers of the same grade level observe (i.e., our EC3 homeroom teachers observe our prospective EC4 students). 

Admission play visits typically take place in late October and early November. Dates for these visits are set in August and shared with families who have submitted an application for their child. For more information, please contact admission@heathwood.org.

Records and Transcripts

For applicants already in a daycare program, please give the teacher recommendation form to your child’s current teacher.  Occasionally, the Head of Early Childhood may also observe an applicant in his/her current preschool in order to gain additional insight.

Admission Decision

An admission committee, including the Head of the Early Childhood and early childhood teachers, reviews information gathered from a young candidate’s visit along with any additional information provided by parents and previous teachers. Decisions are communicated to each candidate’s family, with enrollment forms and information emailed to those candidates who are invited to enroll.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Heathwood Hall admits qualified students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnic origin. All students have the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded and made available to students at the school. Heathwood does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnic origin in the administration of educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Lower School Admissions Process

Rising Kindergarten through 4th Grade

The following steps must be completed prior to an invitation to enroll. The Admission team will work closely with each prospective family to ensure a smooth process.

Application

The application is available using the button-link above and is sent electronically from the website to our office. There is an $80 application fee.

School Records and Teacher Recommendations

Students applying for kindergarten through 4th grade are required to submit their school records and one teacher recommendation form from their current teacher. These forms will be provided once an application is submitted, and it is the parents' responsibility to ensure their delivery to the school. Please note: if a prospective kindergarten student is not in a current program and/or their program does not provide progress reports, the admission committee may waive these requirements or request an additional visit to determine the child's readiness. 

Student Visit

All prospective students will spend some time visiting at their appropriate grade level. Heathwood teachers observe each candidate’s cognitive and social-emotional development and assess literacy and math skills. The visit also provides the prospective student the opportunity to experience “a day in the life” of a Heathwood student.

Visiting times vary by grade level as follows:

  • Rising Kindergarten 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. in an EC4 classroom.
  • Rising 1st grade: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in a Kindergarten classroom.
  • Rising 2nd - 4th grade: 8:30 a.m. – 3:05 p.m. in their current grade level.

Admission Decision

An admission committee reviews information gathered from each candidate’s visit along with other appropriate documents. Decisions are communicated to each candidate’s family, with enrollment forms and information emailed to those candidates who are invited to enroll.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Heathwood Hall admits qualified students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnic origin. All students have the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded and made available to students at the school. Heathwood does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnic origin in the administration of educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Middle and Upper School Admissions Process

Rising 5th through 12th Grades

The following steps must be completed prior to an invitation to enroll. The Admission team will work closely with each prospective family to ensure a smooth process.

Application

The application is available using the button-link above and is sent electronically from the website to our office. There is an $80 application fee.

Records, Teacher Recommendations, and Supplements

Each applicant must submit school records and two teacher recommendations, preferably from the student’s current English and math teachers. Once an application has been submitted, you will receive an email from the Admission office with a link for the requested forms. An applicant’s parents are responsible for requesting this information and ensuring its delivery to Heathwood. Please note that information provided on the teacher recommendations will be used as part of the admission decision; however, in order to honor the integrity of the admission process, we are unable to share specific details of the information given. Rising 5th through 8th-grade applicants will complete a student questionnaire and, upon request, will be asked to complete a writing sample. All rising 9th through 12th-grade applicants are required to submit a writing sample (completed during their current school year) and a supplemental questionnaire in support of their application.

Student Visit

All prospective students will spend a portion of a school day shadowing a current student in the appropriate grade level. This step is as important for the applicant as it is for our admission committee. Heathwood teachers observe each candidate’s cognitive and social development while the prospective student has the opportunity to experience “a day in the life” of a Heathwood student. Please note that out of town and summer applicants will be handled on an individual basis.

Standardized Testing / Additional Assessments

Standardized testing is required for all applicants and helps our admission committee determine levels of academic ability and achievement. Testing may also be administered on campus if standardized testing is not available or does not provide sufficient information as part of the applicant’s current record.

Admission Decision

An admission committee carefully considers offering enrollment to each student candidate. Based on class capacity and the committee's recommendation, students who have clearly demonstrated the ability and the desire to succeed as citizens and students at Heathwood Hall are invited to enroll. Decisions are communicated to each candidate’s family, with enrollment forms and information emailed to those candidates who are invited to enroll.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Heathwood Hall admits qualified students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnic origin. All students have the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded and made available to students at the school. Heathwood does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnic origin in the administration of educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

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Meet a Teacher

Heathwood is known for having talented and committed teachers who develop meaningful relationships with each of their students.

Meet Our Admission Team

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Read more about Rikki Bost

Rikki Bost

Enrollment and Advancement Services Coordinator

rbost@heathwood.org

Rikki Bost

Enrollment and Advancement Services Coordinator

rbost@heathwood.org

Rikki joined as an Admission Associate in 2016. She is a native of Chattanooga, TN and a graduate of the historic Girls Preparatory School. She then went on to receive her BS degree in Education, Health, and Human Sciences from the University of TN.

Prior to joining Heathwood, she spent several years in the financial services industry, from financial advising assistance to insurance underwriting. Rikki is very involved in church activities as well as charitable efforts and volunteering. She loves tennis and running in her spare time.

She is the mother of two Highlanders, Sloane ('29) and Dallas ('32).

Read more about Jessie Garlinghouse

Jessie Garlinghouse

Director of Admission and Financial Aid

jgarlinghouse@heathwood.org

Jessie Garlinghouse

Director of Admission and Financial Aid

jgarlinghouse@heathwood.org

Jessie joined the Heathwood community in 2018 when she moved to Columbia to lead Heathwood's Extended Learning program. Jessie spent most of her career in Washington, D.C. as a lower school teacher, department chair, and instructional coach. Her passion for curriculum and instruction and child development are invaluable to families as they navigate all the best Heathwood has to offer.

Jessie grew up in Kansas where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at Kansas State University. She holds a Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education as well as a Masters of Arts degree and a Doctorate of Education, both from the University of Southern California. (Fight On!)

Jessie and her husband, Graham, are the proud parents of future Highlander Caroline (‘39).

Read more about Emily Hodges

Emily Hodges

Admission Associate

ehodges@heathwood.org

Emily Hodges

Admission Associate

ehodges@heathwood.org

Emily Hodges joined Heathwood Hall in 2011, where she taught Middle School English for thirteen years. In 2024, she joined the Admission team. Previously, Emily taught 7th-grade English in Richland One for 11 years.  She holds both a B.A. and an M.A.T. from the University of South Carolina. Emily and her husband, Jeremy, are the proud parents of Webb (Class of '23) and Boyd ('25).

Read more about Suzanne Nagy

Suzanne Nagy

Assistant Head of School for Enrollment and School Advancement

snagy@heathwood.org

Suzanne Nagy

Assistant Head of School for Enrollment and School Advancement

snagy@heathwood.org

Suzanne Nagy has spent most of her life on Heathwood’s campus, beginning in preschool and graduating with the Class of 1990. Suzanne attended Furman University, earning a B.A. in English. Upon graduation in 1994, she returned to Heathwood to teach English in the Middle and Upper schools. In addition to teaching, Suzanne has worked in the Heathwood Admission Office and coached basketball and tennis for the Highlanders. Suzanne earned an M.Ed from the University of South Carolina. In 1999, Suzanne was invited by Governor Jim Hodges to serve as the Director of Caring for Tomorrow’s Children and as the coordinator for the Spartanburg County Foster Care Review Board. She has also taught English at Charlotte Latin School, worked as Director of Admission and Marketing at Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock, Arkansas, and earned an M.Ed in school counseling from the University of Arkansas. Upon returning to Columbia in 2008, Suzanne worked as the Assistant Head of Heathwood’s Middle School for five years, returned to the English classroom for three years, served as Middle School Head and Director of Enrollment, and is now Assistant Head of School for Enrollment and Advancement.

Watch video - Watch an Admission Online Information Session

Watch an Admission Online Information Session

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