Merit Scholarships
For Entering or Returning Students:
James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship
(Graders 9 & 10)
The majority of Hawken’s tuition reductions are based solely on a family’s demonstrated financial need. However, a highly select group of high school students will be eligible for merit scholarships through the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Program based on the strength of their academic record, personal qualities, and anticipated future contributions to Hawken School.
The majority of Hawken’s tuition reductions are based solely on a family’s demonstrated financial need. However, a highly select group of high school students will be eligible for merit scholarships through the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Program based on the strength of their academic record, personal qualities, and anticipated future contributions to Hawken School.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Award, a student must be an applicant for admission to Hawken as a new ninth or tenth grade student and must complete all components of the admission application process by the deadline. Current 8th grade Hawken students are also eligible to apply for a merit scholarship.
Candidates for the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Awards will be outstanding individuals with exceptional records of achievement and potential as demonstrated through academic performance.
A successful candidate will also be well-rounded in their engagement outside the classroom and exhibit leadership potential and exemplary personal qualities consistent with the mission of Hawken. Character, intellect, and integrity are among the defining qualities of a James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Award recipient.
Selection Process
Semifinalists for the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Awards will be selected by the Admission Committee from Hawken’s applicant pool. Typically, semifinalists represent the top 10-15% of Hawken’s applicant pool, have excellent transcripts and recommendations from their current schools, and standardized test scores above the 90th percentile.
The Admission Office will invite semifinalists to return to Hawken for the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Event. Following this event, the Selection Committee will select the recipients of the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Awards and send notification with their admission decision.
Candidates for the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Awards will be outstanding individuals with exceptional records of achievement and potential as demonstrated through academic performance.
A successful candidate will also be well-rounded in their engagement outside the classroom and exhibit leadership potential and exemplary personal qualities consistent with the mission of Hawken. Character, intellect, and integrity are among the defining qualities of a James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Award recipient.
Selection Process
Semifinalists for the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Awards will be selected by the Admission Committee from Hawken’s applicant pool. Typically, semifinalists represent the top 10-15% of Hawken’s applicant pool, have excellent transcripts and recommendations from their current schools, and standardized test scores above the 90th percentile.
The Admission Office will invite semifinalists to return to Hawken for the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Event. Following this event, the Selection Committee will select the recipients of the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Awards and send notification with their admission decision.
Merit Scholarship Awards
Students selected as recipients of a James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Award will receive annual awards up to $20,000. The total number of awards and the amount of each recipient’s award will be at the discretion of the Selection Committee.
To learn more about the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Awards, please contact the Admission Office at 440-423-2955 or admissions@hawken.edu.
For Entering Students Only:
Fair Play Scholarship
(Grades 6–12)
This scholarship recognizes students of exceptional character who demonstrate a true commitment to the ideals embodied by Hawken School’s motto of Fair Play and who will make positive contributions to the school through their leadership and community engagement.
Red & Gray Scholarship
(Grades 6–12)
This scholarship goes to students who demonstrate exceptional talent or ability in a given field—academic, artistic, athletic, entrepreneurial, leadership, or other—that will inspire others and enrich the Hawken community.
Head's Scholarship
(Grades K–12)
Given at the discretion of the Head of School and the Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management, the Head’s Scholarship is awarded to individuals who reflect in their daily lives the core values of Hawken School and who demonstrate integrity and excellence in and out of the classroom and are also committed to the school’s core values and to “a higher plane of life.”
Selection Process
Prospective Students
New applicants to Hawken will be selected based upon the strength of their admission application, which considers transcripts, teacher recommendations, standardized test scores, a student questionnaire and the interview on a student’s visit day. No additional application is required for consideration of a merit award. While all applications completed by the January 17 deadline will be considered for merit, priority consideration will be given to those who complete by January 10.
Current Students
Eighth grade students from Hawken’s Lyndhurst campus and The Birchwood School of Hawken will apply for merit scholarships through Hawken's online application system to open in the Fall, to include teacher recommendations. As part of the process, merit applicants will be required to take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) in the fall of their 8th grade year and prior ISEE exams will not be accepted.
In early fall, there will be a presentation that is offered that will outline all of the necessary steps and the timeline. All applications must be completed by November 11.
Eighth grade students from Hawken’s Lyndhurst campus and The Birchwood School of Hawken will apply for merit scholarships through Hawken's online application system to open in the Fall, to include teacher recommendations. As part of the process, merit applicants will be required to take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) in the fall of their 8th grade year and prior ISEE exams will not be accepted.
In early fall, there will be a presentation that is offered that will outline all of the necessary steps and the timeline. All applications must be completed by November 11.
Notification
The Selection Committee will invite semifinalists to return to Hawken for the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Semifinalist event in early February. Following this event, the Selection Committee will select the recipients of the James A. Hawken Merit Scholarship Awards and send notification with their admission decision.
Scholarship Details
All merit scholarships - James A. Hawken Merit Scholarships, Fair Play Scholarships, Red & Gray Scholarships, and Head's Scholarships - renew on an annual basis for each year that a recipient is enrolled at Hawken, contingent upon the student remaining in good academic and social standing.
Families receive financial details for scholarship awards in their Enrollment Agreement.
Families receive financial details for scholarship awards in their Enrollment Agreement.
An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Directions | Log in | 440-423-4446