Frequently Asked Questions

Parent FAQ

  • Q: Does Great Hearts Arlington have a Virtual/Distance Learning option?

    A: No, Great Hearts Arlington does not offer an online option. If your family wishes to participate in K-12 online learning in the upcoming school year, the opportunity and platform to do so will be through our sister campus, Great Hearts Online.
  • Q: Where can I find the Academic Calendar?

    A: The 24-25 Academic Calendar is available on the homepage of our website, on the right hand menu.
  • Q: What are Great Hearts Arlington's School Hours?

    A: LOWER SCHOOL (GRADES K-5) Monday-Thursday 7:15am-3:30pm Fridays 7:15am-1:30pm UPPER SCHOOL (GRADES 6-10) Monday-Thursday 8:15am-4:00pm Fridays 2:00pm-2:25pm
  • Q: Will Great Hearts Arlington be a K-12 school?

    A: Yes, eventually. We will expand by a grade each year as students progress to the next grade. In 2024, we will offer grades K-10.
  • Q: Do the students wear uniforms?

    A: Yes. The students wear uniforms from Dennis Uniforms or Flynn and O’Hara. Uniform details and requirements will be in the Student Handbook.
  • Q: Do you offer after school care?

    A: Yes, we have an afterschool program called Athenaeum. For more information: https://arlington.greatheartsamerica.org/academy-life/after-school-programs/
  • Q: Is there a breakfast & lunch program?

    A: Yes. You can find more information here: https://texas.greatheartsamerica.org/academy-life/meal-program/
  • Q: Do you have a parent portal to view grades?

    A: Yes. Grades will be sent out each quarter. If a student is academically struggling in a particular subject, that teacher will reach out to the parent. https://greatheartstx.powerschool.com/public/home.html
  • Q. Do you provide financial assistance for meals, uniforms, or after school care?

    A: Yes. We participate in the Free/Reduced lunch (FRL) program. We also provide assistance with uniforms and after school care for those that qualify for FRL. The 24-254 FRL application will not be available from the State until early August.
  • Q: Are there volunteer opportunities at Great Hearts Arlington?

    A: We love our parent volunteers! Great Hearts has a Parent Service Organization (PSO) at each school. They help support our school through organizing volunteers, running our Spirit Store, and assisting with school events. Some of the volunteering opportunities include lunchroom support, copy room, front desk, classroom events, field days, field trip chaperones, and much, much more. Feel free to email the school or sign up at any parent meeting or event.
  • Q: My child requires Student Services or Special Education. What services do you provide?

    As a public charter school, Great Hearts Arlington offers a full continuum of special education services to our students.  This includes all areas of related services, including speech therapy. 
  • Q: Do you have a bus service?

    A: No. Due to our extremely large geographical boundaries, providing bus services would not be feasible. We do encourage parents to meet with others in their neighborhood to establish carpools or other such arrangements.
  • Q: What sports will be offered and at what grades?

    A: We are committed to a full and vibrant athletic community. At this time, we cannot commit to the full availability of athletics, as this requires trained coaches, community interest, and appropriate facilities. We will offer various sports programs based on what our registered families are interested in.
  • Q: What is the long-term building plan?

    A: Great Hearts Arlington will open with a main building, playground, and gym. Phase 2 will include a soccer field, additional parking, and an upper school building.
  • Q: Do students receive recess periods?

    A: All grade levels receive recess. Younger grade levels (Kindergarten through 2nd) will receive two recesses. The length of the recess depends on the grade level, with younger grades receiving as much as 20 minutes per recess.
  • Q: Are foreign languages taught at Great Hearts Arlington?

    A: First and foremost, we believe that the study of languages, in and of itself, is good. Great Hearts Arlington will offer Latin in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Latin is a foundational language of many of the arts we study, including science and grammar. In high school our students will get to choose between continuing in the Classics or moving to a modern foreign language..
  • Q: Do you offer services for English Language Learners?

    A: Great Hearts Arlington offers English as a Second Language (“ESL”) services at all appropriate grade levels for English language learners who are limited in their English proficiency.
  • Q: What is your approach to classroom management?

    A: At Great Hearts we are as passionate about moral formation as we are about intellectual growth. In grades K-5, each classroom is staffed by a Lead Teacher and an Apprentice Teacher to create an environment in which students are more likely to stay on task. Behavior that consistently distracts from instruction will be addressed first at the classroom level, and then through the assistance of the administration in coordination with parents and special student services (as applicable).
  • Q: Are your teachers certified?

    A: Many of our teachers are certified. We also hire highly qualified non-certified educators who are experts in their field and passionate about children and learning. First year teachers will spend about 6 weeks prior to the school opening in subject specific training. All teachers, whether lead or apprentice, benefit from weekly professional development. In addition, there are several network-wide professional development days in which our faculty and staff hone their craft in specific content areas.
  • Q: What are the selection criteria for enrollment?

    A: We are open enrollment. We have no selection filters. We ask no questions of race, socio-economic status, intellectual ability or academic prowess prior to applying to our school.
  • Q: I have another child on the waitlist. When will they be accepted?

    A: Sibling priority only applies when the applicant has a sibling that is officially enrolled in that campus. Once you have completed registration of your child that has received an offer, sibling priority status will be applied to any siblings on that campus’ waitlist. They will then move to the top of the waitlist, in the order of the original lottery number. Offers are generally extended on a rolling basis, so completing your registration early is beneficial if you have other children on the waitlist.
  • Q: Why did my waitlist number change?

    A: Great Hearts waitlist is ordered based on application type and priority status, if applicable. When a seat becomes available, it is offered to the first applicant on the waitlist. Applicants may move up or down on the waitlist depending on application priority and type above them. For example, a non-priority status application could move from #10 to #11 on the waitlist because an application was submitted with a priority status.
  • Q: Can I transfer to another Great Hearts School?

    A: A student may only request a transfer to one specific Great Hearts academy. In the case of siblings, transfer requests submitted for one sibling must be for the same recipient school as transfer requests submitted for all other siblings. Transfer requests are reviewed by the desired academy, and your application will be marked for “transfer priority” status once the request is approved. Students eligible for transfer are required to start attending their current academy at or before the beginning of the second semester and must successfully complete the academic year at that academy to be eligible to transfer to their new academy of choice for the following school year. Transfer priority status does not guarantee enrollment, but rather it places the transfer application in a prioritized position on the waitlist for the desired academy and the desired grade. Students requesting a transfer must not be in the process of being expelled from their current academy.
  • Q: Will accepting a seat at Arlington affect my status on any other waitlist?

    A: No. Waitlists are run independently so your acceptance will not affect your status at another academy. We do ask, however, that if you accept an offer at another academy (or any other school), that you let us know as soon as you have decided on another school so we can offer your seat to the next child on the waitlist.
  • Q: What if I do not have my child's birth certificate or social security card?

    A: Social Security Card: You will need to request a new card (https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/Topic/article/KA-02723). You may bring in the request receipt at your registration appointment in place of the SS Card UNTIL the card arrives. Then you will need to bring the actual card in for our records. Birth Certificate: You will need to request a new birth certificate (https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/ovra/).  For out of state certificates, please find that state’s request procedure. You can then bring in the request receipt (or payment receipt) in place of the birth certificate UNITL the certificate arrives. Then you will need to bring the actual certificate in for our records. Passports are also accepted.
  • Q: I live in an arrangement where my name (or my spouse’s name) is not on any official lease or utilities. How do I submit Proof of Residency?

    A: We accept many forms of proofs – car insurance, bank statements, current parent transcripts, tax documents from current year, current mail from government agencies, LTC license, medical card, voter’s registration, etc. If you still do not have these documents, we have a form that you can have your landlord notarize for proof of residency.
  • Q: I live in an arrangement where my name (or my spouse’s name) is not on any official lease or utilities. How do I submit Proof of Residency?

    A: We accept many forms of proofs – car insurance, bank statements, current parent transcripts, tax documents from current year, current mail from government agencies, LTC license, medical card, voter’s registration, etc. If you still do not have these documents, we have a form that you can have your landlord notarize for proof of residency.