Applying to EC

Apply Online > Interview > Enrollment

Learn more about the process
Learn more about the timeline
Learn more about our admissions criteria

Thank you for your interest in applying to Eastern Christian School! This checklist will assist you in the application process for Eastern Christian School. If at any time you have questions, please contact our enrollment team, at 973.427.4013 or by e-mail at admissions@easternchristian.org.

Application Process

APPLY ONLINE

In addition to the online application, Eastern Christian School requires recommendations from your church and current school. These recommendations are online forms completed at your request. All you’ll need is your Pastor and current school Principal name and e-mail address.

The current school will be advised to send a summary record that includes an IEP report (if applicable), report cards, standardized test scores, copy of birth certificate, etc.

Eastern Christian School
ATTN: Admissions Office
50 Oakwood Avenue
North Haledon, NJ 07508

Fax: 973.427.3716

APPLY ONLINE HERE

INTERVIEW

Once we have received all documents, forms, and fees, the school will contact you with an admissions decision or to schedule an interview. The interview will be conducted in person at Eastern Christian School with the student and at least one parent attending.

If all admissions requirements are satisfied, the EC Admissions Office will notify the parent that the student has been accepted as a new student!

ENROLLMENT

The final step

Enrollment is complete once the financial contract is signed and the tuition deposit is submitted to Eastern Christian School. (And Variable Tuition Submission if participating.)

All new students entering Eastern Christian High School must schedule an appointment with the Academic & College Counseling office for class scheduling and to complete a math placement test and a writing essay. Please call 973.427.0900 x 6008.

Students entering all grades will be contacted by the school regarding important dates for orientation, teacher assignments, supply lists, back to school night, etc.

After enrollment, the following will then be required to prepare for the first day of attendance.

Tuition Management Form (for tuition payments) (FAQs)
Transportation Form(s) (if participating)

Application Timeline

at Eastern Christian School

Apply early to secure your seat!

Preschool – Grade 12

October 1

Enrollment cycle for the following year officially opens.

October 1-15

Priority enrollment season for current EC families.* (Families with a child currently enrolled and staff families.)

October 16 – December 4

Early decision enrollment season for future EC families.*

December 4

Deadline for Variable Tuition submission for families applying during priority enrollment or early decision enrollment seasons.

December 4 – August

Rolling admissions until class capacity is reached.
$100 application fee.

January 8

Early decision enrollment decisions released.

Mid-Year Transfers

We consider all mid-year transfers on a per-application basis.
$100 application fee.

*During the Priority Enrollment window, applications will open first for siblings of currently enrolled Eastern Christian School students and staff and be handled on a rolling admissions priority enrollment review. Non-sibling/staff applicants applying during the Early Decision window and entering grades PK-2 will be reviewed as a group. The full admissions process (including shadow day observation and interview if granted) must be completed by December 4; please note scheduling should occur in advance to avoid delays or missed deadlines). Admissions determinations will be sent in January. Accepted families will have a limited window to enroll and claim the seat being offered.

Grades 3-12

October 1

Enrollment cycle for the following year officially opens.

October 1-15

Priority enrollment season for current EC families. (Families with a child currently enrolled and staff families.)

October 16 – December 31

Early decision enrollment season for future EC families.

January 8

Early decision enrollment decisions released.

January – August

Rolling admissions until class capacity is reached.
$100 application fee.

Mid-Year Transfers

We consider all mid-year transfers on a per-application basis.
$100 application fee.

Additional Enrollment Information

Admissions Criteria

Applicants to EC will be considered for enrollment on a student by student basis according to the following criteria as applicable by grade:

Christian Faith Commitment
Family Commitment to Christian Education
Report Cards
Test Scores
Educational Support Services Needed
School recommendation form
Pastor’s recommendation form
Discipline and attendance records

When all of the above admissions criteria is submitted as needed, an admissions determination may occur.

Based on the application details and/or grade process, a student visit, such as a shadow day or preview day, may be scheduled.

Applicants that proceed, will have a new family interview scheduled, this may occur before or after the student visit.

Assessment and Placement Testing Expectations

All kindergarten applicants, including Eastern Christian preschoolers rising to kindergarten, take a placement assessment. No preparation is needed in advance.

High School placement testing is conducted after a student has been accepted and enrolled.

When standardized test scores are not available from an applicant’s current school, testing or an assessment may be required. Homeschooled applicants may necessitate this step.

Shadow days are available and encouraged for applicants applying to grades 1-11. It’s a wonderful opportunity for applicants to experience a day in the life and can be scheduled on our campus visits page.

At times an applicant shadow day or visit is necessitated and utilized to provide additional insight. Observation and assessments may be included, typically in standard practice of a standard school day. Summer applicants require more individual case management. In all cases the visit should be a fun day of learning for the applicant, who can experience “life at EC” and enjoy getting to know the amazing, welcoming, and faithful people that lead and attend Eastern Christian School.

Deferred Application Decision

Eastern Christian School frequently receives a significant number of applications for a given grade. In situations where demand far exceeds available space in a given class, Eastern Christian School reserves the right to defer enrollment decisions until April 15.

Deferred Enrollment Decision

If a student has been accepted but the family chooses not to enroll the student for the specific school year they applied, they may pursue deferring a student’s start date up to 1 school year with a few necessary steps. To defer an admissions enrollment 1 school year, the application must be reopened within the year.

When re-opening an application, all grade-level eligible applicants will need to provide an updated report card/transcript and any test scores. Application updates are handled on an individual basis thereafter. The applicant may need to include any or all of the following additional items: updated school recommendation form, updated Pastor’s recommendation form, student assessment and/or shadow day and/or a follow up conversation with administrators and/or Education Support Services. Capacity constraints also apply.

A formal updated admissions determination for the new school year occurs. Enrollment for the following school year opens October 1 annually.

Wait Pool Policy

Eastern Christian School has been blessed with growing enrollment and with a large number of applicants every year. We value our small class sizes and low student/teacher ratio. While we are especially unique for a faith-based, our resources and programs are still limited. Therefore, we have developed classroom capacity guidelines regarding the number of students we can serve and thereby the constraints for each grade.

Applicants accepted to the waitpool will be contacted if/when a seat becomes available within the school year they have applied. If a seat does not become available within the school year of his/her application, the applicant will have the opportunity to roll his/her application to the following school year with a few updates, handled on an individual basis.

Eastern Christian School has developed the following process for any family pursuing enrollment in a grade level currently at enrollment capacity:

Applicants must complete the entire application process including:
- All application forms, recommendation forms, any academic support documentation and all necessary transcript information
- Some applicants will need some or all of the following: shadow day/observation visit, assessment
- An in-person interview with acceptance
Upon acceptance, families will be notified that they have been accepted, but cannot be enrolled until space becomes available for their child/ren
The Enrollment Office will notify families in the wait pool that they have been selected on a per-student basis as seats become available. Our annual re-enrollment deadline for currently enrolled families is March 31.
Upon selection, accepted families have limited window to sign their contract and pay their non-refundable tuition deposit to guarantee their spot.
Families in the wait pool receive the same non-discrimination status as all families in our school. This statement reads, “Eastern Christian School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, programs and activities made available to students of the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, athletics or any other school administered programs.”

Non-Discrimination Statement

Eastern Christian School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, programs and activities made available to students of the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, athletics or any other school administered programs.

Meet the Enrollment Team

If you have questions, please reach out! We would love to walk with you as you explore EC!

Leah Genuario

Director of Enrollment, High School Bible & Worship Teacher

Leah GenuarioGraduate 1997

Director of Enrollment, High School Bible & Worship Teacher

Start Date: 2013

Education: B.A. - Communication Arts, Liberty University

Bio:
Leah was the former editor-in-chief of a leading industry trade journal, having spent 13 years in the B2B publishing industry prior to joining Eastern Christian School. A long-standing high school teacher and communications professional, she assumed a new role as Director of Enrollment Management in 2025. Leah is passionate about Christian education, recognizing its power to change lives and impact communities for God’s glory. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and they currently have two children.

Nicole Woudenberg

Admissions Counselor

Nicole WoudenbergGraduate 2011

Admissions Counselor

Start Date: 2025

Education: B.S. - Business Management, William Paterson University

Bio:

Nicole is excited to be back at EC, this time as part of the admissions team. A proud alumna, she values the strong faith foundation and supportive community she experienced as a student, and she is passionate about helping new families discover the same.

Nicole is a lifelong North Haledon resident and attends Calvary Temple International. She also volunteers as a mentor at New Hope Ministries.

Outside of work, Nicole enjoys traveling, tending to her growing plant collection, and spending time with family and friends.