Rivermont Collegiate

Welcome from Admissions

Congratulations on taking the first step in securing the best educational opportunity for your child in the Quad Cities. Rivermont Collegiate has so much to offer. From a carefully crafted college preparatory curriculum to the fun of Imps and Tigers, I think you will love what you see.

When speaking of Rivermont, the saying “seeing is believing” really rings true. While our website offers many details about our school, a visit to our campus will give you a true understanding of what it means to be a “Rivermont Family.” I encourage you to schedule your private tour today by calling (563) 359-1366 or send an email to admissions@rvmt.org, so you can see why Rivermont Collegiate is ranked the #1 Independent School in all of Iowa.

Choosing the right school for your child’s education is a big decision, and we are here to help any way we can. We encourage you to learn as much as possible about Rivermont and ask lots of questions along the way. We look forward to working with you and your family.

Why Rivermont?

Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child. As a parent, you have the opportunity to choose a school with a mission that is right for your family, resulting in an education that prepares your child for success in college and beyond. We understand the importance of asking the right questions and learning as much as possible before making a decision. We encourage you to visit our campus and experience for yourself, why being a member of the Rivermont Family is such a unique and rewarding experience. Below are just a few of our highlights.

• Ranked #1 Best High School for STEM in Iowa and top 8% nationally by Niche
• Ranked #1 on the top 50 list of Iowa accredited public and nonpublic high schools on the Iowa AP (Advanced Placement) Index
• Ranked among the top 10% Best College Prep Private High Schools in America by Niche
• Graduated 12 National Merit Scholars, seven Finalists, three Semi-Finalists, and 20 National Merit Commended students over thirty-seven graduating classes
• 100% of graduates are accepted to 4-year colleges and universities
• On average, Rivermont graduates are admitted to 6 colleges & universities and receive over $178,900 in merit-based scholarship offers each
• 90% graduates have graduated or will graduate college in 4 years (national average to receive bachelor’s in 4 years: 38.6%*)
• Over 97% of students (3rd-8th Grade) scored proficient or advanced proficient on Iowa Assessments
• Small class sizes and nurturing, family-like environment
• Community service emphasized at every grade level
• Foreign language taught at every grade level, beginning in Preschool
• Individualized college counseling beginning in Middle School
• Diverse course catalog of Honors and AP courses and virtually unlimited elective opportunities
• Partnered with Western Illinois University to offer 12th-Grade students college courses for full college credit on their campus
• Robotics program spans 8 grade levels – competitive, award-winning teams
• Over 50 extracurricular activities, beginning in Kindergarten
• Athletic agreement with local public high school ensures students have access to the entire spectrum of athletic opportunities
• More than 20 annual events expose students to the arts – visiting artists, community art events, ballet, theatre, and symphony field trips
• Students from 19 zip codes across the greater Quad Cities
• Students from around the globe including Vietnam, Morocco, Jamaica, Congo, Afghanistan, Dominica, South Korea, and China

Application Process

At Rivermont, we pride ourselves on knowing each student’s strengths, interests, and talents. Our applicants come from throughout the greater Quad Cities, surrounding communities, across the nation, and abroad, and we value the diversity that they bring with them. Our application process is designed to educate prospective families about the advantages of Rivermont while at the same time involve prospective students in academic assessment to determine whether Rivermont is the best and most appropriate placement. Our goal at Rivermont is to admit students who will thrive in our challenging atmosphere and have the ability to take full advantage of our academic and extracurricular opportunities.

The official admissions season for a new school year begins each January. However, Rivermont operates on a rolling admissions cycle and new students may be admitted throughout the school year. At each grade level, class sizes are held to a predetermined number of students to ensure quality of instruction and to allow our teachers to work individually with each student. The number of available openings in a given grade level will depend greatly on the number of re-enrollment contracts received from current families. New students are accepted until classes are full.

International Students – Download the Application for Admissions Checklist

Domestic Applicants (Day & Boarding)

Specific steps in the application process are outlined below:

• Attend a Rivermont admissions event or schedule a private tour with our Assistant Head of School, External Relations and Admissions, Phillip Dunbridge – (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or pdunbridge@rivermontcollegiate.org.
• If a family intends to apply for tuition assistance, the process should be started as soon as the application for admission has been submitted. Visit the Tuition page for more information.
• Provide Rivermont with copies of all school academic, administrative, and standardized test score records for the current year via email, fax, or mail. Preschool and Junior Kindergarten applicants do not submit school records.
• Academic assessments often occur during the student’s visit day. However, different times can be arranged for your student to return to take an assessment.
• Parents will be notified in a timely manner, electronically, of an admission decision.
• If accepted, an acceptance letter and enrollment contract will be emailed to you. The completed contract and a tuition deposit of $250 must be returned to Rivermont within two weeks to enroll your student.
• Please note that enrollment is not considered final until each of the following items have been received. The Admissions Office will work with you to complete the process.
  • Health Information / Emergency Contact Form
  • Immunization Records or Exemption Form
  • Early School (Preschool and Junior Kindergarten) Health Packet and Kindergarten Health Packet
  • Sunscreen Permission (Preschool and Junior Kindergarten only)
  • Physician’s Authorization (for all students taking medication during the day – prescription and non-prescription – including self-administered asthma medication)
  • Certificate of Dental Screening (Kindergarten and 9th Grade only)
  • Field Trip, Lunch Charge, and Photo/Video Release Consent Form
  • Upon acceptance, Rivermont will send a Transfer of Records Form to the student’s previous school to obtain records.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact Phillip Dunbridge, Associate Headmaster,

Director of Admissions, at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or admissions@rvmt.org.

Re-enrollment Process

Re-enrollment contracts are issued to returning students every March. Packets are mailed to current families, including the new enrollment contract and tuition rates for the following school year. Families are given a deadline to return the signed contract and $250 tuition deposit in order to enroll their student for the next school year.

Families who receive tuition assistance are mailed an “intent to re-enroll” letter instead of a contract in March. When signed and returned, this letter informs Rivermont that you plan on applying for tuition assistance again next year. Once tuition assistance eligibility is determined, an enrollment contract will be issued and you have two weeks to return the signed contract and $250 tuition deposit in order to enroll your student for the next school year.

Families must re-apply for tuition assistance every year. There are limited funds available for tuition assistance and it is awarded, based on eligibility, until funds are exhausted. For this reason, families re-applying for tuition assistance should pay close attention to deadlines for returning the “intent to re-enroll” letter and completing and returning tuition assistance forms and tax returns. Complete instructions for re-applying for tuition assistance will be included in your re-enrollment packet.

Still have questions? Contact the Business Office at (563) 359-1366 any time. We are here to help!