Keith School is the region’s only nationally-ranked college preparatory school. 

We’re also a family. Our supportive learning environment is designed to help students explore their interests, cultivate their talents, and prepare for success in college and beyond. 

APPLY NOW

Thanks to the generous support of an alumni donor, Keith School is excited to offer scholarships for students that will cover full tuition.

The Ryan Family Scholarship program provides merit-based scholarships covering full tuition for a new incoming student in grade 7 for the 2023-24 school year. The scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate strong academic ability, involvement in extracurricular activities, and whose families share in the Keith Country Day School belief in involvement among students, faculty, and parents. 

The scholarship program is administered by Keith Country Day School with financial eligibility determined by the FACTS scholarship administration program – a manager of scholarship applications for independent schools nationwide. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability or national origin. 

These scholarships are renewable annually through the student’s senior year, provided the student remains in good standing. 

Full Tuition for
new incoming students

Grades 7-11
(one per grade)

Renewable
Annually

ELIGIBILITY

The Ryan Family Scholarship is available for students that:

  • Are not currently enrolled at Keith Country Day School
  • Going in grade 7 for the 2023-24 school year
  • Demonstrate a financial need
  • Demonstrate academic ability through prior grades and successful completion of the admissions process

Interested students will complete an application including placement testing and a writing sample. In accordance with the scholarship guidelines, these scholarships are available only to new applicants. There is no application fee for the Ryan Family Scholarships.

Why Keith?

  • 90% of our seniors gain acceptance into their first college/university of choice
  • Vast majority of seniors receive considerable merit-based college scholarships (In fact, over $2.8 million was offered to our 7 graduates in 2022.)
  • Family-friendly atmosphere and acceptance of academically motivated students
  • More than 35 clubs and organizations to be part of the fun
  • Additional resources options for personal/educational growth

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A FULL-TUITON RYAN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP?

Are you interested in joining the Keith School Family and applying for a Ryan Family Scholarship? Are you a new student to Keith entering grade 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 in the 2022-23 school year? This process involves us getting to know one another – we want to make sure Keith School is the right fit for you and your family. We are so excited to hear from you! Just follow the following simple steps:

STEP 1: Learn more about us!

Here are some easy ways to learn more about Keith School and the Ryan Family Scholarships:

  • Give us a call! We’d love to hear from you, answer your questions, and help guide you through the process. Call our Co-Head of School, Charo Chaney, at 815-399-8850 x133.
  • Send a quick email! If email is easier for you, we are happy to get right back to you with answers to your questions or to set up a campus visit – charo.chaney@keithschool.net
  • Check us out on our website or social media! See our campus, faculty, students and learn about the college prep curriculum (and the fun!) at Keith.
  • Come for a visit! Schedule a time to come and meet us – see our classrooms, meet the teachers, explore our beautiful campus, and get to know some of our students.

STEP 2: Help us learn more about you!

Our application process helps us to learn more about you and for you to share your story with us. To apply to receive one of the Full-Tuition Ryan Family Scholarships, please complete the steps below (we are here to help along the way!) – and remember, there is NO application fee to apply for a Ryan Family Scholarship.

  • Application Form and supporting documents as requested (transcripts, etc.)
  • Financial Assistance Application*
  • Written Essay, “What does a college-prep education mean to me?” (Length of essay is completely up to the student applying.)
  • One recommendation from the following choices:
    • Teacher Recommendation – English
    • Teacher Recommendation – Math
    • Personal Reference
  • Schedule a time for your math placement test (contact Charo Chaney at charo.chaney@keithschool.net or 815-399-8850 x133).

*Keith School uses the FACTS financial assistance process so information is reviewed independently and not by school personnel.

STEP 3: Meet the Admission Committee & Co-Head of School!

Once all application materials are received, we look forward to meeting you to ask and answer questions, address concerns and continue to learn your story.

We will reach out to schedule a video conference or in-person discussion. Feel confident – we’re excited to meet you!

STEP 4: Decision time

What happens once you submit your application?

  • An independent selection committee will review applications and determine the recipients of this year’s Ryan Family Scholarships.
  • Select your courses and officially enroll at Keith School!
  • Celebrate and gear up for an incredible school year!

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability or national origin.

The Ryan Family Scholarship is made possible by Keith School alumni Shawn Ryan – Class of ’84 – and his wife Cathy.

As a Keith scholarship student himself, Shawn credits Keith’s smaller school environment, personalized attention, family atmosphere and opportunity to be involved in numerous activities to his success as the writer-producer of hit TV shows such as “The Shield,” “S.W.A.T.”  among many others. “I really have a lot of gratitude for what I got out of Keith and this is my family’s way of giving back,” said Shawn.