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Students eligible to attend MSSD have a hearing status that results in a need for an educational environment sensitive to diverse educational, cognitive, and social needs that necessitates a continuum of specialized educational and support resources, including non-restrictive access to a visual environment throughout the day.

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MSSD applicants must legally reside with a parent or legal guardian in the United States or its territories.

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Applicants must have completed eighth grade, or be on track to complete eighth grade, before admission to MSSD. The applicant must not have graduated from a secondary program.

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An applicant with secondary disabilities will be considered if the student’s primary educational needs are related to deafness.

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In order to consider a student for admission, MSSD needs the following documents:

• Completed electronic application form
• Completed electronic release of information form
• Birth certificate (copy)
• Proof of residency (copy of current utility bill)

In the application process, there is an electronic Student Records Request Form that authorizes your child’s school to send records to MSSD. Records requested include, but are not limited to:

• • Audiogram/audiological evaluation
  • Behavior/Discipline/Incident Reports within the last three years
  • Current IEP or 504 Plan
  • Educational assessments (results from Stanford or other achievement tests, standardized tests, and other statewide results)
  • Multidisciplinary evaluation performed within the past three years (also called comprehensive or psychoeducational evaluations at some schools)
  • Re-evaluation/Triennial Review
  • Transcript/report card

*A completed physical exam, immunization record, and other medical record forms are due prior to enrollment.

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Our application process is entirely online. To apply, please begin by completing the application form at https://mssd.gallaudet.edu/apply/.

Step 1: Create an account. 

Step 2: Complete the Student Records Request Form and submit it to your child’s current school. 

If you need support making a records request, please contact the Admissions Office at mssdadmissions@gallaudet.edu.

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MSSD accepts applications on a rolling basis until June 1 for fall semester enrollment consideration (August) and until November 1 for spring semester enrollment consideration (January). (Please note: There may be times in which the application portal is temporarily closed.)

Applications received after either deadline will be considered for enrollment during the next eligible semester.

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MSSD considers all applications for admission. However, MSSD generally does not accept transferring seniors more than 10 school days into the new academic year. Each application is considered on an individual basis, and exceptions may be made in extenuating circumstances. All students enrolling as seniors must meet all requirements for graduation.

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Review of a complete application file may result in one of the following:

• The application is accepted. Enrollment will depend on available space. 
• The application is denied. 
• The parent or legal guardian may be directed to their local educational agency (LEA) so that the LEA may make the referral in order to be available to partner with MSSD to provide the accommodations, supports, and services the student needs.

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“Acceptance” means that the student’s application has been reviewed and that the student meets the MSSD admissions criteria. It does not mean that the student may begin attending classes. “Enrollment” means that the student has already been accepted; the enrollment date on which the student may begin attending MSSD is also provided.

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MSSD enrolls new students at the beginning of each semester. Most new students enroll in late August for the fall semester and in late January for the spring semester.

For reasons such as classroom size and capacity and dormitory capacity, there may not be an available space for the student at the time of acceptance. Students are enrolled when there is an available space for them.

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Students who are applying for a class other than freshman must provide transcripts showing the number and type of high school credits earned. Classes in which the student has earned a grade of D or below will not be accepted for transfer credit.

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D.C. Law 3-20 (revised November 1996) mandates that all students must have certification of immunizations.

All residential students must have health insurance. Parents and legal guardians have the option of purchasing school health insurance or using their family’s health insurance carrier. Students can use their family’s carrier if the insurance:

• Will not expire during the school year
• Will not expire due to age restrictions or student status
• Is valid in the District of Columbia

Medicaid from any place other than Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia is not accepted by healthcare providers in this area. Therefore, either private insurance or school insurance must be purchased. School insurance may be purchased through MSSD’s group plan.

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• Students wishing to be considered for dorm residency must be able to live independently, without individualized support for safety or living needs. Students requiring additional supervision may be admitted to the academic program and commute to school daily. 
• Students living outside of the 5-mile radius of the school campus may live in the dormitory during the week.
• Students living outside of the 60-mile radius may stay in the dormitory during weekends when MSSD remains open.
• MSSD and its dormitory close periodically throughout the academic year, including, but not limited to: a three-day weekend in October, fall break, winter break, a three-day weekend in February, and spring break.

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There is no tuition or room and board charge for MSSD students. Fees include:

Required:

• Laundry fee (e.g., local and residential students only, required annually)
• Damage or loss (e.g., dorm key/room, library books, furniture, school property, technology)
• Graduation fee (graduating seniors only)

Note: Transportation costs are also the responsibility of the student’s family.

Optional

• Academic (e.g., Academic Bowl, clubs, Robotics) 
• Activities (e.g., drama performances, school field trips, weekend activities)
• Events (e.g., homecoming, prom) 
• Sports participation
• Yearbook

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Transportation to and from campus is the responsibility of the student’s family. MSSD offers the following:

• Travel training for all new students to help them learn how to use local public transportation
• Regular shuttle bus service to and from the local train station, Union Station, regularly throughout the year, provided by Gallaudet University; please see the Gallaudet University shuttle bus page for more information (Union Station is 1.5 miles from the Gallaudet campus)
• Shuttle service for MSSD students only to local airports when students depart campus at the designated time for closed weekends and school breaks

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MSSD offers Open House events to families of prospective students who are interested in learning more about MSSD.
During Open House, families can experience a full day at MSSD learning about its programming, touring the school and campus, and meeting various teachers and staff. We invite you to come and discover what learning and personal development opportunities are available to all students at MSSD.

Click to register for an Open House event.

Can’t visit in person? Take a virtual tour to explore our campus online: MSSD Virtual Tour.

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Learning at MSSD happens in physical, on-campus classes. MSSD students must be on campus in order to attend classes. MSSD does not provide an online-only education.

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MSSD offers diploma options with different requirements for each. Please see Graduation Requirements in the MSSD Parent-Student Handbook for more information. 

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MSSD offers an array of activities both right after school and during the evening and weekend hours in the dormitory. Please see the Student Activities and Athletics pages for more information. 

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The MSSD Parent-Student Handbook contains comprehensive information about the dormitory. Please scroll down to the Student Life section to review information about all aspects of living in the MSSD dormitory.