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“Acceptance” means that the student’s application has been reviewed and the student meets the MSSD admissions criteria. It does not mean that the student may begin attending classes. “Enrollment” means that the child 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. We are unable to predict when a space will become available. We will inform you when one becomes available for the next semester.

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Students eligible to attend 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 application form
• Completed release of information form
• Birth certificate (copy)
• Proof of residency (copy of utility bill)

In the application packet is a 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)
  • Multi-disciplinary evaluation performed within the past three years (also called comprehensive, or psycho-educational evaluations at some schools)
  • Re-evaluation/Triennial Review
  • Transcript/report card

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

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Students who are applying for a class other than freshman must provide transcripts showing 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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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.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dates and enrollments are subject to change. Please see our MSSD admissions page for current application and enrollment timelines.

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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.

• Students living outside of a 5-mile radius of the school campus may live in the dormitories during the week
• Students living outside of a 60-mile radius may stay in the dormitories during weekends that MSSD remains open
• MSSD and its dorms close periodically throughout the academic year, including but not limited to: a three day weekend in October, Thanksgiving week, winter holidays, a three-day weekend in February, and Spring Break week

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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 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 is not accepted in the D.C. area. Only D.C.,  Maryland, or Virginia Medicaid is accepted; Medicaid from other states is not accepted by health care providers in this area, therefore either private insurance or the school insurance must be purchased. School insurance may be purchased through MSSD’s group plan.

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

• Room/key deposit for dormitory residents, refundable upon departure from MSSD if the student does not lose the key or damage the room
• Annual laundry fee for dormitory residents
• Annual activity fee, which includes the yearbook, Student Body Government membership, and admission to school field trips, athletic events, drama performances, weekend activities, and other activities
• Transportation costs are also the responsibility of the student’s family

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Our application process is entirely online! To apply, please begin by completing the application form, identified as Step 1, at https://mssd.gallaudet.edu/apply/.

Then complete Step 2: Submit Student Records at the same link.

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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 space available.
• The application is denied.
• The parent/legal guardian may be directed to their LEA so 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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Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, MSSD hosted periodic Open House events during which families of prospective students could tour the school building and dormitory. However, for the foreseeable future, no visitors will be allowed into the buildings. We will share information about virtual tours when those are available.

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

The application and registration processes, however, may be done online.

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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 now to use local public transportation
• Regular shuttle bus services 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)
• A shuttle service for MSSD students only to local airports when students depart campus for closed weekends and school breaks

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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 page of the MSSD website for more information. That page contains a link to information about the Athletics program; you may also visit our Athletics page.

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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.