CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS: THE APPLICATION PROCESS AT AMHS
Find information about the admissions process at Archbishop Murphy High School.
Ready to start school at AMHS? We’re happy to have new students, but as with most Catholic high schools, you will need to apply for admission before you can enroll.
Our application process has several steps, including filling out an application form, paying the application fee, getting a teacher recommendation, submitting a transcript or report from your previous school, and (usually) writing an essay. Here’s our breakdown of the application and admissions process.
HOW TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO AMHS
Most students can apply for admission through the process we describe below. However, if you are an international student, you will need to start the application process through Cambridge Network.
1. COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM.
To fill out the AMHS application form, your family will need to create an account with Archbishop Murphy Parent Portal. Our portal allows you to apply for admission, view your application status, and schedule a Wildcat Shadow Day Visit.
The early application deadline for students who plan to attend during the 2023-24 school year is December 9th, 2022, and the final application deadline is January 6th, 2023. The early application deadline allows families to receive $250 off the enrollment fee, and students who apply early will receive a gift from the admissions office.
See our dates and deadlines page for information about this year’s application deadlines, open houses, acceptance days, course registration, and more.
2. SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FEE
The AMHS application fee is $30. You can either pay it online through the same program you used to apply, or you can mail a check to AMHS.
3. GET A TEACHER RECOMMENDATION
Our school requires applicants to have a teacher recommendation. We use the same confidential teacher evaluation form that many other Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle use, including Bishop Blanchet, Eastside Catholic, and Forest Ridge. It includes questions about the student’s academic strengths, weaknesses, work ethic, talents, personal qualities, special circumstances, and levels in different academic subjects.
Please give the teacher recommendation form to one of your current teachers to complete. They should send it to Archbishop Murphy High School via email, fax, or mail.
4. SUBMIT THE SCHOOL REPORT/TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM
You will need to give the school report/transcript request form to the main office of your current school. They should send it to Archbishop Murphy High School via email, fax, or mail.
5. WRITE YOUR APPLICATION ESSAY
This step only applies if you are a 9th grade applicant. Students should write a 250-500 word essay for their application. As of 2022, our essay prompt is as follows:
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
OUR CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Students can apply early to receive $250 off of their enrollment fee and a gift from the admissions office. This year, early applications are due by December 9th, 2022. The final application deadline is January 6th, 2023.
AMHS Acceptance Day is February 17th. Families will receive notice of acceptance via an email to the parent as well as an acceptance letter and gift sent to the student. After you are accepted, you will need to complete your tuition contract and enrollment forms through the portal.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
AMHS is looking for applicants who exhibit strong character and a call to serve others. We review each applicant’s academic records as well as attendance and discipline history at their previous school.
APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID
At Archbishop Murphy High School, each family’s tuition obligation is less than the actual cost of educating the student. Students automatically receive a Catholic education subsidy, and families with more than one enrolled child can receive a $1,100 discount on each additional sibling’s annual tuition. However, we understand that many families need more financial aid, and over ⅓ of our students receive additional tuition assistance.
AMHS is able to offer a limited number of financial awards to qualifying families in need, and the Archdiocese of Seattle offers additional opportunities. While there is no absolute income threshold, we are rarely able to offer tuition assistance to families that make over $125,000 unless there are extenuating circumstances.
AMHS families can apply annually for tuition assistance through FACTS, a financial aid assessment application tool used by many private schools. Applications for AMHS and Fulcrum awards for the following school year are usually due to FACTS near the end of December. Incoming students will receive notifications of tuition assistance awards at roughly the same time as their acceptance letters.
You can read more about financial aid options for private high school on our recent blog post or our tuition assistance FAQ page.
WHY APPLY FOR CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS AT AMHS?
AMHS is a Christ-centered community where all are welcome. We strive for academic excellence and a student-centered experience that cultivates intellectual curiosity. The heart of our work is community and strong relationships, which we achieve through a 1:11 faculty-to-student ratio and small class sizes that allow us to get to know our students well.
Our high school maintains a 100% college acceptance rate and a 100% graduation rate. We offer a health studies pathway program, a business/internship pathway program, an Ignite STEM program, and many other opportunities to help students explore their interests. Students at AMHS also grow in mind, body, and spirit through retreats, Wellness & Spirituality programming, theology classes, monthly Catholic Mass, and community service.
We also have several outstanding athletic programs that have sent student athletes to participate at the collegiate level in a variety of sports throughout the company. Two of our alumni, Abraham Lucas (class of 2017) and Kyler Gordon (class of 2018), were recently selected in the NFL draft.
Ready to apply? Start your application form today.
