Back in 2019, without much fanfare, Wayland Academy went need-blind. We pledged not to consider a family’s ability to pay in making admissions decisions and committed to meeting a family’s full demonstrated need in making financial aid determinations. We didn’t receive a windfall of donations, nor was it a board-mandated response. Rather, we asked some crucial questions about our market, our mission, and our accessibility to great students. Three years later, we can report that need-blind admissions aren’t just a moral imperative, they have helped grow enrollment, all while increasing revenue year over year. Need-blind admission announcements are greeted by many as a "nice to do" or a "when I have a big enough budget." Instead, this session discusses how Wayland challenged those assumptions, expanded our market, grew our school, and became more accessible along the way.

Josh Labove, Wayland Academy (WI)