How to Apply

Applications for the September 2025 academic year are open now! ሀይሌ ማናስ አካዳሚን ስለመረጡ  እናመሰግናለን፡፡ ለመስከረም 2018 ዓ/ም ማመልከቻዎችን መቀበል ጀምረናል!

We are delighted that you are exploring Haile-Manas Academy as an option for your family!  

Haile-Manas Academy is a boarding school for high-achieving students in Grades 9 through 12. Through our outstanding academic program, co-curricular activities and caring community, our students thrive in their learning and grow in self-confidence.

Students typically join HMA as Grade 9 students. We accept applications from students who are currently in Grade 8 for entry into Grade 9, and intend to admit approximately 80 students to Grade 9 this year. 

We also have a small number of places available in Grade 10 and Grade 11 and will be accepting applications from students who are currently in Grade 9 and Grade 10 for these places. We intend to accept approximately 15 students to Grade 10 and up to 5 students to Grade 11. 

Tuition, room and board (including all fees)  

Tuition, room and board for the 2025-2026 school year is $11,018 USD. There is a technology use fee of $150USD. 

Tuition is payable in EtB at the exchange rate applicable on the date of payment. Tuition is paid in two equal installments, in September and January.

Application process. Admissions to HMA is merit-based, holistic and competitive. We admit high-achieving students of promise who embrace HMA’s values and pedagogical approach and will thrive in a vibrant boarding school community. We strive for gender balance, geographic diversity, and diversity of student backgrounds, talents and interests. 

There are several steps to our application process.  

  • Step One - online application. Interested applicants start the process by completing an  online application that requires you to upload your two most recent past years of report cards and two short written statements. 

  • Step Two - HMA admissions assessment. HMA will invite a limited number of applicants (contacted by phone or email) to take the HMA Mathematics and English assessment. The assessment focuses on aptitude, creative problem-solving and reading/writing skills. The assessment cannot be studied for.

Dates and locations of the HMA admissions assessment will be shared with eligible applicants AFTER they are contacted and invited to take the assessment.  

  • Step Three - financial aid. We recognize that some families may not be able to afford (or fully afford) our fees. To the extent our resources permit, we offer financial aid to a limited number of high-achieving students who demonstrate a clear, documented need. If you need financial aid, you must request our Financial Aid Form at the time you are invited to take the HMA admissions assessment. Completed forms should be returned promptly. If you request financial aid, your application cannot advance to Step Four until you submit a completed Financial Aid Form. 

  • Step Four - interview. HMA will invite a limited number of students for interviews. The purpose of the interview is to learn more about the student as an individual, and to confirm that HMA is a good fit for the student and family. We encourage applicants to review HMA’s mission and values prior to the interview date. Students are required to be accompanied by one (preferably two) parent(s) or guardian(s).

  • Step Five. Following the interviews, we will extend offers of admission as appropriate. If a family has requested financial aid, we will communicate the financial aid award, if any, with the offer of admission. In almost all cases, financial aid awards are for partial support and every family will be expected to contribute as much as they can towards their child’s fees.

Students admitted to Grade 9 will be expected to perform well on the 8th Grade Ministry Exam as a condition of formal acceptance.

Please note that we receive a large number of applications and can invite only a small number of applicants to take the HMA admissions assessment and/or for interviews.

Timeline. We will extend offers of enrollment starting January 2025 and we will stop accepting applicants for the 2025/2026 school year as soon as we have met our enrollment capacity. Financial aid funds are limited and may be unavailable to applicants who apply late in the process. 

We therefore encourage interested students to submit their applications as soon as possible. 

Start the Application Process. If you are ready to apply to HMA, please start your application below.  If you are in Grade 8 applying for entry into Grade 9, you will need a clear scan (or digital photo) of the front and back of your Grade 6 and Grade 7 report cards. If you are in Grade 9 applying for entry into Grade 10, you will need a clear scan (or digital photo) of the front and back of your Grade 7 and Grade 8 report cards. If you are in Grade 10 applying for entry into Grade 11, you will need a clear scan (or digital photo) of the front and back of your Grade 8 and Grade 9 report cards. 

We look forward to receiving your application! 

Questions? Please visit our FAQ page which contains answers to many frequently asked questions.