Visiting the School Before Applying
If you are interested in applying to prekindergarten, kindergarten, third or fourth grade, we invite you to attend one of our Information Sessions. Register online for a session.
How to Apply
Read the sections below to learn about the application process and the documents required for an application to the Lower School.
Although we accept applications for first and second grades, keep in mind that spaces become available for these grades only through attrition of our current students.
We have a September 1 birthday requirement for all grades of the Lower School. See table below for birthday cutoff dates.
| Applying to Grade |
Age by September 1
|
Born Before
|
| PK |
4 |
9/1/2009 |
| K |
5 |
9/1/2008 |
| 1 |
6 |
9/1/2007 |
| 2 |
7 |
9/1/2006 |
| 3 |
8 |
9/1/2005 |
| 4 |
9 |
9/1/2004 |
Our Prekindergarten program is only one section. With our philosophy that siblings are not placed in the same class, it is the School's policy not to accept applications for twins for Prekindergarten.
Application Forms
Families must submit Part I, the Application Form online by December 15, 2012. You
will receive an email confirming receipt of your application.
Please note: Part II, Supporting Documents (teacher recommendation, school transcript, test results, etc.) do not need to be submitted with the application. The application itself is sufficient to begin the admission process. However, all supplementary materials must be received by the Admissions Office by January 15, 2013.
Application Fee
There is a $60 fee to submit an application, which is paid by credit card when applying online. If the application fee creates a true financial hardship for your family, a limited number of waivers are available. Please call the Admissions Office to discuss the possibility of a fee waiver.
Child's School Visit
So that we can get to know your child better, he or she is asked to spend some time with us in a small group/playdate-like session. Your child will participate in a variety of age appropriate activities and exercises with two of our classroom teachers. During this visit, parents will attend an informative program about the School with the Lower School Principal and the Director of Admissions.
Prekindergarten and Kindergarten applicants : Visit will be scheduled on a Saturday morning from 9:00 -10:30 a.m. in November, December, or January.
Third and Fourth grade applicants : Visit will be scheduled in January or February.
Visits are not scheduled for non-expansion grades (first and second). We will be in touch with you directly when we have a better sense of potential openings (often not until late February).
Testing
All applicants are required to have an individual test administered by an educational diagnostician. A list of suggested testing sites is available. You may request that the results be sent to other schools at no extra charge.
- Applicants to pre-kindergarten and kindergarten take the WPPSI-IV or WPPSI-III.
- Applicants to the first grade take the WPPSI-IV or WPPSI-III unless the applicant is already 6 years old at the time of testing, in which case he or she should take the WISC-IV.
- Applicants to the second through fourth grades take the WISC-IV.
Teacher Recommendation
For our prekindergarten through first grade applicants, we require one Teacher Recommendation form to be completed by your child’s current teacher. For applicants to grades second through fourth, two Teacher Recommendation forms are required. One should be completed by current teacher.
School Transcript (grades second through fourth only)
Transcripts for the first grading period of the current school year and a completed report from the previous year are required for the applicant. It is the responsibility of the parent to request that these official records be sent to Sidwell Friends by submitting the Transcript Request Form to their child’s current school. The school will mail the transcript directly to us.
Parent Statement
The information you provide us on the Parent Statement helps us to learn more about your child and family.