How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in applying to Sidwell Friends School.
Sidwell Friends is a member of AISGW – Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington. Please see AISGW’s Statement to Applicants here.
Lower School
By following the steps below, you’ll stay on track to submitting a complete application for admission to Pre-K, K, 3rd, or 4th grades on or before January 5, 2024.
We use a September 1 cut-off date for our Lower School applicants
Applying Grade |
Age by September 1 |
Born Before |
| PK | 4 | 9/1/20 |
| K | 5 | 9/1/19 |
| 1 | 6 | 9/2/18 |
| 2 | 7 | 9/1/17 |
SUBMIT FAMILY INFORMATION FORM
Prepare to pay the $70 fee to submit the Family Information Form. Take this step September 1.
If this application fee is a hardship on your family, please fill out this form.
ATTEND AN IN-PERSON STUDENT GROUP VISIT
Watch your email for your assigned Student Group Visit. Student applicants will meet in a small group class format, led by Sidwell Friends teachers/admissions staff.
Group visits for 1st and 2nd grade applicants will be scheduled if spaces become available in those grades
PARENT MEETING
Parents/guardians of applicants will participate in a meeting with an admissions representative. This will allow us to understand your family's values, goals, and expectations, and how our school can align with your child's educational needs. Parent interviews are offered from October to early January. For your convenience, we offer both virtual and in-person interview options. Interview spaces fill quickly, so we recommend scheduling as early as possible.
Parent meetings for 1st and 2nd grade applicants will be scheduled if space becomes available.
SUBMIT TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Request Teacher Recommendations for submission by January 5, 2024. The AISGW Common Recommendation form is required from the child’s current teacher. We recommend sending the forms to teachers no earlier than late November or December so that they will have a chance to get to know your child before completing them.
REQUEST SCHOOL RECORDS
Request School Records for submission by January 5, 2024. Applicants must submit a report card, progress report, or developmental skills checklist if the child receives one from his or her current school. Please submit reports from the first half of the current school year and the full previous school year if available. Please submit the transcript release form to your child’s school authorizing the school to send reports directly to Sidwell Friends School. For applicants to 3rd and 4th grades, if your child has taken a standardized test in school please make sure test results are sent with the school transcript.
Middle School
By following the steps below, you’ll stay on track to submitting a complete application for admission to 6th or 7th grades on or before January 5, 2024.
SUBMIT FAMILY INFORMATION FORM
Prepare to pay the $70 fee to submit the Family Information Form. Take this step September 1.
If this application fee is a hardship on your family, please fill out this form.
ATTEND AN IN-PERSON STUDENT VISIT
Students applying to 6th and 7th grades will complete a math, reading, and writing assessment as part of the admissions application process. During the visit, prospective students will engage in a group activity with other applicants followed by an opportunity to ask questions and hear from current students. Visitors will conclude their day by going on a brief campus tour led by student ambassadors.
PARENT MEETING
Parents/guardians of applicants will participate in a meeting with an admissions representative. This will allow us to understand your family's values, goals, and expectations, and how our school can align with your child's educational needs. Parent interviews are offered from October to early January. For your convenience, we offer both virtual and in-person interview options. Interview spaces fill quickly, so we recommend scheduling as early as possible.
SUBMIT TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Request Teacher Recommendations for submission by January 5, 2024. The AISGW Common Recommendation form is required from the child’s current English and math teachers. If the student applying for Middle School has one homeroom teacher who teaches both subjects, please ask that teacher to submit the recommendations for each subject separately. We highly recommend sending the forms to teachers no earlier than late November or December so that they will have a chance to get to know your child before completing them.
REQUEST TRANSCRIPT
Please submit the transcript release form to your child’s school authorizing it to send transcripts directly to Sidwell Friends School.
Applicants to grades 5 through 8 should submit transcripts from the first half of the current school year and the full previous school year. We recommend that you request the transcripts in early January so that the most up-to-date grading period will be included with your child’s application.
SUBMIT TESTING
If your child took a standardized test at school during the 2022-23 school year (such as ERBs, MAP, SOL, Stanford, IOWA, CTPs, PARCC) please make sure that Sidwell Friends receives the test results as part of their school transcripts.
Upper School
By following the steps below, you’ll stay on track to submitting a complete application for admission to 9th grade on or before January 5, 2024.
SUBMIT FAMILY INFORMATION FORM
Prepare to pay the $70 fee to submit the Family Information Form. Take this step September 1.
If this application fee is a hardship on your family, please fill out this form.
ATTEND AN IN-PERSON STUDENT GROUP VISIT
Students applying to 9th grade will complete a math, reading, and writing assessment as part of the admissions application process. During the visit, prospective students will engage in a group activity with other applicants followed by an opportunity to ask questions and hear from current students. Visitors will conclude their day by going on a brief campus tour led by student ambassadors.
PARENT MEETING
Parents/guardians of applicants will participate in an online meeting with an admissions representative. This will allow us to understand your family's values, goals, and expectations, and how our school can align with your child's educational needs. Parent interviews are offered from October to early January. For your convenience, we offer both virtual and in-person interview options. Interview spaces fill quickly, so we recommend scheduling as early as possible.
SUBMIT TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Request Teacher Recommendations for submission by January 6, 2023. The AISGW Common Recommendation form is required from the child’s current English and math teachers. If the student applying has one homeroom teacher who teaches both subjects, please ask that teacher to submit the recommendations for each subject separately. We highly recommend sending the forms to teachers no earlier than late November or December so that they will have a chance to get to know your child before completing them. Additional recommendations are not necessary.
SUBMIT TRANSCRIPT
Please submit the transcript release form to your child’s school authorizing it to send transcripts directly to Sidwell Friends School.
Applicants to high school should submit transcripts from the first half of the current school year and the full previous school year. We recommend that you request the transcripts in early January so that the most up-to-date grading period will be included with your child’s application.
SUBMIT TESTING
If your child took a standardized test at school during the 2022-23 school year (such as ERBs, MAP, SOL, Stanford, IOWA, CTPs, PARCC) please make sure that Sidwell Friends receives the test results as part of their school transcripts.