How to Apply
We believe the application process should be reflective of the school’s culture. At Seattle Academy, that means an intentional focus for making this experience feel personal and rooted in community. One of our guiding principles is “Know the Kid” and that process begins as soon as we meet you. We look forward to starting that conversation!
We are now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year.
Seattle Academy uses Ravenna, a web-based application system. Through the Ravenna website, families can manage their applications and register for admission events. If you have any technical questions about Ravenna, please contact admissions@seattleacademy.org.
To be considered for financial aid grants, families must apply through School and Student Services (SSS) by February 4, 2021. Please visit our Tuition and Financial Aid page for more information.
Visit our important dates page for more information.
- APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
- SIBLING APPLICATION PROCESS
- LATE APPLICATION PROCESS
- OUT OF STATE
- INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS
- DECISION PROCESS
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
Information regarding the specific components of the application is included below.
- SAAS APPLICATION
- SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
- STANDARDIZED TESTING
- STUDENT VISIT DAY
- PARENT/GUARDIAN INTERVIEW
- MIDDLE SCHOOL IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
- UPPER SCHOOL IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
SAAS APPLICATION
The components of a SAAS application includes:
- Biographical Information
- Student Interest Sheet
- Parent/Guardian Statement
- $75 non-refundable application fee.*
Please note: As soon as the application has been submitted, you can schedule your required student visit day and parent/guardian interview. Visit days and interviews begin in early November and continue through the end of February and fill quickly, so applicants are encouraged to register early.
*Please email us at admissions@seattleacademy.org for an application fee waiver.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Supplemental materials should be submitted by the application deadline of January 14, 2021 to ensure a complete application for admission consideration. The required materials are:
- Student Essay
- Three (3) Teacher evaluations
- At least one teacher should be a current teacher.
- Two of the teacher evaluations should address the core academic subjects Math and English.
- A third teacher evaluation of your choice.
- Teacher recommendation letters can supplement your application, but they cannot be submitted in place of the PSIS Teacher evaluations forms. Recommendation letters should be emailed or mailed directly to Seattle Academy from the individual recommending the student.
- Transcripts/Grade Reports
- Academic records for the current school year and the two prior school years (2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21)
- For students attending schools on a semester grading system, those reports can be submitted after the January 14 deadline.
Due to high volume, transcripts and other materials received the week of January 14th may take up to 3 weeks to be processed by Ravenna. While your application will still be considered in the first round, we ask that you request these materials before that week if possible.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
Seattle Academy believes standardized tests are only one data point in the much larger picture of a student. In light of the evolving educational testing landscape due to COVID-19, Seattle Academy is not requiring an entrance exam for the 20-21 application year. We understand that this pandemic has created obstacles in scheduling tests for all students and for schools to administer standardized testing. We believe that this temporary change will allow for a more equitable admission process for our families during this unprecedented time. If a family would like to submit standardized testing data they are free to do so, however, it is not required or expected.
Each completed application will be considered fully, with or without exam scores.
If you have any questions, please reach out to the SAAS Admission Team at admissions@seattleacademy.
STUDENT VISIT DAY
Once an application is submitted, prospective families can register for a student visit day through Ravenna. We recommend scheduling a visit day as soon as possible as spots will fill quickly.
Due to Covid-19, Seattle Academy will be designing fully virtual visit days. While the format is not how we would have hoped, the goals remain the same:
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For applicants to meet and experience classes taught by a SAAS teacher
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For applicants to meet and hear from SAAS students about clubs, activities, sports, trips, and the culture of the school--what student life really feels like at SAAS.
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For SAAS community members to get to know applicants better in and out of a “classroom” experience.
PARENT/GUARDIAN INTERVIEW
Once a family completes and submits an application, they can register for a parent/guardian interview through Ravenna.
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This is a required component and the interview lasts approximately 30 minutes. Your child should not attend the meeting.
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Due to Covid-19, these meetings will be virtual Zoom calls. Families will receive information regarding this process at the time that interviews are scheduled.
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Our goal is to have an in-depth exchange of information to get to know applicants better and for families to gain information that helps them determine if Seattle Academy is the best fit for their family.
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Interpreter services are available upon request.
MIDDLE SCHOOL IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
UPPER SCHOOL IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
2020 - 2021 | |
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September 1, 2020 | Ravenna Application Opens |
October 24, 2020 | Virtual Open House |
January 14, 2021 | Application & Supplemental Materials Deadline |
February 4, 2021 | Financial Aid Deadline |
February 19, 2021 | Upper School Decisions Posted |
February 26, 2021 | Upper School Invitation Response Deadline |
SIBLING APPLICATION PROCESS
The early decision process is intended for current Seattle Academy families who would have a sibling applying for admission in 6th or 9th grades, and who are applying ONLY to Seattle Academy. We are unable to offer early decision for all other grades, as openings in those grades are dependent upon attrition. If a sibling applicant pursues applications at other schools, their Seattle Academy application will become part of the general admission process. For purposes of this policy, Seattle Academy defines a sibling as:
- the biological, adopted, or stepchild of a current Seattle Academy custodial parent or guardian
or - the biological, adopted, or step-sibling of an alumnus who has graduated from Seattle Academy within the last 5 years.
Please note: Siblings of students who attended Seattle Academy, but did not graduate from Seattle Academy, are not eligible for the early decision process.
TO APPLY:
Ravenna Applications Open: September 1, 2020
Early Decision Sibling Application Due: November 4, 2020
Sibling Supplemental Forms Due: November 23, 2020
Early Decision Financial Aid Applications Due: December 14, 2020
Decisions Released: December 18, 2020
Decision Responses Due: January 6, 2021
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Submit applications through Ravenna, our online application portal. First-time users will be asked to create an account, although if you have used Ravenna in the past, you may use your existing login information.
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Visit Day/Parent Interview:
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Once the application is completed, you should register for a visit day and parent/guardian interview in Ravenna that falls within the early decision timeline.
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These will be virtual Zoom calls this year.
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Testing:
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Seattle Academy believes standardized tests are only one data point in the much larger picture of a student. In light of the evolving educational testing landscape due to COVID-19, Seattle Academy is not requiring an entrance exam for the 20-21 application year. We understand that this pandemic has created obstacles in scheduling tests for all students and for schools to administer standardized testing. We believe that this temporary change will allow for a more equitable admission process for our families during this unprecedented time. If a family would like to submit standardized testing data they are free to do so, however, it is not required or expected.
Each completed application will be considered fully, with or without exam scores.
If you have any questions, please reach out to the SAAS Admission Team at admissions@seattleacademy.
org.
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Financial Aid:
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For families applying for financial aid, you can access the School and Student Services (SSS) application directly through your Ravenna account.
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Sibling financial aid applications must be completed by December 14, 2020.
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LATE APPLICATION PROCESS
For the 2020-2021 School Year: Enrollment goals have been met for the school year, however qualified second-round applicants will be placed in the wait pool upon completion of the application. Should space become available, we would invite a family from the wait pool as soon as possible. Second Round Applications may remain in consideration until the first day of the upcoming school year.
All applications are outlined and submitted through the Ravenna website.
- Completed application and non-refundable $75 application fee
- Supplemental Materials:
- Student Essay
- Parent/Guardian Statement
- Three Teacher Evaluations
- Transcripts for the current school year and the two prior school years
- Student Interview and Parent/Guardian Interview
- Once your application steps are complete, we will contact you to schedule separate parent and student interviews, both of which are being held via a video or telephone call.
To request a need-based application waiver, please email admissions@seattleacademy.org.
OUT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS
Seattle Academy is not authorized to issue the I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for students.
For students not requiring the I-20 who apply, virtual visit days and interviews will be offered to families who are unable to visit Seattle Academy in person. All other requirements and deadlines are the same as outlined above. We will accept, but we do not require, an English fluency exam. Families are required to apply directly to our school and be available for communication throughout the admission process. Boarding accommodations, host families, and homestays are not offered.
Seattle Academy defines international students as students that
- Are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States
- AND currently attending a school outside of the U.S.
DECISION PROCESS
The decision committee reviews information from all components of each application including the student visit day and the parent/guardian interview.
If a required application step is incomplete at the time that admission decisions are made, that student’s application will be moved to the Second Round Application process and their admission decision will be delayed until the required application components are submitted. Please see the Important Dates section above to review details about this timeline.
WAIT POOL:
Each year the number of applicants for each grade exceeds the number of spaces available. As such, some families will receive a wait pool decision. Families have the option to remain in that group, or may decline the wait pool invitation. Wait pool applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis. If a space becomes available, the Admission Office will contact families to determine interest in attending Seattle Academy.
To request a need-based waiver for any required component of our application process, please email admissions@seattleacademy.org.