How to Apply
We have thoughtfully created our admissions process to introduce you to Seattle Academy. We know you will be as excited as we are!
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 customercare@ravennasolutions.com
To be considered for financial aid grants, families must apply through School and Student Services (SSS) by February 7, 2019. Please visit our Tuition and Financial Aid page for more information.
Applications for the 2019-2020 school year will be accepted beginning on September 5, 2018.
Details and important dates for each application type are provided below.
- APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
- MIDDLE SCHOOL IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
- UPPER SCHOOL IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
- 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.
- PRELIMINARY APPLICATION
- STUDENT VISIT DAY
- PARENT/GUARDIAN INTERVIEW
- SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
- ENTRANCE EXAMS
PRELIMINARY APPLICATION
The preliminary application takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and includes:
- Biographical Information
- Student Interest Sheet
- Parent Statement
- Student Statement
- $75 non-refundable application fee.*
Please note: As soon as the preliminary 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.
STUDENT VISIT DAY
Once a preliminary application is submitted, prospective students can be scheduled for a visit. We recommend scheduling a visit day as soon as possible as spots will fill quickly.
Families will receive an email with specific details regarding the visit day following registration. Snack, lunch, and all necessary supplies for the day are provided. Applicants should dress comfortably for PE and movement classes.
Classes:
- On a Middle School visit day, applicants are fully active in their classes, experiencing Academics, Arts, and PE.
- For Upper School visits, applicants are scheduled into classes according to the interests indicated on their applications.
Learning About Student Life:
Applicants will experience the school, both in and out of the classroom. There will be structured time for information exchanges between visiting and current students. Students share stories about clubs, activities, sports, trips, and the culture of the school--what daily life feels like at SAAS.
Parent/Guardian Discussions:
After visit day drop-off, parents/guardians are encouraged to remain for an open forum discussion with Seattle Academy Head of School Rob Phillips and representatives from both the Administrative and Academic Leadership teams. This experience is extremely beneficial for families as they pose questions to the SAAS team and learn perspectives from other parents. The session starts at 8:15 AM and ends at 9:30 AM, with opportunity after for individual follow-up questions. This discussion is not a required step in the Admission Process and parents may leave as needed throughout the session.
PARENT/GUARDIAN INTERVIEW
Every family who completes and submits a preliminary application prior to the imposed deadline may then schedule the required parent/guardian interview. This interview lasts approximately 30 minutes. The applicant should not attend the meeting. The interview provides a forum for an in-depth exchange of information to determine if Seattle Academy is the best possible school for the family. Translation services are available upon request; families will receive information regarding this process at the time that interviews are scheduled.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
We strongly recommend that requests for transcripts and teacher evaluations are submitted to schools by the Tuesday, January 15, 2019 application deadline to ensure a complete application for admission consideration. The required materials are:
- Two (2) Teacher evaluations
- Transcripts for the current school year and the two prior school years
- Entrance exam results are required by January 22, 2019
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 ASAP.
ENTRANCE EXAMS
ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) or SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) test scores for both Middle and Upper School applicants are due January 22, 2019. We are registered as Seattle Academy. Our school codes are 481154 (ISEE) and 7240 (SSAT).
MIDDLE SCHOOL IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
2018
| September 5 | Ravenna Application Opens |
| October 20 | Open House, 10:00 AM |
| November 3 | Open House, 2:00 PM |
| December 1 | ISEE Test at Seattle Academy |
2019
| January 15 | Application & Supplemental Materials Deadline |
| February 7 | Financial Aid Deadline |
| March 15 | Middle School Decisions Posted |
| March 19 | Middle School Invited Family Reception |
| March 22 | Middle School Invitation Response Deadline |
UPPER SCHOOL IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
2018
September 5 Application Opens
October 20 Open House, 2:00 PM
November 3 Open House, 10:00 AM
December 1 ISEE Test at Seattle Academy
2019
January 15 Application & Supplemental Materials Deadline
February 7 Financial Aid Deadline
February 22 Upper School Decisions Posted
February 26 Upper School Invited Family Reception
March 1 Upper School Invitation Response Deadline
SIBLING APPLICATION PROCESS
The early decision process is intended for sibling families 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 a student 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:
Please submit the preliminary online application no later than October 30, 2018 via Ravenna, our online application portal. For families applying for financial aid, you can access the School and Student Services (SSS) application directly through your Ravenna account. 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.
Once the preliminary application is completed, you will have the opportunity to sign up for a visit day and parent/guardian interview that falls within the early decision timeline. Additionally, all supplemental materials and financial aid applications must be received by November 30, 2018. ISEE/SSAT entrance exams must be completed by no later than December 1, 2018.
To view available dates and register, please visit the ISEE or SSAT websites by clicking on the links below.
ISEE Online Registration
SSAT Online Registration
Please note that our Ravenna application will open on August 31, 2018, and early-decision notifications will be available on December 14, 2018.
LATE APPLICATION PROCESS
Late Applications Submitted After the January 15, 2019 Deadline
Applications are accepted through Ravenna beyond the deadline and students are considered as Second Round Applicants. To be considered for admission in the event that an opening becomes available, we ask that you complete an application as soon as possible. Our process is to contact you if/when an opening becomes available and your student is being considered for admission. Second Round Applications may remain in consideration until the first day of the upcoming school year.
Application Process for Second Round Applicants:
- Completed preliminary application and payment of non-refundable $75 application fee
- Supplemental Materials: (Due as soon as possible)
- Student Statement
- Parent/Guardian Statement
- Two (2) Teacher evaluations
- Transcripts for the current school year and the two prior school years
ISEE or SSAT test scores for both Middle and Upper School applicants are due January 22, 2019. We are registered as Seattle Academy. Our school codes are 481154 (ISEE) and 7240 (SSAT). For late applicants, standardized test scores may be substituted for entrance exams with approval by the Admission Office.
To ensure meeting the demands of Standard Applicants, Second Round Applicants do not pre-schedule student visit days, parent/guardian interviews, or school tours as part of the application process. Applicants in this category will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will be contacted if additional steps are required.
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, accommodations for visit days and interviews will be offered to families unable to visit Seattle Academy in person. All other requirements and deadlines are the same as outlined above.
DECISION PROCESS
The Decision Committee reviews information from all components of each application and includes the student visit day, the parent/guardian interview, and the parent/guardian discussion.
If a required step is incomplete at the time that admission decisions are made, the committee may choose to withhold an admission decision for the applicant. See Important Dates tabs for more details about the timeline.
Waitlist
Based on the number of applicants to a grade, some families may be placed on a waitlist. Families have the option to remain on or may decline the waitlist invitation. Waitlist 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.