Apply to SAAS

All applications are submitted through Aryval, a new application and enrollment platform where prospective families can apply starting in the 2026-2027 admissions cycle. If you’re applying in the Standard Round, be sure all materials are submitted by January 14, 2027, for timely review.

Aryval is a family-first enrollment platform that makes it easy for prospective students and families to learn about SAAS, register for Open Houses and other events, and track their applications. Accepting applications through Aryval also reduces barriers for families already applying to other independent schools through Aryval.

We use Clarity for financial assistance applications and collecting tax documents. The application takes about 30 minutes to complete and is mobile-friendly. Assessment is confidential and holistic, taking into account family size, income, and the number of children enrolled in tuition-based schools or colleges.

SAAS is proud to support nearly 25% of families with assistance that can cover tuition and other school-related costs. Learn more on our Financial Assistance page.

Yes, if you’re applying for financial assistance or if the application fee is a barrier, use the code SAAS2027 to waive the Aryval application fee. 

For families applying on the standard timeline (the majority of applicants):

• Upper School applicants will receive their admission decisions on February 5, 2027.
• Middle School applicants will receive their admission decisions on March 5, 2027.
   

At SAAS, we aim to make the admission experience as clear and family-centered as possible. An earlier decision date gives families more time and space to thoughtfully consider their options. By shortening the waiting period, we hope to reduce uncertainty and some of the stress that can come with the admission process. It also allows families additional time to learn more about SAAS, ask questions, revisit the school, and make a decision that feels right for their student and family.

Yes! Families with children applying to both our Middle School and Upper School can receive a full family decision on February 5, the Upper School release date. This approach reflects our commitment to keeping families together when possible and allows them to make a fully informed choice. Families who choose to receive both Middle School and Upper School decisions on February 5 will follow the Upper School response deadline of February 25. 

Once the preliminary application has been submitted, we ask families to email our Admissions team at admissions@seattleacademy.org to indicate that they would like to opt-in for a full family decision. You can always email us with any questions.

Getting to know kids and families remains at the heart of our approach to admissions at SAAS. We’ve kept what matters most in our process by continuing to offer meaningful opportunities to get to know each applicant, including:

• Visit Day: All applicants spend a half day on campus, engaging in classes, small groups, and larger settings. This gives us a well-rounded sense of each student’s strengths and personality, while also letting applicants experience life at SAAS.
• Parent/Guardian Interview: Families meet one-on-one with an Admissions representative for a 30-minute conversation to share their student’s story from their perspective.

Application Materials: We carefully review teacher evaluations, standardized test results, progress reports, and transcripts, in alignment with other schools’ application requirements.
 

The recommendations and transcripts provided by the applicant’s current school provide ample context. Additionally, applicants complete a writing activity during their required Visit Day, making another written essay redundant. Student work during the Visit Day allows us to see a student’s unique communication and writing skills in a classroom setting rather than through an essay prepared at home.

Test results are one part of our holistic review and help us better understand each student’s academic profile. They are a single data point among many and don’t play a prominent role in our admissions decisions. We accept any test results students have already taken at their current schools, as well as those required by other schools to which they are applying.

No. SAAS, like many schools, suspended testing requirements during the pandemic. In recent years, we’ve noted that students are invariably taking standardized tests in some form, so it’s not a burden to ask for results that already exist. There aren’t specific tests that we require, or even prefer. Families may choose which test to provide. We also encourage families to let us know if they’d like us to consider other tests to meet this requirement.

Examples of accepted tests include:

• Smarter Balanced (SBA)
• MAP
• CTP (ERB)
• STAR Assessments
• Iowa Assessments
• WIAT-IV
• ISEE
• SSAT
  • SAAS codes: 481154 (ISEE) and 7240 (SSAT).

*Families can request alternate forms of testing in lieu of those listed above. Please contact our Admissions Office at admissions@seattleacademy.org for more information.

Yes! We welcome Second Round applications after the January 14 deadline. These applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and accepted students will be placed in our wait pool as space allows.
Note: Financial assistance is typically not available for Second Round applicants, as awards are distributed during the Standard Round.

Yes—but please note that we do not offer boarding, homestay, or visa sponsorship (I-20). If English is not your student’s first language and they’ve been enrolled in a non-English school for the past three years, we require an English proficiency score. We also offer virtual interviews for families applying from abroad—just reach out to our team after submitting your application.