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Apply to Calhoun
How to Apply
Preschool–5th Grade
Apply to Preschool–5th Grade
Our November 15 application deadline has passed, but we are continuing to accept 2020-21 applications for as long as interview spaces remain available. Unfortunately, we have reached our capacity for processing applications for financial aid.
Calhoun's Lower School admits children as young as 2 years 8 months and continues through elementary school-aged children entering 5th grade.
Our admissions process reflects the enthusiasm and spirit of the school. We'd love to have you join us for a tour, meet our students and faculty, explore our classes and facilities, and experience the joyful buzz of everyday Calhoun life.
- 1. Get to Know Us
- 2. Submit an Application
- 3. Schedule Your Visits
- 4. Submit Supporting Materials by January 8, 2020
- 5. Submit Financial Aid Materials
1. Get to Know Us
2. Submit an Application
Create an online account to begin your application for the 2020-21 school year. The application fee is $75.
3. Schedule Your Visits
Once your application has been received, someone from our admissions team will contact you via email to schedule your child's visit to the school and, if you wish, a parent tour.
Parent Tour
- 3's-2nd Grade Applicant Parent Tour of 160 West 74th Street, home of the preschool, kindergarten, first and second grade. Group tour for ten parents begins with program information about your child's age level, followed by classroom visits and a meeting with Lower School Director — Early Childhood, Alison Rothschild, and Director of Enrollment, Andrew Hume.
- 3rd-5th Grade Applicant Parent Tour at 433 West End Avenue, home of 3rd-12th grade.
Applicant Visit
- Child Interview, 3's & 4's: Six children with three Calhoun teachers meet for an informal half-an-hour play session. The parent or caregiver who brings the child sits at a table within the room and has the opportunity to view samples of Calhoun's early childhood reports.
- Student Interview for K-5th grade: A small group of students meet with Calhoun teachers but are asked to separate from the attending adult, who will have an opportunity to meet with an admissions representative.
4. Submit Supporting Materials by January 8, 2020
3's and 4's Applicants Enrolled in a Preschool Program
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Applicants
2nd-5th Grade Applicants
- Records Release (PDF): Print and submit this form to your child's current school. (Please remind the school that we require the most recent school report.)
- Teacher Recommendation (PDF): One recommendation from a current classroom teacher
(Standardized tests are not required for our Lower School admissions process; Calhoun believes such tests are not an accurate assessment of a young child's strengths or potential.)
5. Submit Financial Aid Materials
Visit our financial aid page for more information. The TADS financial aid application for applicants to the 2020-21 school year is due on December 15, 2019. Families applying to kindergarten through 9th grade may apply for financial aid; however, it is unavailable for preschool applicants.
6th–8th Grade
Apply to Middle School 6th–8th Grade
Our November 15 application deadline has passed, but we are continuing to accept 2020-21 applications for as long as interview spaces remain available. Unfortunately, we have reached our capacity for processing applications for financial aid.
Outlined below are the steps to begin your exploration of Calhoun and to complete your application for 6th-8th grades. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our admissions staff.
- 1. Get to Know Us
- 2. Complete an Application
- 3. Schedule a Student Interview
- 4. Submit Required Supplementary Materials by January 8, 2020
- 5. Submit Financial Aid Materials
1. Get to Know Us
- Submit an inquiry to receive admissions information and updates
- Contact us to take a school tour
- See the Calhoun academic experience in action
- Meet some of our students and alums
2. Complete an Application
- Create an online account to begin your application for the 2020-21 school year. Applications are due November 15, 2019. The application fee is $75
3. Schedule a Student Interview
Getting to know each young person applying to our school is the most important part of the admissions process. We invite interested families to attend an open house or tour the school at any time during the admissions process.
Once an application is received, our office will contact families to schedule the student interview. Applicants spend part of the visit in small groups, participating in an experiential activity that reflects Calhoun's progressive philosophy. The activity is followed by an individual interview with a Calhoun teacher.
The student activity sessions take place throughout the admissions process on selected dates between November and January.
The parent/guardian interviews with a member of our Admissions Office the same day as the student visit. The interview is an opportunity for the parent(s)/guardian(s) to ask questions and learn more about Calhoun.
4. Submit Required Supplementary Materials by January 8, 2020
- Records Release (PDF): Print and submit this form to your child's current school.
- Teacher Recommendations: Teacher recommendation forms are confidential and must be sent directly from the applicant's current teacher/school to Calhoun
- Apply to 6th Grade: Please submit a current fifth grade teacher recommendation and previous fourth grade teacher recommendation. Fifth-grade students who have different teachers for English and math should ask both teachers to complete a teacher recommendation form. If the school has a policy that teachers cannot complete recommendation forms, we urge parents to notify the Admission Office of that policy.
Download 6th Grade Teacher Recommendation - Applying to 7th-8th Grades: Please submit AT LEAST two recommendations; including one from your child's current math teacher, and one from a current English teacher. References should be submitted before the end of the fall term.
Download 7th-8th Grade Math Recommendation
Download 7th-8th Grade English Recommendation
- Apply to 6th Grade: Please submit a current fifth grade teacher recommendation and previous fourth grade teacher recommendation. Fifth-grade students who have different teachers for English and math should ask both teachers to complete a teacher recommendation form. If the school has a policy that teachers cannot complete recommendation forms, we urge parents to notify the Admission Office of that policy.
- Submit Graded Writing Sample: Applicants must send a copy of a graded essay or creative writing piece with the teacher's comments visible.
5. Submit Financial Aid Materials
Financial aid applications are due on December 15, 2019. Visit our financial aid page for more information.
9th-12th Grade
Apply to Upper School: 9th–12th Grade
Our November 15 application deadline has passed, but we are continuing to accept 2020-21 applications for as long as interview spaces remain available. Unfortunately, we have reached our capacity for processing applications for financial aid.
Outlined below are the steps to begin your exploration of Calhoun and to complete your application for 9th-12th grades. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our admissions staff.
- 1. Get to Know Us
- 2. Complete an Application
- 3. Schedule a Student Interview
- 4. Submit Required Supplementary Materials by January 8, 2020
- 5. Submit Financial Aid Materials
1. Get to Know Us
- Submit an inquiry to receive admissions information and updates
- Attend an open house
- Contact us to take a school tour
- See the Calhoun academic experience in action
- Meet some of our students and alums
2. Complete an Application
- Create an online account to begin your application for the 2020-21 school year. Applications are due November 15, 2019. The application fee is $75.
3. Schedule a Student Interview
Getting to know each young person applying to our school is the most important part of the admissions process. We invite interested families to attend an open house or tour the school at any time during the admissions process.
Once an application is received our office will contact families to schedule the student interview. Applicants spend part of the visit in small groups, participating in an experiential activity that reflects Calhoun's progressive philosophy. The activity is followed by an individual interview with a Calhoun teacher.
The student activity sessions take place throughout the admissions process on selected dates between November and January.
The parent/guardian interviews with a member of our Admissions Office the same day as the student visit. The interview is an opportunity for the parent(s)/guardian(s) to ask questions and learn more about Calhoun.
4. Submit Required Supplementary Materials by January 8, 2020
- Records Release (PDF): Print and submit this form to your child's current school.
- Teacher Recommendations: Teacher recommendation forms are confidential and must be sent directly from the applicant's current teacher/school to Calhoun.
- Please submit AT LEAST two recommendations; including one from your child's current math teacher, and one from a current English teacher. References should be submitted before the end of the fall term.
Download Math Recommendation
Download English Recommendation
- Please submit AT LEAST two recommendations; including one from your child's current math teacher, and one from a current English teacher. References should be submitted before the end of the fall term.
- Submit Graded Writing Sample: Applicants must send a copy of a graded essay from English/Language Arts or History/Social Studies class with the teacher's comments visible.
- Submit Standardized Testing Results: Calhoun accepts either the ISEE or SSAT test. Calhoun's ISEE code is 333505. Our SSAT code is 2014.
5. Submit Financial Aid Materials
Financial aid applications are due on December 15, 2019. No financial aid is available for families applying for 10th or 12th grade. Visit our financial aid page for more information.