How to Apply

The Admissions Process

St. Paul’s Admissions process begins in the fall prior to the planned year of attendance and requires the following steps and guidelines:

Parent Tour of the School

From September – January, tours of the school are conducted for parents. At least one parent is required to take a tour, and we suggest that both parents, or guardians make arrangements to visit the School. Application materials are distributed at the end of the tour. We encourage families to schedule their tours early in the process as tour times fill up quickly. To schedule a tour, please contact the Admissions Office at 510-285-9617.

Completion of Application Materials

Applications for Admissions may be submitted anytime after the completion of a school tour with deadlines of:

• December 3, 2007 for siblings who desire a February 8 admissions decision mailed with reenrollment.

• January 18, 2008 for applications, fees and tuition assistance forms for new applicants.

We suggest that you submit your application at your earliest convenience in order to receive a convenient assessment date. Applications submitted on the deadline day will have fewer choices of assessment days and times.

Assessments

Student assessments are scheduled by the Admissions Office upon the submission of application materials. Every effort will be made to accommodate requests by parents for a specific date. Not all dates are available for each grade level. The dates for enrollment for the 2007-2008 school year are:

• Saturday, December 16, 2007 Kindergarten and 6th grade

• Saturday, January 12, 2008 Kindergarten and 6th Grade

• Saturday, January 26, 2008 Kindergarten and 6th Grade

• Saturday, February 2, 2008 Kindergarten and 6th Grade

• Saturday, February 9, 2008 Grades 1st–5th, Middle School and K and 6th make-up.

Kindergarten Assessment

Kindergarten applicants come for a small group assessment where St. Paul’s teachers observe each child’s readiness to begin the Kindergarten program. Students are asked to separate from their parents and come into the Kindergarten classroom where they spend 90 minutes doing typical readiness activities such as story time, center work, free play and a physical education activity. Kindergarten parents are asked to stay on site. While they are waiting, the School invites them for coffee on the mezzanine to meet other St. Paul’s parents and hear from Head of School Karan Merry. The teachers bring the children to the parents at the end of their assessment activities.

Sixth Grade and Middle School Assessment

Sixth grade and middle school assessments take place on Saturday mornings from 9am to noon. Students participate in a cooperative group activity and literature discussion group and complete math and writing assessments. Parents are not required to stay on campus, but are invited for coffee on the mezzanine to meet other St. Paul’s parents and hear from Head of School Karan Merry. Parents meet their children on the mezzanine at the completion of their assessment.

Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)

St. Paul’s requires the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam). For those students who take this exam for another school application, St. Paul’s asks to have the School code (#054231) included on the schools’ reporting list.

Student Class Visitation

Students applying to grades 6-8 are usually scheduled for a half-day visit. We begin scheduling visits in November. Please call the Admissions Office once your application has been submitted.