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School for Children

Admissions: Application Process

We accept and welcome applications at all grade levels. Our Nursery program (3s) is one class of 16 children. The Pre-Kindergarten (4/5s) class is the main entry point since we expand the grade to two classes of 20. In Kindergarten (the 5/6s), we do increase the grade size; the number of students accepted varies though from year to year depending on the number of current students. Applications at other grade levels are processed if places are available.

  • Apply

    Applying to the School for Children is easy. Either apply online (application fee payment by credit card only), or download our Application Form [PDF] (payment by check). If you are using the downloadable application, you must also download the Transcript Release Form and the appropriate Confidential School Report Form:

    The Confidential School Report Form must be given to your child's current school to be completed and sent to Bank Street directly via email (sfcadmissions@bankstreet.edu), fax (212-875-4733) or mail: Bank Street School for Children Admissions 610 West 112th Street Suite 200 NY, NY 10025. 

    The application fee of $60 is a processing fee and is non-refundable as long as your application is processed.

    The admissions process usually begins in the fall of the year prior to enrollment with applications due by December 1. Although the application deadline has passed, we are still accepting applications for specific grades. If you are interested in applying, please call the admissions office to inquire about the grade/s in which you are applying.We accept applications depending on the availability of space in a particular grade.

    The Admissions Office will schedule a child visit and parent interview after the Application Form is submitted. 

    Additional application materials must be submitted no later than January 20.

  • Open House

    Attendance at an Open House is an important step in the application process. The evening event lasts approximately 2 hours from 6:30-8:30 PM with a general overview of the school: a presentation by the Dean of the School for Children;  a short film that provides a “fly on the wall” experience of the three academic divisions; as well as a tour of the facility with a parent/student team.

    Although we are not hosting any Spring Tours this season, we will be hosting three Open Houses in the fall which we welcome you to attend. The dates of the Open Houses are: October 9th, October 16th and October 29th. You will be able to register for an Open House online after September 3, 2012. Thank you for your patience and we look forward to seeing you in the fall.

Important

Although we try to see as many families as we can that apply, it is not possible for us to interview all of them. If we do process your application, we will call you soon to schedule a tour and interview. If we do not process your application at this time, we will call contact you if an interview slot becomes available. If your application is not processed by mid-February, we will return your application fee.

In addition, Bank Street makes a genuine effort to maintain a good racial and gender balance in its classes.  Consequently, since the 3s program has only 16 places (8 boys and 8 girls), we are not able to schedule tours and interviews for all of the applications we receive. If we do not schedule an interview for you at this time, we will notify you soon and return the application fee.

We are able to process many more applications for our 4/5s class (Prekindergarten) since we expand the enrollment from one class of 16 to two classes of 20 children each. If we do not proceed with the admissions process this year, we look forward to seeing you next year.

Next Steps

The following steps apply only to applications that will be processed.

  • Step 1: Child Visits

    Children’s visits vary in terms of length as well as expectations according to the grade to which they are applying.  More specific information is provided below.

    Nursery Program (3s):

    • one parent accompanies their child in play in the 3s classroom for 40 minutes

    Parent tour followed by an interview occurs at a later time.

     

    Prekindergarten (4/5s), Kindergarten (5/6s), and First Grade (6/7s):

    • Visits are scheduled for 1 hour on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays depending on the age group
    • Children are in groups of 4 – 6
    • Visits are play-based – children engage in a variety of activities, some of their own initiative and others at the interviewer’s request. Activities include:
      • Exploration/ play with materials in the room
      • Puzzles
      • Drawing
      • Listening to a story
      • Snack

    Parents tour the school during their child’s visit and schedule an interview at a later date.

     

    Second Grade (7/8s) through Fourth Grade (9/10s):

    • The visits are scheduled for approximately 1 ½ hours on Thursday mornings
    • Groups consist of 3 -4 children applying to the same grade
    • Children go on a brief tour of the school and then spend time working on materials involving reading, writing, and math
    • Children then spend ½ hour visiting a classroom

    Parents tour the school during their child’s visit and schedule an interview at a later date.

     

    Fifth Grade (10/11s) through Seventh Grade (12/13s):

    • Visits are scheduled for approximately 2 ½ hours on Monday mornings
    • Student Hosts greet applicants and take them on a brief tour of the school and then bring them to their 1st period class
    • Applicants meet with the Division Coordinator of the Upper School for 20 minutes
    • Applicants work on reading, writing, and math materials with several faculty members

    Parents briefly tour the Upper School floor and then spend time observing various Upper School classes.  Parents will also have an opportunity to meet with the Division Director of the Upper School at some point during your child’s visit.

  • Step 2: Parent Classroom Observations (tour) and Interviews

    Parent Visits (1. Parent Classroom Observation and 2. Parent Interview):

    1. Parent Classroom Observation (tour):

    • During the child’s visit (except for the 3s), parents are invited to learn more about the program by experiencing firsthand what takes place in a classroom on any particular day.
    • The Visitor Coordinator places parents in a classroom in each of the 3 Divisions for 10 – 15 minutes in order to get a good overview of the educational approach through the years.
    • An Admissions Booklet with A Focused Observation Guide helps parents get the most out of their visit
    • Every effort is made to place parents in the grade to which they are applying

     

    2. Parent Interview:

    • Interviews are scheduled after the child’s visit and parent’s classroom observation at a later date (except for Upper School applicants)
    • Both parents are encouraged to come to the interview
    • The interview provides an opportunity to get to know the family better, discuss what they are looking for in a school, and answer any questions they may have about the educational program, classroom visit, Open House, etc.
  • Step 3: Additional Required Application Materials

    The Transcript Release Form and the appropriate Confidential School Report Form (3s and 4/5s), (5/6s and 6/7s), (7/8s and Up) must be given to your child's current school to be completed and sent to Bank Street directly via email (sfcadmissions@bankstreet.edu), fax (212-875-4733) or mail: Bank Street School for Children Admissions 610 West 112th Street Suite 200 NY, NY 10025

    Applicants for the 2nd Grade (7/8s) through 8th Grade (13/14s) must also send last year's school report, as well as a corrected written school assignment from a current class.

  • Step 4: Testing

    Formal admissions testing (ERB) is not required for applicants applying for 3s (Nursery) through 4th Grade (9/10s).

    Applicants applying to the 5th Grade (10/11s) through 8th Grade (13/14s) are asked to schedule the ISEE test administered by the Educational Records Bureau. 

  • Step 5: Financial Aid Forms if applicable

    If you are interested in applying for a financial aid award, please indicate so on your application for admissions and a member of the admissions office will contact you with information about the application process. Financial aid applications must be completed using the TADS website by January 1.

  • Step 6: Additional Information

    Admissions FAQs [PDF]

    School for Children FAQs [PDF]

    After School and Summer Camp Programs [PDF]

    Community and Diversity - Who We Are [PDF]

    The Benefits of a Nursery Through Eighth-Grade Education (High School and College Lists) [PDF]

    The Power of Progressive Education [PDF]

    Progressive Education in Context: Volume I [PDF]

    Progressive Education in Context: Volume II [PDF]