This guide covers how admission works: which grades open real places, which portals and tests each school uses, how visits and interviews work, and how to weigh offers. For when each step happens, use the companion Seattle admissions timeline, which holds the month-by-month plan and every school’s Fall 2027 dates.
Three doors, equal seriousness
Kindergarten, Grade 6, and Grade 9 are different projects.
| Entry | Verified routes | Typical child-facing work | Parent decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Bush, Bertschi, Seattle Country Day, Evergreen, Villa, FASPS, and Annie Wright publish K routes. Bush identifies K as a main entry; SCDS identifies K among its main entries; Villa names K as a main entry. | Play, classroom, or discovery activity; teacher evaluation; records if applicable; and family conversation. SCDS also requires age-appropriate Wechsler testing; this is not the norm across all K schools. | Can the child separate, join, rest, eat, and recover from the commute? Does aftercare work? Is this a K–5, K–8, or K–12 commitment—and does the family want that structure? |
| Grade 6 | Bush, Lakeside, UPrep, SAAS, Northwest, Eastside Prep, Overlake, Forest Ridge, SCDS, Evergreen, Villa, FASPS, Hamlin Robinson, and Annie Wright publish Grade 6 paths. Eastside Prep publishes 18 new Grade 6 places plus 36 continuing Grade 5 students; Overlake publishes 32 Grade 6 places. | Student visit or group activity, recommendations, records, writing or interview, and school-specific testing. Ownership shifts toward the student, but adults still manage the system. | Is the child entering a K–8 endpoint, a 6–12 runway, or a K–12 school? Does the program fit early adolescence now—not merely simplify Grade 9 later? |
| Grade 9 | Bush, Lakeside, UPrep, SAAS, Northwest, Eastside Prep, Overlake, Forest Ridge, Annie Wright, Seattle Prep, and Holy Names publish Grade 9 paths. Eastside Prep publishes roughly 35–40 new places; Overlake publishes 25–30. These are seats, not odds. | Student-authored writing, interviews or visits, English/math recommendations, records, and testing that ranges from required HSPT or SSAT/ISEE to test-flexible or optional. | Can the teenager explain what they want without reciting an adult script? Is the choice independent day, Catholic, all- girls, international/IB, or day/boarding—and what tradeoff is the student knowingly making? |
At Kindergarten, prepare the child for the shape of the day, such as who will greet them and when you return, not for rehearsed answers. At Grade 6, ask the child to name what helps them learn and what they want to try next.
At Grade 9, the strongest file connects transcript, recommendations, activities, and student writing without pretending perfection. An athlete can explain practice, leadership, and recovery from a setback; an artist can show sustained work and curiosity. Schools are asking whether the young person will use the opportunities and contribute to the cohort.
Dates and deadlines
The dates live on the timeline page.
Most schools here share the PSIS January 14 application date, but Seattle Prep and Holy Names close earlier, and decision dates run from early February to late March. The Seattle timeline has the month-by-month plan and each school’s exact dates.
Representative field, not a ranking
Use school-specific facts to build contrast into the list.
Each school’s Fall 2027 deadlines and decision dates are in the timeline’s school table.
| School / geography | Grades in scope | Portal, testing, and visits |
|---|---|---|
| Bush · Madison Valley | K, 6, 9; K–12 independent day | Aryval; visits by division; test-flexible for Grades 5–12. |
| Lakeside · North Seattle | 6, 9; reconfiguring to Grades 6–12 for Fall 2027 | Aryval; SSAT/ISEE required for Grades 6 and 9; middle activity, Grade 9 interview; family forms and the full file have separate deadlines. |
| University Prep · Wedgwood | 6, 9; Grades 6–12 independent day | Aryval, test-flexible, optional parent meeting; common PSIS decision dates. |
| Seattle Academy · Capitol Hill | 6, 9; Grades 6–12 independent day | Aryval and the PSIS application date, but decisions come earlier than the PSIS common dates. |
| Northwest · Capitol Hill / First Hill | 6, 9; Grades 6–12 day and 5-/7-day boarding | Aryval; priority deadline, then review if space remains; test optional; Grade 9 interview optional; boarding is a distinct application and life choice. Apply for aid with the application. |
| Eastside Prep · Kirkland | 6, 9; Grades 5–12 independent day | Aryval; published Grade 6 and Grade 9 entry growth; common PSIS decision dates. |
| Overlake · Redmond | 6, 9; Grades 5–12 independent day | Aryval, opening later than most; required but flexible recent testing; Grade 6 activity and Grade 9 paired interview. |
| Forest Ridge · Bellevue | 6, 9; Grades 5–12 all-girls, independent Catholic Sacred Heart | Current Fall 2027 visit events; main entry grades 5, 6, and 9 on the school's prior-cycle process page. |
| Annie Wright · North Tacoma | K, 6, 9; day K–12, Grade 9 boarding, IB across divisions | myAW portal; division-specific visit, interview, and in-house assessment; international boarding can also use SAO. |
| Seattle Prep · Capitol Hill | 9; Jesuit, coeducational Grades 9–12 | Veracross; HSPT, application video, school forms; optional Panther visit; earlier Catholic calendar. |
| Holy Names Academy · Central Seattle | 9; all-girls Catholic Grades 9–12 | Finalsite portal; HSPT; visit day; earlier Catholic calendar. Current page lists morning-only bus service for most routes and one West Seattle afternoon route. |
| Seattle Country Day · Queen Anne | K, 6; K–8 school for gifted learners | Ravenna; Wechsler testing for all applicants; K and Grade 6 have grade-specific family and student steps. The school publishes roughly 60 new students across all K–8 grades, not per-grade odds. |
| Hamlin Robinson · North Beacon Hill | 6; specialized Grades 1–8 | Inquiry and parent tour precede application access. A dyslexia diagnosis is not required. HRS explicitly says it does not provide 1:1 academic, behavior, social-skills, or emotional-regulation intervention. |
| FASPS · Mercer Island | K, 6; bilingual French-American preschool–Grade 8 | Ravenna; family discussion, records/recommendations, K discovery morning or class visit; no prior French required. |
| Bertschi · Capitol Hill | K; pre-K–Grade 5 independent day | Aryval; PSIS common application. |
| Evergreen · Shoreline | K, 6; preschool–Grade 8 for highly capable learners | Aryval; testing is part of K–7 process, with test-flexible language for Grades 5–7. |
| Villa Academy · NE Seattle | K, 6; preschool–Grade 8, independent Catholic/Cabrinian | Aryval; K play session; Grade 6 shadow; test-flexible, holistic review. |
Portals and common forms
“Common application” does not mean “submit once.”
PSIS says more than 40 member schools participate in the regional association and that its members are affiliated with NWAIS. For the 2026–27 admission season, PSIS is beta-testing Aryval with a named group of schools while other members continue on Ravenna or another system. PSIS also warns that although evaluation questions may be common, recommenders can receive requests from multiple platforms.
| Portal | Schools in this guide | Family implication |
|---|---|---|
| Aryval beta | PSIS currently lists Bertschi, Eastside Prep, Forest Ridge, Lakeside, Seattle Waldorf, St. Thomas, Bush, Evergreen, Little School, Meridian, Northwest, Overlake, UCo-op, UPrep, and Villa, among others. | Expect beta-process friction. Forest Ridge's own process page still says Ravenna. |
| Ravenna | Seattle Country Day and FASPS | One login does not erase school-specific supplements, visits, testing, or aid. Check the year and grade in every account. |
| School systems | Annie Wright myAW, Seattle Prep Veracross, Holy Names Finalsite | Separate deadlines and recommendation workflows. A “complete” status in one system says nothing about another. |
| Enrolled-family portals | Seattle Country Day (SCDS) families sign in through a Veracross community login | The applicant account and the family portal are different systems: SCDS applications run through Ravenna, and the Veracross login is for the school community after enrollment. |
| Clarity / SSS | Clarity is common for aid; Seattle Prep currently uses SSS | Admission and aid are parallel files. Add both parents or households when required, upload supplements, and confirm the school received the report. |
Build recommendation requests around the teacher, not around the parent’s portal count. Give the recommender a school list, the form type, each system, the earliest completion date, and permission to say no. Do not write the letter, offer a gift, or ask the teacher to predict admission.
Request records through the current school’s normal process; do not upload an unofficial screenshot when a school asks for records sent directly. Check the status once, then let admissions, not the teacher, resolve a portal mismatch.
| Layer | What may live there | What to save |
|---|---|---|
| Admissions portal | Inquiry, family form, student form, visits, status | Submitted PDF, receipt, and the checklist after refresh |
| School-record workflow | Transcript, attendance, administrator and teacher forms | Request date and school-office confirmation |
| Testing provider | SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, or cognitive assessment registration | Correct recipient, score-release rule, and test date |
| Aid portal | Tax returns, household forms, business documents, waiver | School-specific completion page, not only upload receipts |
Testing, interviews, and visits
The label “holistic” does not make the requirements uniform.
| Approach | Verified examples | How to respond |
|---|---|---|
| Required standardized testing | Lakeside requires SSAT or ISEE for Grades 6 and 9. Seattle Country Day requires Wechsler testing for applicants, with WPPSI-IV for younger children and WISC-V for older students. | Register early, request documented accommodations early, and follow each school's score-validity window. Do not repeatedly retest a young child to chase a number. |
| HSPT | Seattle Prep uses the HSPT as one part of admission and for placement. Holy Names uses it for admission, placement, and scholarship consideration. | Follow the Catholic high-school calendar. |
| Test-flexible / recent score | Bush accepts recent standardized results and describes Grades 5–12 as test-flexible. Overlake requires a score but accepts several recent instruments, including school-administered tests. Villa is test-flexible. UPrep is test-flexible. | “Flexible” is not “irrelevant.” Submit what the checklist asks for, not an engineered portfolio of every score a child has. |
| Test optional | Northwest makes scores optional. UPrep permits optional testing and psychoeducational material. | Decide whether a score adds useful context. Never hide a learning profile if the school needs it to judge support fit. |
| In-house assessment | Annie Wright uses division-specific academic assessment; HRS reviews the full learning record after inquiry and parent tour. | Normal familiarity is enough; scripting defeats the purpose. |
| Age-appropriate visit | Bush publishes K, Grade 6, and upper visits. Villa uses a K play session and Grade 6 shadow. Overlake uses a Grade 6 group activity and Grade 9 paired interview. SCDS publishes exact 2027 student-visit dates. | Tell the child the format and logistics, then stop. Schools need to meet the real student; children need permission to ask their own questions. |
School by school, the details matter. Lakeside accepts one SSAT or ISEE score set, lets Grades 10–11 applicants use certain college-readiness tests instead, and says it will not hold private family meetings or review supplementary materials. More contact is not a strategy there.
Bush accepts eligible results from the prior two school years. The grade also changes the visit: a Kindergarten child visit is not the same process as the Grade 5 test visit, Grade 6 visit, or Upper School visit. UPrep asks for a transcript, teacher evaluations, an administrator form, a test-flexible score, and an in-person faculty assessment; it offers free interpretation.
Northwest requires English-proficiency evidence for international applicants, and Overlake gives Grade 9 applicants English and math evaluations. “Test-optional,” “test-flexible,” “school assessment,” and “no test” are four different rules.
Interviews and child visits are two-way evidence
A child should know the format, who will meet them, and when the parent returns. They should not memorize a self-advertisement. For an older student, one honest example of curiosity, contribution, and a setback is more revealing than a list of adjectives. Parents can ask direct questions about learning, conduct, faith, arts access, athletics, and support without turning the meeting into a pitch.
If a disability affects an assessment or visit, ask for access before the event and distinguish access from a request to change what is being evaluated. Share current documentation when it affects the school’s ability to serve the child. An application that conceals a material need can win a place that fails in September.
Test registration dates and score windows are on the timeline page.
Bush explicitly asks for authentic student work and says applicants should not use AI help. That is a useful rule everywhere: adults can manage logistics and proofread within stated rules, but the student's voice and work must remain the student's.
Cost and aid basics
Admission and aid are parallel files.
Aid runs in its own portal, usually Clarity, beside the admissions portal described above. No application is complete for an aid-dependent family until admissions and aid both show complete at the school.
Current cost, aid systems, complex households, and contracts are compared in the Seattle aid and decisions guide; aid deadlines are on the timeline.
Decision week
An admission is permission to choose, not proof you should enroll.
| Read | Compare | Ask before signing |
|---|---|---|
| Enrollment contract | Deposit, binding date, withdrawal terms, payment schedule | When does the financial obligation become nonrefundable? |
| Aid award | Net tuition, covered extras, sibling assumptions, renewal | What change in income, assets, or family structure can change the award? What is not covered? |
| Support plan | Approved accommodations, services, frequency, extra fees | Who owns the plan on day one? |
| Transportation | Morning, normal return, late return, disruption backup | Is a seat confirmed—or only a route proposed? |
| Student voice | Belonging, challenge, identity, energy, willingness | What is the child excited to move toward, and what are they knowingly giving up? |
A wait pool is not a soft promise. UPrep explicitly describes its pool as unranked and says families must opt in; Northwest and Bush explain that an admissible student can be held when the school cannot fund the demonstrated need. Keep a viable enrolled option while waiting and observe update rules.
Separate an admissions wait pool from an aid constraint. A school may judge a student admissible yet lack enough grant budget; another may withhold an offer it knows the family cannot use. Ask which situation applies, whether the student must opt in, and what updates are welcome. Do not ask for rank information the school does not provide; UPrep, for example, says it does not give application feedback.
When decisions arrive and how reply dates collide is on the timeline page.
The most selective act is saying no to an impossible family system.
Seattle families overpay attention to school reputation and underprice geography. The strongest list is not the longest or most famous. It contains schools with real entry seats, support that matches the disclosed child, net cost the household can sustain, and a commute that leaves the student enough life to learn.
Schools should make dates, seat structure, fees, aid scope, support limits, and routes legible. Parents should be candid about needs, finances, and travel. That shared honesty is not a concession in a competitive process; it is the best protection against a costly, exhausting mismatch.
Sources and further research
Where to verify and keep reading
We favor direct links to the exact page or document a family may need next. Access dates matter because admissions, tuition, leadership, and programs change.
- Puget Sound Independent Schools
Puget Sound Independent Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 common application, decision, and reply dates
- Common Application
Puget Sound Independent Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 Aryval beta and common-form details
- About PSIS
Puget Sound Independent Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Fall Fair
Puget Sound Independent Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Stale 2025 fair page as of access; not used as a Fall 2027 date
- Applying to Bush
The Bush School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 application, visits, records, and testing
- Admissions FAQs
The Bush School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Entry grades, transportation, and admissions calendar
- Tuition and Financial Aid
The Bush School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and Fall 2027 aid deadline
- Admissions Events
The Bush School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Support Services
The Bush School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · K–12 learning support and accommodation boundaries
- Application Process
Lakeside School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Grade 6–8 and Grade 9 requirements
- Admissions FAQ
Lakeside School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Mixed grade configuration language; use with current application page
- Tuition and Financial Aid
Lakeside School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 cost and Fall 2027 aid dates
- Transportation
Lakeside School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Contact Us
Lakeside School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Current learning-resource and counseling staff directory
- Application
University Prep · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 dates and Aryval process
- Admission FAQ
University Prep · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Tuition and Fees
University Prep · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition; Fall 2027 tuition not yet posted
- Financial Aid Q&A
University Prep · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Aid process; fee/waiver details conflict with application page
- Integrated Learning
University Prep · Accessed August 31, 2026
- How to Apply
Seattle Academy · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 deadlines that differ from PSIS common dates
- Tuition and Financial Aid
Seattle Academy · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Learning Support and Accommodations
Seattle Academy · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Application Process
The Northwest School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 day and boarding application details
- Affording Northwest
The Northwest School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition; aid dates on page are prior-cycle
- Admissions
The Northwest School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Applying to EPS
Eastside Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 process; aid date conflicts by one day with FAQ
- Frequently Asked Questions
Eastside Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 dates and published entry-seat context
- Apply for Financial Aid
Eastside Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Apply
The Overlake School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 dates, entry points, testing, and visits
- Affording Overlake
The Overlake School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and Fall 2027 aid deadline; page has a year typo
- Begin Your Journey
The Overlake School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Transportation FAQ
The Overlake School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Current service framework; Fall 2027 routes not yet posted
- How to Apply
Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Prior-cycle deadlines and Ravenna language
- Visit Forest Ridge
Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Current Fall 2027 visit events
- Affording Forest Ridge
Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and Fall 2027 aid deadline
- 2026–27 Family Resources
Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Prior-year transportation and device information
- Admissions Process
Seattle Country Day School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 K and Grade 6 requirements
- Admissions FAQs
Seattle Country Day School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Entry grades and transportation
- Testing Information
Seattle Country Day School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Student Visit Day
Seattle Country Day School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 visit dates and structure
- Tuition and Financial Aid
Seattle Country Day School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and non-tuition costs
- Transportation Options
Seattle Country Day School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Inquire and Apply
Bertschi School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Aryval application and deadline
- Tuition and Financial Aid
Bertschi School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and Fall 2027 aid dates
- Quick Facts
Bertschi School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Application Process
The Evergreen School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 application and testing; fair date appears mistyped
- Affording Evergreen
The Evergreen School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and aid scope
- Applying to Villa
Villa Academy · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Aryval process, visits, and testing policy
- Admissions FAQ
Villa Academy · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Entry points and age requirement
- Tuition and Financial Assistance
Villa Academy · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and supplemental aid
- About Villa
Villa Academy · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Applying to FASPS
French American School of Puget Sound · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Current process; Fall 2027 deadline not published on page
- Tuition and Financial Aid
French American School of Puget Sound · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition; Fall 2027 aid deadline not published
- The FASPS Educational Approach
French American School of Puget Sound · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Transportation
French American School of Puget Sound · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Route details remain labeled 2025–26
- School Services
French American School of Puget Sound · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Bus and extended-day framework; school-year label unclear
- Tours and Events
French American School of Puget Sound · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 admissions events
- How to Apply
Hamlin Robinson School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 deadlines for Grades 1–8
- Tuition and Tuition Assistance
Hamlin Robinson School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition; aid deadline section is prior-cycle
- Who We Serve
Hamlin Robinson School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Program scope and support boundaries
- Admissions FAQs
Hamlin Robinson School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Student profile, application sequence, and transportation
- Visit Us
Hamlin Robinson School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Transition to High School
Hamlin Robinson School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- How to Apply
Annie Wright Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 K, Grade 6, Grade 9, day, and boarding process
- Tuition and Financial Aid
Annie Wright Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 full cost and Fall 2027 aid date
- Visit Annie Wright
Annie Wright Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Apply to Prep
Seattle Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Grade 9 process and dates
- Admissions FAQ
Seattle Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · HSPT role, visit, decision date, and Learning Resource Center
- Tuition and Tuition Assistance
Seattle Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and additional costs
- Transportation
Seattle Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- How to Apply
Holy Names Academy · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Grade 9 dates, HSPT, tuition, and aid
- Admissions FAQs
Holy Names Academy · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Transportation
Holy Names Academy · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 shuttle details; Fall 2027 routes not yet posted
- Link light rail opens across Lake Washington
Sound Transit · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Current 1 Line / 2 Line regional connection
- Schedules and Maps
Sound Transit · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Washington State Ferries
Washington State Department of Transportation · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Live schedules, status, and alerts
- Ferry Schedules
Washington State Department of Transportation · Accessed August 31, 2026
- SR 520 Bridge Tolling
Washington State Department of Transportation · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Youth Ride Transit for Free
King County Metro / ORCA · Accessed August 31, 2026