Admission

How to Apply & Key Dates

how to apply

A Shady Hill student is curious, adventurous, and eager to learn. Would you like to join us?
Shady Hill uses the Ravenna platform for our admission application. For information about our financial aid application process, please see the Tuition & Financial Aid page. All applicants for admission must follow the steps below. As each step is completed, you will see it checked off in your Ravenna account.

  1. Complete the Inquiry Form in Ravenna
  2. Schedule a Parent/Guardian in Ravenna. 
  3. Complete the application in Ravenna. 
  4. A non-refundable application fee of $50 is required to submit the application. Fee waivers are available to applicants for whom the application fee poses a financial hardship. Please email us at admission@shs.org.
  5. Ask your current school to send us any reports they produced in the past two years and whatever is available for this year. Some schools may require a “Records Request Form” in order to send us the materials. You can print one from your Ravenna application and bring it to your current school. If your child has never attended a school, we will waive the requirement for reports.

Click on the grade you are applying to below to see the additional requirements for that age group. Please note that students must be at least 4 years old on September 1 of their entry year in order to be considered for admission. 

List of 3 items.

  • + Apply: Beginners–Grade I

    Application steps continued from above: 

    1. Ask your child’s current classroom teacher to complete a recommendation form for you. Email/delegate the form to the teacher from within ravenna. Shady Hill participates in the Boston-Area Common Recommendation Forms which allows your teacher to submit just one recommendation form for multiple schools. If your child has never attended a school, we will waive this requirement.
    2. Register for the observational playgroup in Ravenna no later December 23 and complete the visit in January. This visit is an opportunity for us to learn more about your child! They will spend time playing with peers as well as participating in one-on-one time with one of our teachers. 

    Beginner applicants must be 4 years old by September 1.
    Kindergarten applicants must be 5 years old by September 1.

  • + Apply: Grade II–V

    Application steps continued from above: 

    6.  Ask your child’s current classroom teacher to complete a recommendation form for you. Email/delegate the form to the teacher from within ravenna. Shady Hill participates in the Boston-Area Common Recommendation Forms which allows your teacher to submit just one recommendation form for multiple schools. 

    7. Attend Shady Hill’s observational Admission Day. During this event students will spend time with their peers in a classroom setting and also complete a series of screening tests with one of our teachers. This event will take place in mid-January.

  • + Apply: Grade VI–VIII

    Application steps continued from above: 

    6.  Ask your child’s current math and English teachers to complete the teacher recommendation form for you. Teachers help us understand how your child participates in the classroom. Also ask the School Administrator (Principal, Division Head) to complete the form designated for them. The School Administrator helps us understand more broadly how the student participates in the school community and overall program.  Email/delegate the form to these individuals from within Ravenna. Shady Hill participates in the Boston-Area Common Recommendation Forms group which allows your teacher to submit just one recommendation form for multiple schools. 

    7. Attend Shady Hill’s observational Admission Day. During this event students will spend time with their peers in a classroom setting and also complete a series of screening tests with one of our teachers. This event will take place in mid-January.

KEY DATES

Sibling Application Deadline: TBD
Admissions Observation Day: TBD
Beginners & Kindergarten Applicants Play Date: Sign up before December 23
Application application deadline: January 15
Interview deadline: January 15
Financial Aid application deadline: February 1
Shady Hill Admission & Financial Aid Decision Release Day: March 10
Admitted Family Enrollment Deadline: April 10
617.520.5260      178 Coolidge Hill  Cambridge MA 02138           Association of Independent Schools in New England