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 Tour and Interview 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. 

List of 3 items.

  • + Apply: Beginners, Kindergarten, Grade I & II

    Application steps continued from above: 
    • 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.
    • Register for the observational playgroup in Ravenna 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 III–V

    Application steps continued from above: 
    • 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.
    • 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 January 15, 2027.

  • + Apply: Grade VI–VIII

    Application steps continued from above: 

    • 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.
    • 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 January 15, 2027.
    • For Grade VII & Grade VIII: Submit your child's standardized testing score reports (MCAS, ISEE, or SSAT)

KEY DATES

Shady Hill School Fair: October 24, 2026 - 10:00AM–3:00PM
Open House: November 1, 2026 - 1:00PM–3:00PM
Middle School Student Tour & Parents Coffee:
December 4, 2026 - 8:45AM–9:45AM
December 12, 2026 - 8:45AM–9:45AM
January 8, 2027 - 8:45AM–9:45AM
Financial Aid Webinar: December 17, 2026 - 12:00PM–1:00PM
Beginners & Kindergarten Playgroup:
January 9, 2027 - 9:00AM / 11:00AM / 1:30PM
January 23, 2027 - 9:00AM / 11:00AM
January 30, 2027 - 9:00AM / 11:00AM
Admissions Observation Day (For Grade III–VIII): January 15, 2027 (Half-Day Morning Visit)
Application Deadline: January 15, 2027
Financial Aid Application Deadline: January 15, 2027
Grade I & Grade II Playgroup:
January 23, 2027 - 1:30PM–2:30PM
January 30, 2027 - 1:30–2:30PM
Admission & Financial Aid Decision Release Day: March 10, 2027
Admitted Family Enrollment Deadline: April 10, 2027
617.520.5260      178 Coolidge Hill  Cambridge MA 02138           Association of Independent Schools in New England