At independent schools, you’ll find extraordinary teachers, small class sizes, and an environment where teachers nurture and stimulate students’ intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and critical thinking skills. Even though different independent schools have their own unique educational mission, all independent school share common values put forth by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). All members of Puget Sound Independent Schools are either accredited members or candidate members of NWAIS.

Each school will work with your family to get to know you and your child well during the application process. You’ll answer questions, you’ll ask questions, the schools will engage with your kid in a way that helps him or her feel comfortable so that everyone can get to know each other. And you’ll feel it – the sense of what each of the schools are about. Even though they’re all independent, they’re all different as well.

“Can you see your child being successful at this school?” That’s the number one piece of advice experts have for families looking at schools. After all, most parents’ main goal in choosing a new school for their child is to ensure a well-rounded education and a creative, nurturing environment for learning and growth.

School life becomes a huge part of your family’s life, one that extends beyond classroom hours. It’s important to consider all the factors that come with a new school environment: commute, volunteer hours, parent requirements, the school’s culture of philanthropy, etc. Does this school fit with your family’s lifestyle?

In the end, most parents recommend choosing a well-rounded school that meets a child’s learning patterns and behaviors. You have to be on board with the school's mission, but in the end, the school has to mesh with your child.

Seasonal admissions

Families come to the admission process at different times of the year, so it is important that you are communicate with the individual schools that interest you to make sure you understand the process. Generally speaking, the typical admissions season occurs in the fall and winter.

Sept-Jan: Gathering of information

Schools have Open Houses, Tours, and Information Sessions to promote their programs and welcome families to explore their campuses. Before submitting applications, it is a good idea to explore a variety of schools. From a school’s perspective, this is when they are being interviewed. The goal is to give families a snapshot of what it is like to be a family at their school. Some Open Houses are geared more for kids, some more for adults. Some schools only host tours; some have several events for prospective families.

Take time after each event and reflect with your student: what was appealing, what didn’t you see and needs follow-up, and how did your experiences differ? Most families decide whether or not they are applying to a school shortly after their Open House experience.

Dec-Jan: Apply to Schools

Once you have decided which schools you’d like to pursue, it’s time to start applications. You will probably notice that the PSIS schools share some deadlines and use some common forms. However, some deadlines will be different from school to school (especially for financial aid). It can be helpful to put all of these deadlines on your home calendar or create a document with all of the pertinent deadlines.

It might help to complete the applications in pieces. Using your deadline calendar, first complete the basic application for each school and submit the application fee. Sending in the basic application without the supplemental materials gets the process started, and it also allows the schools to contact you to arrange student or parent interviews. If application fees are a challenge for your family, contact the Financial Aid officers at the schools to request a fee waiver.

Essays: Essays are usually required for Middle and High Schools. Schools compare these polished home essays (they should represent the student’s best schoolwork) to the essay prompt the students write in the ISEE or the SSAT. Home essays should be the student’s own work and should be edited and revised. Admissions officers can tell when a parent has helped too much. Ask your student questions about what they wrote so they can clarify their main points.

Visits and Interviews: In many cases, there will be observation days required for your student to complete the application process. Some schools allow parents to select their visit day, and others will contact you to schedule a date for an observation day or interview after you submit your basic application. Some schools observe or interview just the student; other schools also interview the parents/guardians. The true purpose of these visits is to get to know your child better and to assess their readiness for the school program. The parent interview is also another way for parents to learn more about each school one-on-one.

Feb-March: Receive admissions decisions

PSIS schools will send out admissions decisions in February and March. High Schools have the option to notify families of decisions in February. Elementary schools, middle schools, and some high schools deliver decisions in March on a common date.

After the standard admission season is over, schools may accept applications on a rolling admission basis. This typically occurs if they still have space to fill in a grade or if the family would like to be in the school’s wait pool. Rolling admission means the school will make an admission decision as soon as they have a complete file.

End of March: Pick your school and get excited!

With your acceptance letter, you will receive an enrollment contract. Schools require a signed enrollment contract and deposit check to secure your child’s space for the coming year.

How To Start

More and more families every year are looking for educational options. Small schools, single gender schools, parochial schools… all come at a cost, and all schools want to make this education affordable to the broadest range of students. When making your initial inquiries regarding admission, be sure to ask about financial aid if that is something you are curious about. Inquiring about financial aid early in the process will insure you are on a school’s mailing list and that you are aware of the different deadlines, materials, and events. It’s important to note that financial aid programs differ from school to school.

Questions To Ask

Does your financial aid cover 100% of tuition?

What costs beyond tuition can I expect? (Books, “school fees,” supplies, etc.)

Does your school offer non-tuition aid? (Books, sports, field trips, transportation, after school programs, clubs, etc.)

Does the school offer free and reduced lunch?

Do I have to pay tuition in one lump sum or can I make payments?

Other than the basic financial aid application, what other documentation do I need to submit to qualify for financial aid?

What are your deadlines? Are they the same as the admissions application deadlines?

Will applying for financial aid affect my student’s admissions application?

If admitted, how would my student’s grades affect his financial aid?

Do you offer a sibling discount?

What To Do

You should check with each school to determine what their financial aid application process looks like. Most schools in the Seattle area will use a third party financial needs assessment systems, such as School and Student Services (SSS), or Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST). Schools will provide links to their financial aid applications on their websites, which is the best way to start.

You are encouraged to be as honest and forthcoming about your family’s financial circumstances as possible to ensure that the financial aid officer can make an accurate assessment of your need. Each school recognizes that all information you provide is of a sensitive and private nature. All correspondence is kept confidential and paperwork remains secure.