Applying to SPA
We are pleased that you are interested in St. Paul Academy and Summit School, and look forward to getting to know you better throughout the admission process!
Steps for visiting campus, getting to know the SPA community, and completing your application are below. The deadline for submitting a completed application is February 1, 2020. Families will be notified of admission decisions by April 3, 2020.
- 1. Request Information
- 2. Visit Our Campuses
- 3. Attend a Open House
- 4. Grade-Specific Application Guidelines
- 5. Complete the Application
1. Request Information
Request an Admission Information Packet online that you will received by mail. Please read through all the material in the packet, which will include information about SPA's curriculum, programs and culture.
2. Visit Our Campuses
Explore Grades K-5 with a tour of the Goodrich Campus (Grades K-5). Explore Grades 6-12 with tour of the Randolph Campus by contacting us by phone or email, and/or arranging a student shadow day (Grades 6-12). During your visit, we will show you our campus, take into classrooms to listen and observe, and answer questions in a personalized setting. Tours of both campuses are offered daily; optimal times to tour are between 8:15 a.m. and noon.
3. Attend a Open House
Attending an Open House is a valuable way for the entire family to learn a lot about the school in a short period of time. You may register for one or more of our Open Houses using our online RSVP forms for Lower School Open Houses and Middle/Upper School Open Houses. Registration is not necessary to attend an Open House, but we always appreciate knowing when families are planning to attend! Open House dates for 2019-20 are:
OCTOBER
Lower School Admission Open House (Grades K-5)
Tuesday, October 22
8:30-10:30 a.m., Goodrich Campus
Middle/Upper School Admission Open House (Grades 6-12)
Thursday, October 24, 2019
8:30-10:30 a.m., Randolph Campus
NOVEMBER
Fall Open House
Sunday, November 17, 2019
- Grades K–5: 1-3 p.m., Goodrich Campus
- Grades 6–12: 3-5 p.m., Randolph Campus
JANUARY
Lower School Admission Open House (Grades K-5)
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
8:30-10:30 a.m., Goodrich Campus
Middle/Upper School Admission Open House (Grades 6-12)
Thursday, January 16, 2020
6:30-8:30 p.m., Randolph Campus (student panel at 7 p.m.)
4. Grade-Specific Application Guidelines
Different grades have specific application guidelines; see below for details. Please note that all playgroups, visits, shadow days, and assessments can be scheduled in the online application portal.
Kindergarten
Playgroup Observation: Each kindergarten applicant will attend a Playgroup Visit. The purpose of this social observation is to observe your child at play within our school setting. The Playgroup lasts for approximately 60 minutes. While children are at play, parents are invited to join in conversation with school administrators, admission and financial aid staff, and current parents in our Lower School living room area.
Assessment: Each kindergarten applicant will take part in a 30-minute one-on-one assessment with a member of our admission staff.
Two Teacher Evaluations: Enter the emails of each teacher in the online application portal and the evaluation will be sent directly to the teachers.
Current school records/transcript: Send transcript request to your school's office by providing a name and an email in the online application portal.
Financial Aid: Complete the Financial Aid application (if applicable).
Grades 1-2
Classroom Visit: We invite all applicants for Grades 1 and 2 to spend time in one of our classrooms during a regular school day. Grade 1 applicants will spend a half-day in one of our kindergarten classrooms, and Grade 2 applicants will spend a full day in one of our Grade 1/2 mixed-age classrooms. Observation in a classroom setting provides our teachers the opportunity to get to know your child and assess his/her academic progress. The classroom visit also allows our teachers to observe your child’s social interactions with other students.
Assessment: Each Grade 1 and 2 applicant will also take part in an individual assessment with a member of our admission staff on the day of his/her classroom visit.
Two Teacher Evaluations: Enter the emails of each teacher in the online application portal and the evaluation will be sent directly to the teachers.
Current school records/transcript: Send transcript request to your school's office by providing a name and an email in the online application portal.
Financial Aid: Complete the Financial Aid application (if applicable).
Grades 3-5
Classroom Visit: We invite all applicants for Grades 3, 4, and 5 to spend a full day in one of our classes at SPA. Observation in a classroom setting provides our teachers the opportunity to get to know your child and assess his/her academic progress. The classroom visit also allows our teachers to observe your child’s social interactions with other students. All applicants spend the day in our classrooms at their current grade level.
Assessment: Applicants will take the CTP5 admission tests to assess reading comprehension and quantitative reasoning skills.
Two Teacher Evaluations: Enter the emails of each teacher in the online application portal and the evaluation will be sent directly to the teachers.
Current school records/transcript: Send transcript request to your school's office by providing a name and an email in the online application portal.
Financial Aid: Complete the Financial Aid application (if applicable).
Grades 6-12
Student Shadow Day: We invite all interested applicants for Grades 6-12 to spend a full day visiting SPA. The student shadow day is an opportunity to spend an entire day at SPA guided and hosted by a current student. Applicants will also have a conversation with a member of the Admission staff during their shadow day.
Assessment: Applicants will take the CTP5 admission tests to assess verbal reasoning, reading comprehension and quantitative reasoning skills and will complete a writing sample.
Two Teacher Evaluations (current English and math teachers): Enter the emails of each teacher in the online application portal and the evaluation will be sent directly to the teachers.
Student Essays: Available to print in online portal and upload directly to the application.
Current school records/transcript: Send transcript request to your school's office by providing a name and an email in the online application portal.
Financial Aid: Complete the Financial Aid application (if applicable).
5. Complete the Application
We strongly encourage all applicants to complete their application on or before February 1, 2020. Late applications will be accepted, but preference is given to those applications completed by February 1. Families will be notified of admission decisions by email and in the online admission portal on April 3, 2020.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about SPA or the application process.