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!

If you are considering admission for fall of 2021, the first step of the process is to contact us to make an admission inquiry. Please use the "Inquire" button on the right to receive more information and to connect with the Admission Office. You may also contact Director of Admission and Financial Aid Heather Cameron Ploen directly.

Below you can find steps about touring our campuses, getting to know the SPA community, and completing your application. The deadline for submitting a completed application is February 15, 2021. Families will be notified of admission decisions by April 2, 2021.

Connect

Inquire Apply

1. Request Information

2. Tour Our Campuses

Explore Grades K-5 with a virtual tour of the Goodrich Campus. Explore Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12 with a virtual tour of the Middle School (Grades 6-8) and a virtual tour of the Upper School (Grades 9-12), both of which are located on the Randolph Campus.

Currently, the SPA campuses are closed to visitors, but we are offering limited in-person tours for applicants for admission. In the meantime, we are eager to meet with you and your family to give you a virtual tour and answer any questions you might have. To set up a conversation with a member of the Admission Team, please fill out the inquiry form or contact us:

For Kindergarten through Grade 5 |Contact Julie McGlincey, Senior Associate Director of Admission, by email (jmcglincey@spa.edu) or phone (651-696-1562).
For Grade 6 through Grade 12 | Contact Heather Cameron Ploen, Director of Admission and Financial Aid, by email (hploen@spa.edu) or phone (651-696-1339).

We have also created an Admission Virtual Visit Hub for your family to explore! The Admission Virtual Visit Hub is a collection of videos, photos, and publications.

3. Attend an Open House

Attend an Open House is a valuable way for the entire family to learn about the school in a short period of time. Due to Covid-19, this year's Open Houses will be held virtually on the following dates:

October

Lower School Virtual Admission Open House (Grades K-5)
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
6:30-7:30 p.m.

Middle/Upper School Virtual Admission Open House (Grades 6-12)
Thursday, October 22, 2020
6:30-7:30 p.m.

November

All School Virtual Admission Open House
Sunday, November 15, 2020
1:00-2:30 p.m.

January

Lower School Virtual Admission Open House (Grades K-5)
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
6:30-7:30 p.m.

Middle/Upper School Virtual Admission Open House (Grades 6-12)
Thursday, January 14, 2021
6:00-7:30 p.m.

4. Grade-Specific Application Guidelines

Different grades have specific application guidelines; see below for details. Please note that all portions of the application process can be seen in your online application portal.

Kindergarten

Parent Virtual Conversation: We are excited to share the school with you. Please schedule a virtual conversation with a member of our admission team.

Writing Sample: Available to print on the online portal and upload directly to the application.

Kindergarten Conversation and Assessment: Each kindergarten applicant will take part in a one-on-one virtual conversation and assessment with a member of our admission staff. This will take approximately 30 minutes. Individual assessments will take place throughout January and February.

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

Parent Virtual Conversation: We are excited to share the school with you. Please schedule a virtual conversation with a member of our admission team.

Writing Sample: Available to print on the online portal and upload directly to the application.

Student Conversation and Assessment Grades 1-2: Grades 1 and 2 applicants will take part in a virtual conversation with a member of our admission team and complete an assessment at this time.

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

Parent Virtual Conversation: We are excited to share the school with you. Please schedule a virtual conversation with a member of our admission team.

Writing Sample: Available to print on the online portal and upload directly to the application.

Student Conversation and Assessment: Applicants will take part in a virtual conversation with a memeber of our admission team. In addition, they will take a series of 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

Parent Virtual Conversation: We are excited to share the school with you. Please schedule a virtual conversation with a member of our admission team.

Student Interview: A member of the Admission team will coordinate a virtual conversation with the student.

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.

Prior Year Teacher Evaluation (optional): Enter the email of the teacher from the 2019-20 school year.

Student Essays: Available to print on the 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. Testing and Assessment

Testing and assessment varies by grade level (see below). Details and instructions for scheduling testing will be provided in your admission portal as part of the application process

Kindergarten: Each kindergarten applicant will take part in a one-on-one virtual conversation and assessment with a member of our admission staff. This will take approximately 30 minutes. Individual assessments will take place throughout January and February.

Grades 1-2: Grades 1 and 2 applicants will take part in a virtual conversation with a member of our admission team and complete an assessment at this time.

Grades 3-5: Applicants will take part in a virtual conversation with a member of our admission team. In addition, applicatns will take a series of admission tests to assess reading comprehension and quantitative reasoning skills.

Grades 6-12: Applicants will take the CTP5 admission tests to assess verbal reasoning, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning skills, and also complete a writing sample as part of the application. CTP5 testing will be offered on the Randolph Campus on Saturday, December 12, 2020, Saturday, January 9, 2021, and Saturday, January 23, 2021 from 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

6. Complete the Application

We strongly encourage all applicants to complete their application on or before February 15, 2021. 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 2, 2021.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about SPA or the application process.

In This Section

Applying to SPA

1. Request Information

2. Tour Our Campuses

3. Attend an Open House

October

November

January

4. Grade-Specific Application Guidelines

Kindergarten

Grades 1-2

Grades 3-5

Grades 6-12

5. Testing and Assessment

6. Complete the Application

Locations

Helpful Links