Kindergarten & Lower School
Here you will find information about the Kindergarten and Lower School application process. You can download all of the Lower School application forms, find answers to frequently asked questions, and view a timeline of the Lower School application process.
- Our Kindergarten is located at 124 Henry Street, about two blocks from our main building.
- To apply to the kindergarten, a child must turn 5 by September 1 of the entry year.
- The kindergarten has 76 students grouped into 4 homerooms with 2 full-time teachers (a head teacher and an associate teacher) in each classroom. Kindergarten students participate in 7 different specialty subjects mostly in half groups; thus, at these times, the student to teacher ratio in the home-classroom is 5:1.
- To learn more about our kindergarten program click here.
- Our Lower School (grades 1-3) is located in the Farber Building at 153 Pierrepont Street, one block from our main building.
- To apply to the first grade, a child must turn 6 by September 1 of the entry year.
- There are generally 80 students per grade from first grade onward.
- There are 4 classrooms per grade in grades 1-3. As in kindergarten, there is a master teacher and an associate teacher in each classroom. By third grade the children are participating in as many as 11 different specialty subjects in half groups. This, in turn, means there is even more opportunity for small group work when only half the class is in the home-classroom and the ratio of students to teachers is reduced to 5:1.
- To learn more about our Lower School program click here.
Virtual Open House for Lower School Applicant Families
- We will be hosting a virtual information session for applicant parents of young children on one evening in mid November. It will follow a webinar format and will be an opportunity to learn about our school’s philosophy, program and community. You will have the chance to hear from our Head of School as well as from our Kindergarten and Lower School division heads. We devote a portion of the event to a Q&A taken from the chat. You can sign up for a virtual open house at any point in the application process by going here. We will record and share the webinar for those who are unable to attend. Whether live or from the recording, we strongly encourage all Kindergarten applicants to view the information session before the end of the process.
Virtual Open Houses on Diversity and Institutional Equity
- We will be hosting two virtual open houses on diversity and institutional equity for families interested in learning more about our school’s approach to this work. These events will also follow a webinar format and are open to families applying to any/all grades. You can sign up for a virtual open house at any point in the application process by going here. These sessions are also recorded.
Kindergarten Application Process: Each of the following elements is required
1) Submit an application using our online admissions portal
- The application deadline for Kindergarten is October 1, 2021. There is a non-refundable fee of $100. There are certain cases in which no fee is required; read the directions carefully when you get to the payment section of the application.
- Important note for Kindergarten applicants: If, at any point prior to the application deadline, the number of applicants exceeds the number of interview hours that we have available, we will have to stop processing applications. In the event of an early closure, applications will be added to a wait pool up until the original deadline.
2) In-person group tour for parents of kindergarten applicants
- For the first time since Covid, we will be offering in person tours of the kindergarten and lower school in action. These will run a few mornings a week and will last approximately an hour.
- These tours are for current kindergarten applicant parents only. We cannot accommodate parents who are looking ahead or who are applying to other grades.
- We cannot accommodate children on these tours.
- We will require proof of vaccination and masking for the entirety of the tour.
- These tours will be the only opportunity for kindergarten applicant parents to see the school in session. At least one guardian is required to attend.
- You can view the tour dates and register here.
- Parent tour and child’s interview can happen in either order.
3) Child interview
- Kindergarten applicants* will have a one-on-one interview with a member of our admissions staff. We will be conducting in-person interviews for this age group. Each interview will last approximately 30 minutes. Once your application has been received, you will receive information on how to schedule your child’s interview.
- *Please note: In the event of an early closure for kindergarten applications, families who submit their application after the early closure date but prior to the original October 1st deadline will be placed in a wait pool and invited to schedule an interview if we are able to expand our interview calendar.
4) Submit ISAAGNY Teacher Evaluation Form
- Ask your child’s current classroom teacher to complete an ISAAGNY Teacher Evaluation Form and email an electronic copy to us at admissions.materials@saintannsny.org by January 9, 2023. Please do NOT ask your child’s teacher to submit the form too much earlier than that deadline as we like for the teachers to have ample time to get to know your child before completing the evaluation.
5) Notification
- Kindergarten decisions will be emailed on Thursday, February 9, 2023.
1st Grade Application Process: Each of the following elements is required
1) Submit an application using our online admissions portal
- The application deadline for 1st grade is November 1, 2023. There is a non refundable application fee of $100. There are certain cases in which there is no fee; read the directions carefully when you get to the payment section of the portal.
- Important note for 1st grade applicants: If, at any point prior to the application deadline, the number of applicants exceeds the number of interview hours that we have available, we will have to stop processing applications. In the event of an early closure, applications will be added to a wait pool up until the original deadline.
2) Child interview
- First grade applicants* will have a one-on-one interview with a member of our admissions staff. We will be conducting in-person interviews for this age group. Each interview will last approximately 30 minutes. Once your application has been received, you will receive information on how to schedule your child’s interview.
- *Please note: In the event of an early closure for first grade applications, families who submit their application after the early closure date but prior to the original October 1st deadline will be placed in a wait pool and invited to schedule an interview if we are able to expand our interview calendar.
3) Submit ISAAGNY Teacher Evaluation Form
- Ask your child’s current classroom teacher to complete an ISAAGNY Teacher Evaluation Form and email an electronic copy to us at admissions.materials@saintannsny.org by January 7, 2023. Please do NOT ask your child’s teacher to submit the form too much earlier than that deadline as we like for the teachers to have ample time to get to know your child before completing the evaluation.
4) Notification
- 1st grade decisions will be emailed on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
We have incorporated the following safety protocols into our in-person process to safeguard everyone’s health:
- All Saint Ann’s faculty and staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as have all age eligible students.
- The admissions office is located in a building separate from the majority of classroom space and it is not densely populated.
- We will ask that only one adult accompany each child to the interview appointment and that both adult and child wear well-fitting masks.
- There will only be one child in the admissions suite at a time with no overlap between appointments.
- The interview space is well ventilated and spacious.
- If a child is symptomatic on the day of the interview, we will need to cancel the appointment and will make every effort to reschedule.
We feel confident that by taking these measures we can safely meet with each of our young applicants and get to know them in person; we’re really looking forward to it!
Admission to the 2nd and 3rd grades is possible only if there is attrition. If you would like to submit an application and some basic information about your child, we will process the materials and contact you if space arises and we’d like to schedule an interview. Please follow the steps below to complete the process.
1) Submit an application using our online admissions portal
- The application deadline is November 15, 2022. There is no fee to apply.
2) Give the Records Release Form to your child’s current school
- The school should email your child’s most recent school reports/transcript to admissions.materials@saintannsny.org by January 9, 2023.
3) Give the Lower School Teacher Evaluation to your child’s current teacher
- Once your child’s teacher has had sufficient time to get to know your child, they school should fill out and email the evaluation to admissions.materials@saintannsny.org by January 9, 2023.
4) Notification
- 2nd/3rd grade decisions will be emailed on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
