Kindergarten & Lower School
Here you will find information about the Kindergarten and Lower School application process. You can access 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 head teacher and an associate teacher in each classroom. By third grade the children are participating in as many as 11 different specialty subjects, often 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 Info Session for Lower School Applicant Families
- We will be hosting a virtual info 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 and we devote a portion of the event to a Q&A . You can sign up for a virtual info session 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 info session before the end of the process.
Virtual Info Session on Diversity and Institutional Equity
- We will host a virtual info session focused on the school’s ongoing work around DEI and efforts to build a culture of belonging throughout the school. This event will also follow a webinar format. It is open to families applying to any/all grades. You can sign up at any point in the application process by going here. This session will also be recorded and can be emailed by request.
1) Submit an application using our online admissions portal
- The application deadline for Kindergarten is November 15th. 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 to know whether this applies to you.
- 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 stop processing applications. In the event of an early closure, we will add applications to a wait pool up until the original deadline. There is no application fee to submit a waitpool application.
2) In-person group tour for parents/guardians of Kindergarten applicants
- We will offer 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 and a half.
- These tours are for current Kindergarten applicant parents/guardians only. We cannot accommodate families who are looking ahead or who are applying to other grades.
- We cannot accommodate children on these tours.
- 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.
- Once you’ve submitted your application, 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 an in-person one-on-one interview with a member of our admissions staff. Each interview will last approximately 30-40 minutes. Once we’ve received your application, we will send you an email with information on how to schedule your child’s interview. These interviews are meant to be as informal and fun as possible–no dress code or preparation required.
- Please note: As described above, in the event of an early closure for kindergarten applications, families who submitted their application after the early closure date but prior to the original November 15th deadline will be placed in a wait pool for an interview.
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, 2025. 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) Parent/Guardian Interview
- After we’ve received your child’s application, we will reach out to you to schedule a 20 minute virtual parent/guardian interview.
- These meetings are intended to provide parents/guardians with another opportunity to ask questions; they are not an interview.
- Please note: Your interview date should be after your tour date.
6) Notification
- Kindergarten decisions will be emailed on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
1) Submit an application using our online admissions portal
- The application deadline for 1st grade is November 15th. There is no fee to apply for this grade.
2) Child Interview
- We will read and review all applications received by the deadline. Based on availability, we will schedule a small number of interviews. We will contact you to schedule an appointment if we are able to meet with your child. We anticipate that these meetings will take place in January.
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 9, 2025. Please do NOT ask your child’s teacher to submit the form earlier than December 1 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 Thursday, February 13, 2025.
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 15th. There is no fee to apply for these grades.
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, 2025.
3) Give the ISAAGNY 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, 2025.
4) Notification
- 2nd/3rd grade decisions or an update regarding anticipated openings will be emailed on Thursday, February 13, 2025.