Admission Information
Discover the ideal school for your child, stress-free
With the AAAIS common admissions calendar, you can explore and choose the best school for your student at your own pace, free from competitive timeline pressures.
The admission process and timeline
AAAIS schools adhere to similar schedules for the admissions process and share definite dates for notifications and responses.
Research
Compile a shortlist of schools that interest you, considering factors like location, special focus (such as religious affiliation or support for learning differences), and other research. Use our site to kickstart your search!
Visit
Attend open houses and schedule tours for the schools on your shortlist. This hands-on approach allows you to experience each school's culture firsthand and get all your questions answered.
Apply
Although each school sets its own application deadlines, you won't need to stress about acceptance timing. All AAAIS schools release acceptance notifications on the same day. There are a exceptions. See the timeline below.
Accept
Once you receive your acceptance letters, whether by mail or online, the decision is yours to make! AAAIS schools provide a unified "response due" date, giving you ample time to select the best fit for your family without any rush. Your independent school journey is about to begin!
2025-2026
Common Admission Dates
Friday, April 4, 2025
Mailed acceptance notifications sent
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Electronic acceptance notifications sent
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Response due from parent
Here is a good timeline to follow:
Applications open (Varies by school, but typically around October 1): This is the starting point for you to begin the process of selecting and applying to the school(s) of your choice.
On-campus interviews (January/February): Many AAAIS schools conduct these meetings as part of the admissions process. Some are scheduled during the school day, and some on Saturday. You need to check with the individual schools to see if this is a requirement, and if so, how to schedule your interview.
Common notification date (last Saturday in March or first Saturday in April): All AAAIS general purpose schools send their decision notifications on the same day.
Exceptions to the common notification date:
1. Schools that specialize in serving students with special learning needs are allowed to make admission decisions on a rolling basis, which means that they can make an admission decision soon after the application becomes complete.
2. If you find that you receive an early acceptance to a non-AAAIS school (be it an independent school, charter school, or magnet program) and have to make a decision before the AAAIS Common Notification Date, immediately contact the AAAIS school to which you applied and explain the problem. Our schools are allowed to make exceptions – and make an early decision – for applicants caught in this situation.
Common response date (about two weeks after the notification date): This is the date by which applicants must advise schools of their decision regarding offers of admission. This allows for a consistent window in which applicants can make their decision.
Campus visits and required testing (October through early February): You are encouraged to visit schools and get to know them during this time. Most schools schedule an Open House for prospective families in the fall or early winter. Many also provide small group or individual tours during this time as well (a good way to see the school in action!). Many schools also offer shadow days for older students, where they can be escorted for part or all of a school day by a current student. This is also the time to complete any required testing, such as the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test, for applicants to grades 6-12) or the JATP (Joint Admission Testing Program, for applicants to Kindergarten-grade 5).
Application deadline (late January/early February): You want to be sure to know the exact date for each school to which you are applying. Since the full application package usually includes testing, recommendations, and the submission of transcripts for older students, you want to allow plenty of time for all pieces of the application to arrive before the deadline.
Quiet period: For about two weeks after the common notification date, schools cannot reach out to families. However, families are welcome to contact schools during this time to ask any final questions as they decide on the school of choice.
Applications open (Varies by school, but typically around October 1): This is the starting point for you to begin the process of selecting and applying to the school(s) of your choice.
Campus visits and required testing (October through early February): You are encouraged to visit schools and get to know them during this time. Most schools schedule an Open House for prospective families in the fall or early winter. Many also provide small group or individual tours during this time as well (a good way to see the school in action!). Many schools also offer shadow days for older students, where they can be escorted for part or all of a school day by a current student. This is also the time to complete any required testing, such as the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test, for applicants to grades 6-12) or the JATP (Joint Admission Testing Program, for applicants to Kindergarten-grade 5).
On-campus interviews (January/February): Many AAAIS schools conduct these meetings as part of the admissions process. Some are scheduled during the school day, and some on Saturday. You need to check with the individual schools to see if this is a requirement, and if so, how to schedule your interview.
Application deadline (late January/early February): You want to be sure to know the exact date for each school to which you are applying. Since the full application package usually includes testing, recommendations, and the submission of transcripts for older students, you want to allow plenty of time for all pieces of the application to arrive before the deadline.
Common notification date (last Saturday in March or first Saturday in April): All AAAIS general purpose schools send their decision notifications on the same day.
Exceptions to the common notification date:
Schools that specialize in serving students with special learning needs are allowed to make admission decisions on a rolling basis, which means that they can make an admission decision soon after the application becomes complete.
If you find that you receive an early acceptance to a non-AAAIS school (be it an independent school, charter school, or magnet program) and have to make a decision before the AAAIS Common Notification Date, immediately contact the AAAIS school to which you applied and explain the problem. Our schools are allowed to make exceptions – and make an early decision – for applicants caught in this situation.
Quiet period: For about two weeks after the common notification date, schools cannot reach out to families. However, families are welcome to contact schools during this time to ask any final questions as they decide on the school of choice.
Common response date (about two weeks after the notification date): This is the date by which applicants must advise schools of their decision regarding offers of admission. This allows for a consistent window in which applicants can make their decision.
One final note: It is important that families manage the application process by adhering to the deadlines and completing required materials on time, such as teacher evaluations, transcripts, and student and parent questionnaires. Please also contact individual schools for specific details about the admission process and any school-specific requirements.
Admissions Event Calendar
Discover open houses and other admission events at AAAIS schools.
