The Upper School seeks to enroll students who will benefit from our unique educational program. Our students come from widely varied cultural and economic backgrounds, and our parent body is a microcosm of New York City, with its different nationalities, interests, and lifestyles. The diverse, humanistic Waldorf curriculum attracts parents who wish their children to experience a truly balanced course of study. Students find that the integration of intellectual and artistic work stimulates them to higher academic achievement and creative expression, and they experience the personal and social benefits of attending a small school.

Consideration is given to a student’s ability to handle the academic program. Prospective students must also be enthusiastic about immersing themselves in the artistic requirements of the curriculum. Further consideration is given to the social makeup of the class and how a particular candidate would integrate into the social fabric of the group. Finally, the admissions team considers what the role of the prospective family would be; ideally searching for those that would be supportive and active participants in the school community.

Application Procedures

Applications for admission are accepted after Labor Day for the following academic year. Prospective students must:

• complete the Upper School Application

• submit official transcripts for the past two years from his/her current school

• have recommendation letters forwarded to The Rudolf Steiner School from a Mathematics and English teacher, and

• submit I.S.E.E. scores

Once all of these materials are assembled, an interview is scheduled. The interview includes a half day student visit with the class the student is applying for. During the course of the day the student, his/her parents, the teacher of the class and the Upper School Admissions Director will also meet.

Given that in all Waldorf schools a class teacher works with the same group of children for a number of years, and has detailed knowledge regarding the children in the class, the class teacher is critical in the admissions process. All transcripts, recommendations and standardized test scores are reviewed by the teacher of the class and the Upper School Director of Admissions, and this team makes a decision as to the student’s candidacy.

Deadline Dates

ADMISSIONS NOTIFICATION & REPLY DATES

The notification and reply dates are listed below. Once you have selected a school, please immediately notify by telephone or fax, all the school to which you have applied, declining those acceptances. Such prompt notification of your decision is helpful to families who are on a waiting list.

Notification & Reply Dates 2008-2009

For applicants and files completed
by Friday, January 16, 2009

Note: Applications completed after Friday, January 16, 2009 will be reviewed on a rolling basis, if space is permits.

Upper School Application

Please contact the Director of Upper School Admissions with any questions:

Julia Hays '73
(212) 879-1101 x340
jhays@steiner.edu