The Rudolf Steiner School seeks to enroll students who will benefit from our unique educational programs. 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 Early Childhood Program attracts parents who wish their children to experience an atmosphere that fosters a rich imagination, offers a nurturing, home-like environment, and the experience of creative play.

Prospective parents for the Early Childhood Program need to be committed to eliminating television viewing and letting the children play creatively. For each class we seek a varied combination of children who are able to take full advantage of our program. We are committed to maintaining a student body that is racially, religiously, geographically, and socio-economically diverse.

Application Procedure: Parent-Child Program

Applications for admission are accepted after Labor Day for the following academic year and may be obtained from the Lower School Admissions Office or downloaded from here. A parent statement and an application fee of $40 must accompany the application. The submission of a photograph is optional. Due to the limited number of interviewing times, the Lower School Admissions Office may not be able to interview children applying to the Parent-Child Program after October 31. However, inquiries regarding space are welcome at any time of the year since unanticipated openings may occur. Once an application has been received, a tour of the Lower School will be offered. Children are interviewed together with their parents during a friendly half-hour visit with the Director of Admissions after January 1. Please call the Lower School Admissions Office at 212-327-1457 for information about Open Houses or introductory lectures on Waldorf education. Come join us on Saturday, November 17, 2007, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for our Fall Fair, and be sure to visit the Waldorf Room!

Notification for admission to the Parent-Child Program will be mailed on Tuesday, March 4, 2008. Parents are asked to reply by Wednesday, March 12, 2008. Please note, admission to the Parent-Child Program does not guarantee admission to our Early Childhood Program the following year. A separate application is required. All applicants for the Parent-Child Program, must be 2 years old by June 30.

Application Procedure: Nursery & Kindergarten

Applications for admission are accepted after Labor Day for the following academic year and may be obtained from the Lower School Admissions Office or downloaded from here. A parent statement, transcripts from previous schools, if any, and an application fee of $55 must accompany the application. The submission of a photograph is optional. Due to the limited number of interviewing times, the Lower School Admissions Office may not be able to interview children applying to the program after October 31. However, inquiries regarding space are welcome at any time of the year since unanticipated openings may occur. Standardized testing is not required for admission to the Early Childhood Program. Relevant information about our applicants is obtained from their admissions forms, current schools where applicable, and the children’s interviews at Rudolf Steiner. Because the testing of preschool students can be unreliable, and because no standardized test can predict long-range academic success, creative ability or leadership potential, we prefer to use other sources of information to complete our picture of an applicant. However, the lower school admissions department welcomes the applicant's submission of standardized test scores.

Transcript request forms can be downloaded from this link.

Once the admissions packet has been received, a tour and an interview with the parents will be scheduled. Nursery and Kindergarten applicants will be scheduled for a play group visit in December or January. They will be seen by early childhood educators and the Director of Admissions.

ADMISSIONS NOTIFICATION & REPLY DATES:

Early Childhood Program

We notify families of admissions decisions in accordance with the guidelines set by the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY), of which we are a member. The notification and reply dates are listed below. Once you have selected a school where you have gained admission, please immediately notify by phone all the schools to which you have applied to decline. Such prompt notification of your decision is helpful to families who are on a waiting list.

Notification and Reply Dates 2007–2008

For applications and files completed by
Friday, January 25, 2008