Norwood School - Apply to Norwood School

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Norwood School. Please find more about the Norwood admissions process below. If you have questions, please contact the admission office.

Application Process:

Learn more about Norwood by viewing our Norwood in Action page or opening an inquiry to join our email list.
Apply online through the Ravenna-Hub.
Schedule an individual tour and parent conversation.
Request teacher recommendations.
Arrange for your current school to send your child’s progress report and/or transcript.
Complete a student video assessment (PK-1) or schedule a Zoom interview and assessment (2-8).

Application

The admission application helps the Admission Office get to know your family. The essay offers parents the opportunity to share stories, perspective, and their voice to their child's file. We encourage parents to have fun while writing the essay and to trust that we view the essay as a personal perspective on the applicant and not as a parental writing sample! Do not let the essay hold up submitting your application as scheduling flexibility decreases the closer we get to the January 15 application deadline. Sibling applications are due November 29. If applying after January 15, please contact the Admission Office, 301-841-2130, for guidance.

Individual Tour and Parent Conversation

An individual virtual tour combined with a parent conversation provide families with the opportunity to see Norwood students and teachers in action, allow the admission team an opportunity to get to know your family better, and help to bring your child's application to life. Additionally, they provide parents with time to ask questions and share information specific to their family and child.

A lower school tour and parent conversation (grades PK-4) lasts about 60-75 minutes and are for adults only. A middle school tour and parent conversation (grades 5-8) also lasts 60-75 minutes. We will host live and virtual tours tours in the fall and winter of 2021. Tours start in early October and are opened on a monthly basis. Live tours will be restricted to fully vaccinated adults and students. For more information on tours, please contact the admission office or open an application on Ravenna.

Although required as a component of the application process, a tour and parent conversation can be scheduled prior to submitting an application. Tours are available throughout the year but are most effective during school months when you can see our school day in action. If you do not see an available or convenient slot when scheduling online, please call the Admission Office at 301-841-2130 and we will work with you to find a convenient time for a tour!

Please click here to fill out our inquiry form and stay up to date.

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Teacher Recommendations

Applicants for pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade submit one recommendation sent directly from the current homeroom teacher. If a pre-K applicant does not have a current classroom teacher to fill out the recommendation, a recommendation from an outside instructor is acceptable. Applicants for grades 2-5 submit two recommendations: one from the current homeroom teacher and one from an additional current teacher. Applicants for grades 6-8 submit two teacher recommendations: one sent directly from the current English teacher and one sent directly from the current math teacher. All applicants may also submit an additional optional recommendation from another current teacher, a former teacher, or an outside of school instructor.

All recommendations are assigned, completed, and submitted electronically through Ravenna. Recommendations are confidential and due to Norwood by February 1 (December 7 for Norwood siblings who have applied by November 30). Recommendation forms are delegated to your child's teachers through Ravenna Hub.

Progress Reports and Transcripts

A progress report or transcript is required for all applicants. Families should submit the Transcript Release Form (available on Ravenna) to their current school in sufficient time to meet the February 1 supporting document deadline (December 6 for Norwood siblings applying early). If a school does not produce a progress report or transcript (as is often the case with preschools), a school official should sign the bottom portion of the Transcript Release Form indicating such and submit that to Norwood.

Parent Notification

In accordance with the guidelines established by the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW), parents are notified of the Admission Committee's decision no earlier than March 4. Admission to Norwood School is based on merit. Norwood School has an open admission policy and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin, religion or creed, gender, sexual orientation, family composition, economic status, age, learning styles, or disability.

Required Steps

Apply online through the Ravenna-Hub.
Schedule an individual tour and parent conversation.
Request teacher recommendations.
Arrange for your current school to send your child’s progress report and/or transcript.
Complete a student assessment (PK-1) or a virtual interview and assessment (2-8).

Applications are due on January 15 with support documents by February 1. Sibling applications due November 29 with supporting documents by December 7.