How to Get Into Riverdale Country School

Application

Riverdale’s entry-point grades are pre-K and kindergarten for Lower School, grades 6 and 7 for Middle School, and grade 9 for Upper School. Openings to other grades depend on available capacity, but interested students are welcome to submit applications. For non-entry point grades, the application fee is only charged if Riverdale is able to consider the application. 

Applicants to Riverdale must complete the following steps:

• Attend an on-campus tour and a virtual information session (recommended)
• Submit the preliminary application forms on Ravenna by the specified date.
• Schedule the interview
  • Lower School
    • Pre-K and kindergarten applicants will be contacted to schedule a Zoom interview after submitting the preliminary application forms
      • Interviews are 45-60 minutes
      • Interviews take in place from late December to early January
      • A member of the admissions team will interview the applicant and parents/guardians together
    • Applicants to grades 1-5 will be contacted to schedule an interview only if Riverdale is able to consider their application
  • Middle School 
    • Applicants to grades 6 and 7 will be contacted to schedule an interview after submitting the preliminary application forms
      • Applicants to grade 6 participate in an online group interview
        • The group interview is one hour
        • A member of the admissions team will guide a small group of applicants through a lesson and group design project
      • Applicants to grades 6 and 7 participate in a one-on-one interview
        • Interviews take place from October to December 2024
        • Interviews are 45 minutes; the first 25-30 minutes is with the applicant, and the remaining time is with the parents/guardians
    • Applicants to grade 8 will be contacted to schedule an interview only if Riverdale is able to consider their application
  • Upper School
    • Applicants to grade 9 will be contacted to schedule an interview after submitting the preliminary application forms.
    • Applicants participate in a one-on-one interview and a group interview
      • The one-on-one interview is about 45 minutes; the admissions team will speak to the student for 20-25 minutes, and then to the parents/guardians for the remaining time
      • The group interview is 45-60 minutes; a member of the admissions team will guide a small group of applicants through a lesson and group design project
    • Applicants to grades 10-12 will be contacted to schedule an interview only if Riverdale is able to consider their application
• Complete the online application on Ravenna by the specified deadline.
  • Application fee: $60
  • Lower School
    • Grades K-1: request the ISAAGNY Confidential School Report from current school
    • Grades 2-5: request the candidate evaluation form from current principal or teacher
    • Take an admissions test
      • Kindergarten: First Look Insights required
        • Register through Ravenna
        • Specific deadline can be found in Ravenna
      • Grade 5: ISEE or SSAT required
    • Send transcripts/report cards from current year and previous year
    • Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
  • Middle School
    • Complete the student interests and activities form
    • Complete the student essays
    • Send transcripts/report cards from the current and previous year 
    • Request the school report form from current school (optional)
    • Request letters of recommendation
      • Required recommendations: current math teacher and current English teacher
      • Optional recommendations: third teacher, coach, or supervisor
    • Submit admissions test scores
      • Grades 6-8: ISEE or SSAT required
      • Specific deadline can be found in Ravenna
    • Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
      • Specific deadline can be found in Ravenna
  • Upper School
    • Complete the student interests and activities form
    • Complete the student essays
    • Send transcripts/report cards from the current and previous year 
    • Request the school report form from current school (optional)
    • Request letters of recommendation
      • Required recommendations: peer recommendation, current math teacher, and current English teacher
      • Optional recommendations: third teacher, coach, or supervisor
    • Submit admissions test scores
      • Grades 9-12: ISEE or SSAT required
      • Specific deadline can be found in Ravenna
    • Complete the Character Skills Snapshot
    • Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
      • Specific deadline can be found in Ravenna

For more information about the Riverdale application process, visit their admissions page.