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 grades 1-5, 8, and 10-12, applications are considered based on attrition.

Applicants to Riverdale must complete the following steps:

• Attend a virtual open house (recommended). Campus tours are available as part of the interview process.
• Submit the preliminary application forms on Ravenna by the specified date.
  • Preliminary application deadline for the 2027-2028 school year: November 16, 2026.
• Schedule the interview
  • Lower School
    • Pre-K and kindergarten applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview after submitting the preliminary application forms. Check Ravenna for the current interview format and scheduling details.
    • 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 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 to grades 10-12 will be contacted to schedule an interview only if Riverdale is able to consider their application.
    • Interview formats and scheduling details should be confirmed through Ravenna.
• Complete the online application on Ravenna by the specified deadline.
  • Application fee: Confirm the current fee in Ravenna
  • Lower School
    • Grades K-1: request the ISAAGNY Confidential School Report from the current school, as applicable.
    • Grades 2-5: request the candidate evaluation form from the current principal or teacher, as applicable.
    • Take an admissions test:
      • Kindergarten: First Look Insights (FLI) assessment required.
        • Register through Ravenna.
        • Check Ravenna for the specific deadline.
      • Grade 5: ISEE or SSAT required.
    • Send transcripts/report cards from the current year and previous year, as requested.
    • Complete the financial aid application (if applicable).
  • Middle School
    • Complete the student interests and activities form, as required
    • Complete the student essays, as required.
    • Send transcripts/report cards from the current and previous year, as requested.
    • Request the school report form from the current school, as applicable.
    • Request letters of recommendation, as required.
    • Submit admissions test scores:
      • Grades 6-8: ISEE or SSAT required.
      • Check Ravenna for the specific deadline.
    • Complete the financial aid application (if applicable).
      • Financial aid deadline for prospective families: December 15, 2026.
  • Upper School
    • Complete the student interests and activities form, as required.
    • Complete the student essays, as required.
    • Send transcripts/report cards from the current and previous year, as requested.
    • Request the school report form from the current school, as applicable.
    • Request letters of recommendation, as required.
    • Submit admissions test scores:
      • Grades 9-12: ISEE or SSAT required.
      • Check Ravenna for the specific deadline.
    • Complete the Character Skills Snapshot, if required for the current application cycle.
    • Complete the financial aid application (if applicable).
      • Financial aid deadline for prospective families: December 15, 2026.

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