Admission

A 2nd grade class on a nature walk in Riverdale Park.

Typical Entry Points

GradeAnticipated OpeningsTotal Enrollment
PreK1616
Kindergarten4460
1st-5th GradesBased on attrition60 per grade
6th Grade20-2585
7th Grade5-1095
8th GradeBased on attrition95
9th Grade40-45135-140
10th & 11th GradesBased on attrition135-140

Admissions
Step-By-Step

Applying to Riverdale requires a number of steps because we want to know our applicants and their families in many ways. As you begin the process, please contact us at admission@riverdale.edu with any questions. We welcome an opportunity to connect with you.


STEP 1
Get to Know Us

Please join us for one of our virtual open houses. These events are not required but give families a chance to learn about our school and programs. Families who apply will have the opportunity to tour the campus as part of their interview process.


STEP 2
Apply Online

The preliminary admission application for the 2024-2025 school year, found at www.ravenna-hub.com, was due on November 15, 2023. Note to applicants for Grades 1-5, 8, 10-12: We consider applications to these grades based on attrition. Financial aid for these grades is limited. Please see more information in Ravenna. If you are interested in submitting a post-deadline application, please contact us at admission@riverdale.edu before submitting anything in Ravenna. 


STEP 3
Schedule an Interview

The best part of the admission process is speaking directly with our applicants. We require an interview for each child who is applying to the school. The sign-up process varies by grade. Please visit your Ravenna account for more details.


STEP 4
Request Recommendation Forms and Transcripts

Once an applicant has created an account in Ravenna, they will be able to generate the required school forms.


STEP 5
Register for Testing

At Riverdale, we like to get to know our applicants in as many ways as we possibly can. We believe that testing/assessments can be one way for our applicants to demonstrate their strength as students, and as such, we have testing requirements for entry to several grade levels. Students applying to Kindergarten must take the FLI assessment (please visit your Ravenna account for more details). Students applying to Grades 5-12 must take the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) or SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test).

There is no required testing for students entering Pre-Kindergarten or Grades 1-4.


Riverdale offers more than 70 teams, which attract experienced athletes as well as those who are new to a sport.
The Upper School Summer Science Research Program gives students an opportunity to take part in two ongoing environmental studies.

Entry Points

Riverdale considers many factors when creating a class, including gender, diversity, ability, and age range. The birth date range of September 1st to September 1st typically works well for our program (students who are entering PreK in fall 2024 born between 9/1/19 and 9/1/20, students entering kindergarten between 9/1/18 and 9/1/19, etc.), but we are happy to discuss your child’s placement during the interview.


Key Admission
Dates

All admission decisions will be communicated electronically on the specified ISAAGNY (Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York) mailing dates. If a child is admitted to Riverdale and a family chooses to enroll, we will require a signed enrollment contract and deposit by the ISAAGNY reply deadline. These notification dates for the 2024-2025 school year apply only to those applicants who have met the application deadlines.

GRADENOTIFICATION DATECONTRACT DEADLINE
PreKThursday, February 29, 2024No later than noon
on Thursday, March 7, 2024
KindergartenThursday, February 8, 2024No later than noon on Thursday, February 15, 2024
Grades 1-8Tuesday, February 13, 2024No later than noon on Monday, March 4, 2024
Grades 9-12Friday, February 23, 2024No later than noon
on Thursday, March 14, 2024

International
Applicants

Our application process for international students is the same as it is for all applicants. We do not require the TOEFL. Prospective families should complete the application process on their own as we do not work with any placement agencies. We are able to write I-20 visas once a student has enrolled at the school. Riverdale is a day school, and we do not provide housing or homestays.