Apply
Our application season begins in November for the following fall
An application for admission consists of:
- parent tour or attendance at an admissions event to learn about the school
- parent questionnaire
- teacher recommendation
- student questionnaire for applicants to grades 3-8
- photocopies of the last year's and current year's report cards for applicants to grades 1-8
- standardized test scores (if available, and not required for applicants to kindergarten)
Once the written application is reviewed, students for whom there is a potential opening will be invited for a small group visit (for kindergarten applicants) or to an individual visit in the classroom (for 1st through 8th grade applicants).
Applications are available starting each January for admission for the school year beginning each August. They must be submitted by the end of February for elementary grades or the end of March for middle school grades. All applications submitted by the due date are evaluated equally, without regard to "first come, first served." Applications submitted after the deadlines will be reviewed until all openings are filled.
If there is no space available for a qualified student, we place them in a wait pool in case an appropriate opening occurs. The wait pool expires when the next admissions season begins.
Countryside does not form a wait pool prior to review of applications. However, we do maintain a list of interested families and their contact information, so that we can send invitations to information meetings and applications when available each winter.
Applications for financial aid should be submitted at the same time as the application for admission. Families will be notified of their aid award in the same packet as their acceptance. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed only if space remains available.
Admissions Timeline:
Discover Countryside Open House
Sunday, October 29, 2023 2 p.m. (in-person)
Individual virtual tours begin
November
Applications available
early January
For applicants to K - 5th grade
Elementary Admissions Webinar
Thursday, February 1, 2024 7 p.m. (virtual information meeting)
Applications due
Friday, February 23, 2024
Visits begin for grades 1-5
March
Small group visits for Kindergarten applicants
Saturday March 2, 2024
Decisions are sent 1-2 week after student visit
For applicants to 6 - 8th grade
Middle School Admissions Webinar
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 7 p.m. (virtual information meeting)
Applications due
Friday, March 29, 2024
Class visits begin
April
Decisions are sent 1-2 week after student visit
Judy Kaplan
Admissions Director
217.355.1253
kaplan@countrysideschool.org