Here is exactly what we ask for, why we ask for it, and what happens at each stage.
Clarebourne’s process is built on the premise that families deserve to understand exactly how decisions are made, what we are looking for, and what we found. What follows is a complete account of how the process works — from the first inquiry through the enrollment decision.
The admission process
1. Inquiry and initial conversation
Contact our admissions office by phone or email. A member of the team will respond within one business day to schedule an introductory call — fifteen to twenty minutes in which we learn about your child and you learn about us. We use this conversation to assess whether a formal application and visit make sense for your family. Timeline: Before December 1 for priority consideration
2. Campus visit or shadow day
We strongly encourage a shadow day before or alongside the formal application. Your child spends a full day with students their age — in advisory, in classes, at lunch. You meet with a member of the admissions team and, where possible, a division director. The shadow day is not an assessment. It provides information for both parents and the admissions team.
3. Submit your application
The Clarebourne application includes a student application form, two teacher recommendations, a school report from your child’s current school, and a student writing sample. There is no application essay for Lower School applicants. Middle and Upper School applicants submit a short personal statement of 300 to 400 words.
Application fee: $75. Fee waivers are available without documentation for any family for whom the fee presents a barrier. Contact the admissions office to request one.
Priority deadline: January 15 Rolling admissions deadline: March 1
4. Student interview
Every applicant from Grade 3 upward participates in a student interview with a member of the admissions team. Interviews are conversational, not evaluative in a formal sense. We are trying to understand how a student thinks, what they care about, and how they respond when a conversation moves in an unexpected direction. Interviews run approximately thirty minutes for Lower School applicants and forty-five minutes for Middle and Upper School applicants.
5. Admissions decision
Decisions for priority applicants are sent by February 28. Rolling admissions decisions are sent within three weeks of a completed application file. All decisions are communicated by letter and followed up with a phone call from a member of the admissions team. We consider this a baseline obligation to families who have invested time and trust in the process.
Enrollment decision deadline: March 15
Frequently Asked Questions
What grade level is best to apply?
Clarebourne has three primary entry points and accepts applications at all grade levels.
Primary entry grades
Grade K — Lower School entry
Grade 5 — Middle School entry
Grade 9 — Upper School entry
Can we apply after the priority deadline?
Yes. Rolling admissions remain open through March 1 for most grade levels, subject to space. Contact the admissions office for current availability at specific grades.
In exceptional circumstances, Clarebourne accepts mid-year applications. Mid-year enrollment is rare and depends entirely on available space. Families in this situation should contact the admissions office directly.
How do you handle applications from students with learning differences?
We evaluate all applications on the basis of a student’s readiness for Clarebourne’s program, not their diagnostic history. Families are encouraged to share relevant evaluations and documentation, which we use to assess whether our current support resources are an appropriate match — not to screen students out. We will tell you honestly if we believe our resources are insufficient for a particular student’s needs.
Can we reapply after a denial?
Yes. A small number of students who are not admitted in one year are admitted in a subsequent year — typically because the student has matured in ways that address the concerns we identified, or because space has become available at their grade level. We are glad to have a conversation about what we observed and whether reapplication makes sense.