How to Apply to Middle School
Speyer is a community of collaboration and kindness, with a consistent emphasis on social and emotional development as critical components of optimal health and intellectual engagement.
We take great care to get to know each applicant child as comprehensively as possible in order to ensure that all accepted students thrive in our educational environment and contribute to our vibrant classrooms. We accept students who bring with them a range of personalities, interests, and backgrounds. We also seek students who are academically motivated, effective collaborators who share an innate love of learning.
Speyer’s main admissions entry points are Kindergarten, Fifth Grade, and Sixth Grade. We do accept applications for all grades; however, enrollment availability varies based on each grade’s specific enrollment.
PLEASE NOTE: Any applications received after December 6, 2024, at 11:59 PM will be placed on hold for possible consideration during our Spring rolling admissions season. Availability during Speyer’s Spring rolling admissions season is limited and will vary from grade to grade based on each grade’s specific enrollment. We will update this page after March 5, 2025 with more information. Thank you again for your interest in Speyer.
APPLYING TO GRADES 5-7
The number of spaces available in grades 5–7 varies from year to year. All successful candidates should begin the process with strong academic records and/or test scores.
Below is a list of steps in suggested order. Click each step to read more details.
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Once you have created an account through Ravenna, you will be able to register to attend a School Tour or a Virtual Fireside Chat with Faculty. Be sure to create your account using an email address you will have access to throughout the admission season, as this will be your primary email contact with our school.
The Admissions Team has designed multiple events for families to learn about Speyer. Parents are required to attend one of our School Tours to get a better understanding of our curriculum. Middle School applicant children are encouraged to join their parents for these tours. During the tour, parents will have an opportunity to ask our staff and school leaders questions.
Fireside Chats allow prospective applicant parents the opportunity to speak with our faculty and learn more about a Speyer School education. Attending a fireside chat is a great way to fully experience the wide range of academics and activities offered. Current students and/or parents will be available to share their experiences.
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Please fill out the application form on Ravenna. On Ravenna, once you have completed all required questions in the form, the "Pay and Submit Prelim App" button to the above right will turn green. Once you click on that button, your Application will be submitted and you will be prompted to pay the application fee.
If you have completed the application form and the button does not turn green please re-open the form and click on "Highlight Missing Questions" at the top center of the form. Scroll through the form to see if any questions are highlighted. If not, please contact Ravenna Solutions directly at help@ravennasolutions.com.
A photograph of your child and payment of $85 is due at the time of application. Supplemental admissions materials can also be submitted through Ravenna.
Application Fee Waivers – Please note, application fee waivers are available only for applicants from the following programs: A Better Chance (ABC), the Boys Club of New York, Early Steps, and Prep for Prep.
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The ISEE or SSAT test, taken within the past year, is required as part of the application. The ISEE can be scheduled at www.erblearn.org or the SSAT can be scheduled at www.ssat.org. Any additional testing, such as the most recent year’s NYC ELA and Math test scores, IQ assessments, psychoeducational assessments, or other independent tests, may be emailed to admissions@speyerschool.org.
A copy of our School Records Authorization Form is available on Ravenna. Please give this form to your child’s current school to send all report cards and school records for your child directly to Speyer’s Admissions Office.
A writing sample representative of your child’s "best effort," including teacher comments (If possible), the sample must be emailed to Speyer Admissions at admisisons@speyerschool.org.
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Follow the instructions on Ravenna to input your child's current teacher's name and email address. The teacher will receive an email with a link to a secure Teacher Evaluation form. Once the teacher fills out the form they will submit it directly to our school. After we have received the form from the teacher we will mark this step as complete. Please allow us time for processing.
By emailing or delegating this recommendation form to your child's teacher, you waive any right to access this recommendation and authorize the teacher to provide an evaluation and all relevant information to the school for purposes of your child’s application to the school.
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Middle School applicants will be assessed in a small group setting and should be prepared to spend at least 3 hours completing both a math and literacy assessment along with a student interview and classroom visit.
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Parent Conversations provide an opportunity for an applicant child’s parents to speak with a member of our Admissions team about their child and educational expectations. These virtual conversations are scheduled for 30 minutes on a day separate from your child's virtual visit.
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To apply for aid, parents must complete an application with School and Student Services (SSS) at https://sssandtadsfa.my.site.com/familyno later than January 9, 2025, after submitting their Speyer application. Please note, Financial Aid notification dates are subject to change.
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The application deadline for regular admissions is December 6, 2024; all supplemental documents must be received by January 9, 2025.
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Speyer offers an early decision option to the siblings of currently enrolled students, as well as to children of school staff and faculty.
If a family has more than one child, and each of those children is applying for entry to different grades, the family may receive notification for all applicants on the earliest notification date of the grades to which the children have applied. Reply dates will remain unchanged.
Families who are eligible for early decision should contact the Admissions office in the summer or early September of the application year, and must follow all early decision deadlines. It is important that you follow the dates outlined below:
— November 15, 2024 - All early decision applications must be submitted by midnight.
— November 27, 2024 - All other components of the applicant child’s file must be completed, including onsite visit, school records, teacher evaluations, test scores and parent conversation.
— November 27, 2024 - If applying for financial aid, please complete the SSS Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online at sssbynais.org/parents along with all required documentation by midnight.
— December 6, 2024 - Early decision notifications are sent out.
As a community-minded school, we appreciate the support and commitment that sibling families have to deepening their ties to Speyer. However, please be aware that all siblings, and other early decision candidates, are evaluated individually using the same criteria as regular applicant children to determine their fit within our educational environment.
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Speyer School welcomes international students interested in our Middle School program. To be considered for admission, families should follow the application process for Middle School, submit TOEFL scores to demonstrate English proficiency, and adhere to all submission deadlines.
Once a student is accepted and enrolled, Speyer School will issue Form I-20 for the student’s program of study. The student will use Form I-20 to apply for an F-1 student visa.
Please note: Speyer does not offer housing. Students must arrange for a host family through an agency, or reside with relatives in the NYC area.
APPLY TO SPEYER
To apply to Speyer, please create an account through Ravenna, and select “Explore” Speyer for more information or contact our office at admissions@speyerschool.org. For a step-by-step guide on how to navigate Ravenna, click here!
QUESTIONS?
Fill out THIS FORM and our Admissions Team will get back to you!
REGISTER FOR A FALL TOUR!
In-person at Speyer from 9:00 AM-10:30 AM
Wednesday, September 25
Wednesday, October 2
Wednesday, October 9
Thursday, October 10
NOTE: All of our morning tours are currently full. To be added to the waitlist, please email admissions@speyerschool.org!
An additional tour with limited space has been added on Monday, November 18 at 9:00 AM for Lower School and Middle School. Please register on Ravenna.
Special Evening Tour
from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Tuesday, October 29
ATTEND A SPEYER EVENT!
Why K-8?
Thursday, September 26
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (on Zoom)
Fall for Speyer (K-1)
Saturday, October 19
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (at Speyer)
Fall for Speyer (Middle School)
Saturday, October 19
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (at Speyer)
Lower School Open House
Thursday, October 24
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (at Speyer)
Meet the Speyer Alumni
Thursday, November 7
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (on Zoom)
Middle School Open House
Thursday, November 14
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (at Speyer)
Diversity Night
Thursday, November 21
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (at Speyer)
Is My Child Gifted?
Thursday, December 5
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (on Zoom)
The Speyer Legacy School does not discriminate on grounds of race, religion, color, gender, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, age or sexual orientation in selecting its students, faculty or staff. While law requires inclusion of the above declaration, the position it states is foundational to the philosophy that guides our community and to the policies that naturally derive from that philosophy. We strive to promote in our community not only tolerance for the differences amongst us, but also a deep and abiding appreciation for the depth and richness those differences contribute to our school culture.