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.

PLEASE NOTE: Any applications received after December 1, 2023, 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, 2024 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.

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.

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 $75 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.

External testing provides the admissions committee with data points, and we welcome any testing (ie, SSAT, ISEE, Stanford Binet, WISC, SCAT) which took place within the last 12 months of the application date to Speyer. If you are unable to provide external testing results and/or you are unable to secure a testing seat, please contact the Admissions office.

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), must also be uploaded to your Ravenna application.

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.

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. When you register your child for a visit, there will be a Health Questionnaire Google Form that must be completed the morning of your scheduled visit prior to your arrival at Speyer.

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. Parent Conversation sign-up deadline is December 15.

To apply for aid, parents must complete an application with School and Student Services (SSS) at https://sssandtadsfa.my.site.com/family no later than January 11, 2024, after submitting their Speyer application. Please note, Financial Aid notification dates are subject to change.

The application deadline for regular admissions is December 1, 2023; all supplemental  documents must be received by January 11, 2024. Parent Conversation sign-up deadline is December 15.

Speyer offers an early decision option to the siblings of currently enrolled students, as well as to children of school staff and faculty. 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 17, 2023  - All early decision applications must be submitted by midnight.

• December 1, 2023 - All other components of the applicant child’s file must be completed, including onsite visit, school records, teacher evaluations, test scores and parent conversation.

• December 1, 2023 - 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 8, 2023 - 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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REGISTER FOR A FALL TOUR!
In-person at Speyer
from 9:00 AM-10:30 AM
Wednesday, September 13
Thursday, September 14
Wednesday, September 20
Thursday, September 21
Wednesday, September 27
Thursday, September 28
Wednesday, October 4
Thursday, October 5
Wednesday, October 11

Virtual (Zoom)
from 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
Tuesday, October 24

ATTEND A SPEYER EVENT!

Why K-8?
Thursday, September 28
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (on Zoom)

Lower School Open House
Thursday, October 12
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (at Speyer)

Is My Child Gifted?
Thursday, October 19
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (on Zoom)

Fall for Speyer (Lower School)
Saturday, October 28
Time TBD (at Speyer)

Meet the Speyer Alumni
Wednesday, November 1
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (on Zoom)

Fall for Speyer (Middle School)
Saturday, November 11
Time TBD (at Speyer)

Diversity Night
Wednesday, November 15
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (at Speyer)

Middle School Open House
Thursday, November 30
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (at Speyer)

Is My Daughter Gifted?
Wednesday, December 6
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (on Zoom)