Lower School

Applying to Lower School

Please see our application information and checklist dates for the 2026-2027 school year.

A completed Poly application consists of multiple items. Use the checklist below to help keep track of the application requirements.

Applicants must have a Ravenna account to access our online admissions portal. Once your account is active, you’ll see more details and may register for events.

Lower School Checklist

• NURSERY

  To apply to Nursery, your child must be three years old before September 1, 2026.

  • PRELIMINARY APPLICATION
    • Our application opens on September 2, 2025 and includes a questionnaire for some background information and a school attendance form.
    • Deadline: November 21, 2025
  • STUDENT INTERVIEW
    • Please register in Ravenna for a timeslot for a small group interview with members of our Early Childhood faculty.
  • PARENT/GUARDIAN INTERVIEW
    • We will conduct in-person interviews with all Nursery families who submit a preliminary application by the deadline. Interview appointments will be available on Ravenna.
  • FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION
    • Families who would like to apply for financial aid must submit an application in Clarity.
    • Deadline: December 15, 2025
  • SPEECH VIDEO
    • Families must upload a video of their student speaking. Please refer to the guidelines on Ravenna for more information.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026
  • PARENT/GUARDIAN SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
    • Families are asked to complete the ISAAGNY Parent Statement Form.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026
  • NURSERY SCHEDULE PREFERENCE FORM
    • Families must indicate preference for the full-day or half-day Nursery option.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026
  • TEACHER RECOMMENDATION
    • This is required for all applicants. A waiver may be obtained if your student is not enrolled in a school or daycare program.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026

  Note: Current families applying for Nursery for a sibling should check the Poly Pulse for specific timelines.

  Poly Prep is part of ISAAGNY and adheres to the ISAAGNY decision notification and reply dates. Admissions decisions for completed applications to Nursery will be posted on Ravenna on February 26, 2026 after 8:00 AM, and families must reply by March 5 at 12:00 PM.

• PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN

  To apply to Pre-K, your child must be four years old before September 1, 2026.

  To apply to Kindergarten, your child must be five years old before September 1, 2026.

  Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten are considered non-entry years at Poly, although we typically enroll 5-10 new students each year in each of these grade levels. The Poly Admissions Committee reviews applications for interviews on a rolling basis up until the preliminary application deadline, and submitting a preliminary application does not guarantee an interview for non-entry years.

  • PRELIMINARY APPLICATION
    • Our application opens on September 2, 2025 and includes the following:
      • Application form with background information
      • School attendance form
    • Deadline: November 7, 2025
  • PRELIMINARY APPLICATION SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS 
    • We ask that you submit the following forms after submitting your preliminary application. While we review preliminary applications on a rolling basis up to the deadline, we will not be able to review an application until families have submitted the following forms:
      • Parent/guardian short answer questions: families are asked to complete the ISAAGNY Parent Statement Form
      • Speech video: families must upload a video of their student speaking
    • Deadline: November 10, 2025
  • STUDENT GROUP INTERVIEW 
    • For Pre-K and K applicants, interviews are by invitation only. Preliminary applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and the Poly Prep Admissions Office will be in touch with families throughout the fall and early winter to extend invitations to interview. Student interviews will be small group interviews led by members of our Lower School faculty. 
  • PARENT/GUARDIAN INTERVIEW
    • Parent/guardian interviews will be in-person with a member of our Admissions Committee.
  • FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION
    • Families who would like to apply for financial aid must submit an application in Clarity.
    • Deadline: December 15, 2025
  • TEACHER RECOMMENDATION
    • Applicants to Pre-K must use the ISAAGNY School Report for 3 and 4 Year Old Applicants Form. A waiver may be obtained if your student is not enrolled in a school or daycare program.
    • Applicants to K must use the ISAAGNY Kindergarten and Grade 1 Teacher Recommendation Form.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026

  Poly Prep is part of ISAAGNY and adheres to the ISAAGNY decision notification and reply dates.

  Admissions decisions for completed applications to Kindergarten will be posted on Ravenna on February 5, 2026 after 10:00 AM, and families must reply by February 12 at 12:00 PM.

  Admissions decisions for completed applications to Pre-K will be posted on Ravenna on February 26, 2026 after 8:00 AM, and families must reply by March 5 at 12:00 PM.

   

• GRADE 1

  To apply to Grade 1, your child must be six years old before September 1, 2026.

  Grade 1 is considered a non-entry year at Poly, and space is based on attrition. The Poly Admissions Committee reviews applications for interviews on a rolling basis up until the preliminary application deadline, and submitting a preliminary application does not guarantee an interview for non-entry years.

  • PRELIMINARY APPLICATION
    • Our application opens on September 2, 2025 and includes the following:
      • Application form with background information
      • 2024-2025 final report card (if available)
    • Deadline: November 21, 2025
  • PRELIMINARY APPLICATION SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS
    • We ask that you submit the following forms after submitting your preliminary application. While we review preliminary applications on a rolling basis up to the deadline, we will not be able to review an application until families have submitted the following forms:
      • Parent/guardian short answer questions: families are asked to complete the ISAAGNY Parent Statement Form
      • Speech video: families must upload a video of their student speaking
    • Deadline: November 26, 2025
  • STUDENT INTERVIEW AND PARENT/GUARDIAN INTERVIEW
    • For Grade 1 applicants, interviews are by invitation only. Preliminary applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and the Poly Prep Admissions Office will be in touch with families throughout the fall and early winter to extend invitations to interview. Student interviews will be half-day interviews and will include a classroom visit. Parent/guardian interviews will take place during the student interview.
  • FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION
    • Families who would like to apply for financial aid must submit an application in Clarity.
    • Deadline: December 15, 2025
  • CURRENT KINDERGARTEN REPORT CARD
    • Families should upload the applicant’s current fall report card for Kindergarten, if applicable.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026
  • TEACHER RECOMMENDATION
    • This is required for all applicants. Applicants to Grade 1 must use the ISAAGNY Kindergarten and Grade 1 Teacher Recommendation Form.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026

  Poly Prep is part of ISAAGNY and adheres to the ISAAGNY decision notification and reply dates. Admissions decisions for completed applications to Grades 1-8 will be posted on Ravenna on February 11, 2026 after 4:00 PM, and families must reply by February 27 at 12:00 PM.

• GRADES 2-4

  To apply to Grade 2, your child must be seven years old before September 1, 2026.

  For Grades 3 or 4, your child must be eight or nine years old before September 1, 2026.

  Grades 2-4 are considered non-entry years at Poly, and space is based on attrition. The Poly Admissions Committee reviews applications for interviews on a rolling basis up until the preliminary application deadline, and submitting a preliminary application does not guarantee an interview for non-entry years.

  • PRELIMINARY APPLICATION
    • Our application opens on September 2, 2025 and includes the following:
      • Application form with background information
      • 2024-2025 final report card
    • Deadline: November 21, 2025
  • PRELIMINARY APPLICATION SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS
    • We ask that you submit the following forms after submitting your preliminary application. While we review preliminary applications on a rolling basis up to the deadline, we will not be able to review an application until families have submitted the following forms:
      • Parent/guardian short answer questions: families are asked to complete the ISAAGNY Parent Statement Form
      • Speech video: families must upload a video of their student speaking
    • Deadline: November 26, 2025
  • STUDENT INTERVIEW AND PARENT/GUARDIAN INTERVIEW
    • For Grades 2-4 applicants, interviews are by invitation only. Preliminary applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and the Poly Prep Admissions Office will be in touch with families throughout the fall and early winter to extend invitations to interview. Student interviews will be half-day interviews and will include a classroom visit. Parent/guardian interviews will take place during the student interview.
  • FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION
    • Families who would like to apply for financial aid must submit an application in Clarity.
    • Deadline: December 15, 2025
  • ISEE PRIMARY TESTING
    • Testing is required for admission into Grades 2-4. Please see Ravenna for more information about how to register for the ISEE Primary.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026
  • TEACHER RECOMMENDATION
    • This is required for all applicants. Applicants to Grades 2-4 must use the ISAAGNY School Reference Form for Grades 2-5.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026
  • OFFICIAL ACADEMIC RECORD
    • Download the Transcript Request Form in Ravenna and print or email it to the records office at your child’s current school after December 1.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026
  • FALL REPORT CARD
    • Upload your child’s fall progress report from the first trimester or semester of the 2025-2026 school year. Please contact our office if your child will not receive a report card by this date.
    • Deadline: January 8, 2026

  Poly Prep is part of ISAAGNY and adheres to the ISAAGNY decision notification and reply dates. Admissions decisions for completed applications to Grades 1-8 will be posted on Ravenna on February 11, 2026 after 4:00 PM, and families must reply by February 27 at 12:00 PM.

Note: Current families applying for Nursery for a sibling should check the Poly Pulse for specific timelines.

Director of Admissions, Enrollment and Financial Aid

LaTasha Richards P’26, ’29, ’31, ’33

Email

University of Virginia – BS

Associate Director of Lower School Admissions

Christine Habib

Email

Haverford College – BS