Admissions Process

At Roland Park Country School, our goal is to get to know you and your daughter, and for you and your daughter to get to know us! Above all, we want to make the Admissions process informative and enjoyable.

We encourage parents to schedule an individual appointment to tour the School and to meet with an Admissions representative. Applications and information for Preschool through Grade 12 can be requested online or by telephoning the Admissions Office at 410-323-5500.

Age requirements for Preschool, Kindergarten, Pre-First, First Grade applicants
Admissions Testing
Visiting RPCS
Viewbook

Admissions Steps for Families K - 12:

  1. Request Application: Request an application from the Admissions Office at 410-323-5500 or Apply Online

  2. Personal Appointment: Schedule an appointment for parents to meet with the Director of Admissions and Financial Assistance and take a personal tour of the School. We believe the best way to get to know RPCS is through a personal visit when School is in session. The Admissions Office encourages families to call early in the fall to schedule tours, testing and visiting days.  

  3. Visiting Day/Information Session: Schedule a visiting day for students applying to Grades 2 -12 so your daughter can spend time in RPCS classes and have the opportunity to meet our students and teachers. An application is not required for students to visit RPCS. Please call the Admissions Office to set up a visit. We also offer parent information sessions on the morning of your daughter's visiting day. Please click here for more information about our visiting days.

  4. Submit Application: Submit an application and the $60 application fee. 

  5. Financial Assistance: Request information on Financial Assistance by checking the appropriate box on the RPCS application and the Admissions Office will send you the Financial Assistance paperwork. Financial Aid forms need to be filled out and returned to the Admissions Office by January 6, 2012. Please click here to get more information on the financial aid process.

  6. Submit Transcripts: Request that your daughter's school submit transcripts, school records and Common Referral forms to the Admissions Office. These forms should be received by January 6, 2012. All applicants must submit a transcript (report card) that is current through the fall of 2010.  Kindergarten through Sixth Grade applicants must submit one Common School Referral Form, to be completed by the applicants’ home room teacher. Applicants to Seventh through Twelfth grade must submit two Common School Referral Forms, to be completed by one English teacher and one math teacher.  

  7. Admissions Testing: Schedule Admissions Testing. The Admissions Office must  receive the application and application fee before testing is scheduled. To get more detailed information about Admissions testing, click here.

  8. Notification Date: The applicant's completed file is reviewed and the Admissions Office informs the applicant and her family of the School’s decision on February 15, 2012.

Admissions Steps for Families: Preschool

  1. Request Application: Request an application from the Admissions Office at 410-323-5500.

  2. Personal Appointment: Schedule an appointment for parents to meet with the Director of Admissions and Financial Assistance and take a personal tour of the School. We believe the best way to get to know RPCS is through a personal visit when School is in session. The Admissions Office encourages families to call early in the fall to schedule tours, testing and visiting days.  

  3. Submit Application: Submit an application and the $60 application fee. 

  4. Notification Date: The applicant's completed file is reviewed and the Admissions Office informs the applicant and her family of the School’s decision on February 15, 2012.

Age requirements for Preschool, Kindergarten, Pre-First, First Grade applicants

Preschool
Most applicants to Preschool are 3 or 4 years of age by September 1 of the year they are entering Preschool. At the request of a parent or guardian, boys or girls whose birthdays fall between September 1 - December 31 may be considered for Preschool placement.

Kindergarten
Most applicants to Kindergarten are 5 years of age by September 1 of the year they are entering Kindergarten. At the request of a parent or guardian, girls whose birthdays fall between September 1 - December 31 may be considered for Kindergarten placement.  The expectation is that they will have a Pre-First year between Kindergarten and Grade 1.

Pre-First
There is no specific age requirement for Pre-First.  All applicants to Pre-First must have completed a year of Kindergarten or the equivalent.  Students who turn 6 after September 1 and before December 31 will automatically be considered for Pre-First. Students who turn 6 before September 1 may be recommended for Pre-First depending on their developmental needs.

Grade 1
Applicants to Grade 1 must be 6 years of age by September 1 of the year they are entering the grade.

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Admissions Testing

Each applicant is evaluated on an individual basis.  Emphasis is placed on meeting her developmental needs. The Admissions Office makes it a priority to know each applicant individually. The RPCS Admissions Committee members also meet with each applicant. Grades and test scores are important; however, RPCS considers the whole student in making admissions' decisions.

Kindergarten, Pre-First and First Grade Applicants
Applicants for Kindergarten are given one readiness test at RPCS in January. The assessment is given in small groups. Applicants for Pre-first and First grades are given two readiness tests: one evaluation that is one-on-one and scheduled by appointment beginning in October and one small group evaluation given in January. The Admissions Office will contact you to schedule the group assessment.

Grades 2 - 5 Applicants
Students entering Grades Two through Five test at RPCS on Saturday, January 7, 2012. Please call the Admissions Office to sign up for this testing date. Applicants may test at RPCS or have approved test scores sent to us from another school.
 
Grades 6 - 12 Applicants
Students applying for Grades Six through Twelve may test at RPCS on Saturday, November 5, 2011. If students are unable to come to RPCS on this day, they are also able to take the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE). The ISEE is given at other area independent schools on dates that can be obtained online at www.erbtest.org or by calling 1 (800) 446-0320. The fee to take the ISEE test is not covered in the RPCS application fee. Parents should request that the ISEE results be forwarded to RPCS.

Visiting RPCS

Open House
The Roland Park Country School Open House is on Sunday, October 16, 2011. The formal program begins at 1:30 pm. The Open House includes an introduction from the Head of School and the Director of Admissions and Financial Assistance, followed by Division specific presentations by the academic Division Heads. Student-led tours are available.  No reservation is required.
Preschool, Kindergarten, Pre-First and First Grade
Parents of applicants to Preschool, Kindergarten, Pre-First and First grades are invited to attend a Lower School information session which is held on the morning of each Lower School visiting day. There will also be an opportunity to take a small group tour following the dialogue. Please call the Admissions Office to schedule your information session.
The Bear Party
In January, Families who have submitted an application to Kindergarten, Pre-First and First grades are invited to attend the RPCS Bear Party, a school tradition. Applicants will receive an invitation with more information about the Bear Party after applications are received.
Grades 2 - 12
Visiting Days/Shadow Days provide an opportunity for your daughter to get to know RPCS better. Applicants to Grades Two through Twelve must attend one of our Visiting Days.  Applicants attend classes with an RPCS student hostess and meet other students, teachers, and Academic Division Heads. In addition, each visitor has an informal interview with a member of the Admissions Committee.

On the morning of your daughter’s Visiting Day, parents have the option to stay and attend a small “meet and greet” information session with the Head of School, the Division Head and the Director of Admissions. This session gives parents an opportunity to ask questions and to learn about the RPCS community and curriculum. Applicants to Grade 2 attend morning classes with our first graders until 10:30 am. Applicants to Grades Three through Twelve visit for the entire school day.

Visiting Day attire should be comfortable and appropriate for school. Visitors do not need to bring any school materials or books with them. Lunch and snack are provided. Please note the dates below for Visiting Days and Information Sessions and call the Admissions Office at 410-323-5500 to schedule your daughter’s appointment.

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