Applying to Kindergarten

Kindergarten is a prime entry point when forty-two places are offered, usually for twenty-one boys and twenty-one girls. Students requesting admission to Kindergarten are considered on the following criteria: teacher recommendation, group session with our teachers, and individual testing.

For Parents of Kindergarten Candidates

I. We have two limitations regarding age: (1) candidates must be at least five years old before September 1 of the year they will enter Kindergarten, and (2) they must not have turned six before June 1 of the year they will enter Kindergarten.

II. The number of Kindergarten candidates tested each year is limited to approximately 175 for the 42 places available in our Kindergarten class. The list of candidates to be tested is determined as follows:
  • The names of all SJS community candidates are placed on the list of children to be tested. SJS community candidates are defined as children who have a sibling attending or who graduated from St. John's and children of alumni or faculty and staff.


  • Names of new-family candidates are then added to the list according to their date of application until the list contains approximately 175 names. If we are unable to test a candidate, the parents will be notified by mail. The names of the children we cannot test for Kindergarten are automatically added to our list of Class One candidates for the following year. It is our hope that families of the children who cannot be tested for Kindergarten will continue their interest in St. John's School for other class levels. We test all candidates for Classes 1 through 12.
III. Once the group to be tested has been determined, the children are tested individually according to their chronological age from oldest to youngest. These individual I.Q. tests are administered from November through early January. Please note that an additional testing fee of $140 is to be paid at the time of testing if you schedule an appointment to test with St. John's. A candidate may not test at more than one school.

IV. The second phase of testing occurs in February. School readiness skills are assessed in a group setting. The Admissions Committee then selects from this group 42 children who are offered places in our Kindergarten.

KINDERGARTEN 2008

September 7 – Kindergarten application or testing form deadline 
September 25 – Open House at 7:00 p.m. Tours begin at 6:15 p.m.
September 28 – Notification mailed regarding your child's application status
November-January – Individual I.Q. testing
November 19 – Teacher recommendation form mailed to parents
January 18 – Teacher recommendation due
January 19 – Notification of your child's group testing date and time mailed
February 1 – All test scores due if testing at another school
February 4 – Kindergarten Group testing
February 7 – Kindergarten Group testing
February 11 – Kindergarten Group testing
March 11 – Notification letters mailed to parents
March 31 – Meeting at 7:00 p.m. for parents of candidates offered places for the 2008-2009 school year
April 9 – Contract/Acceptance due
April-June – Parent follow-up regarding the evaluation