What is a typical private school admissions timeline?

Private school admissions don’t run on your school district’s clock. Most applications open in September and wrap up around January or February. Interviews, assessments, and shadow visits happen in the fall and early winter. Decisions usually roll out in March. That means you’ll want to start researching schools and prepping materials by the spring or summer before the school year you’re applying for. If you’re aiming for a competitive school, earlier is better. Think campus tours, testing timelines, teacher rec requests, and essays—all take time. Mark your calendar, gather your documents, and don’t underestimate how quickly those deadlines sneak up once the school year gets going.