Applying to Wildwood School: What You Need to Know

About Wildwood School

Wildwood School is an independent K-12 school located in West Los Angeles. The school is divided into two campuses. The Elementary School campus is located at 12201 Washington Place while the Middle and Upper School campus is located at 11811 Olympic Boulevard. The school enrolls around 741 students with 160 faculty and staff to support the thriving community. The average student-teacher ratio is 8:1 in elementary and 15:1 in middle and upper school. Class sizes vary by grade level however, they do remain quite low in order to ensure that students receive the individualized attention they need in order to succeed. Founded in 1971, Wildwood School has remained committed to its mission to develop students’ potential as future leaders fostered in an inclusive and transformational environment.    

How hard is it to get into Wildwood School? 

With its reputation as a top-tier school, Wildwood School is incredibly difficult to gain admission to. Parents aspire to have their children attend the school, and this, alongside the extremely limited number of slots, ensures a competitive admissions process that very few succeed in.  

Wildwood School’s main entry points are kindergarten, grades 6,7, and 9. Each year, 50 slots are opened for kindergarten. Only 10 to 20 applicants are accepted each into 6th, 7th, and 9th grade. Taking that into account, these few slots further emphasize the competitiveness of Wildwood admission. The number of slots changes every year with enrollments, and transfers into other grade levels are only considered based on attrition. 

For a detailed plan and strategy to help your child through the admissions process, you should seek the help of experienced private school admissions consultants. Their comprehensive understanding of the admissions process will help you increase your child’s chances of admission into Wildwood School.

The Wildwood School Application 

The Wildwood application process begins by submitting an inquiry form in order to receive login details to your personalized Wildwood School admissions portal. Here, you may submit application requirements, register for tours and events, and check the progress of your application. Here are the steps you should follow:

1. Submit the application.
2. Sign up for an admissions interview.
3. Delegate teacher recommendations.
4. Request a transcript. 

The Wildwood School Admissions 

Teacher Recommendations/Recommendation Letters

Applicants are required to submit letters of recommendation from their current teachers in English and math as well as from administrative personnel like a counselor or principal. The forms may be downloaded directly from the Wildwood School website, or alternatively, it is suggested that applicants delegate recommenders through the application portal so that all letters are submitted directly back to the school. 

These letters are a crucial aspect of the application process. Your child’s recommenders see your child on a near-daily basis and can make professional and unbiased observations. Their thorough evaluations of your child’s character, personality, and academic potential will give admissions officers insight into your child’s potential for success at Wildwood. This is why we strongly recommend building a good rapport with your child’s current school in other to secure exceptional recommendation letters. If you want to know how to properly delegate recommendation letters, talk to an admissions consultant.   

Transcript

Applicants are required to submit their transcript of records from the previous two school years as well as their transcript of the first semester or trimester of the current one. The release form may be downloaded from the Wildwood School website and submitted to your child’s current school.  

But what if your child’s transcript does not reflect favorably on them? As a reflection of your child’s readiness to handle a rigorous curriculum, a transcript has to stand out. This is why we suggest private school admissions consulting. We have a team of tutors and academic coaches ready to guide your child through the practices needed to improve their academic standing. We provide online or in-person tutoring alongside academic coaching, which teaches executive function skills, as part of a holistic strategy. 

Admissions Interview

Both parents and applicants (grades 6-12 only) are required to undergo interviews as part of the admissions process. Interviews are held separately, without the influence of one another. Parents or guardians will meet with an admissions officer who will ask questions about both their child and the family for the officer to gain insight into the family’s fit into the community. Applicants, for their interview, are required to bring a project that will allow them to share an academic or extracurricular passion. The project must be the student’s own work and should not be something new generated for the interview.   

These interviews will allow the admissions team to assess and evaluate how your family carries themselves and will take this into account when considering admission. We understand that an interview can be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone. This is why we suggest informed interview preparation to introduce both yourself and your child to common interview questions. With nearly 20 years of experience in the admissions industry, we understand what admissions officers are looking for and how to answer them authentically. 

The Wildwood School Alumni

1. Ella Emhoff – an American model and artist. Her stepmother is U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.  
2. Rumer Willis – an American artist. She is the daughter of actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. 
3. Amandla Stenberg – an American actress known for her breakthrough role as Rue in the film The Hunger Games. She’s also known for her roles in Sleepy Hollow and Mr. Robinson.  
4. Zoe Kazan – an American actress known for her performances on Broadway and for her starring role in Ruby Sparks. 

Student Life at Wildwood School

Student life at Wildwood School is rich with opportunities where students can follow their interests and passions. The athletics department is open to students no matter their skill level. Likewise, for academics, there is a wide assortment of electives for students to explore and see what fuels their curiosity. Wildwood is known for its arts, and students are pushed to develop their skills and passion. Student life is also rich with collaboration. Students engage with one another no matter their year levels and with the local and global community. The school itself is only one of two schools in California accredited for its global citizenship curriculum by the Council of International Schools.  

Wildwood School Academics

In their time at Wildwood School, students experience a range of academic programs designed specifically to ensure that their academic journey is maximized. The Elementary School Program encourages children’s natural curiosity and drive for learning. Teachers encourage students to use their voices through project-based learning and a System Thinking approach that inspires connections. In the Middle School Program, collaboration is encouraged to deepen higher-order thinking and intellectual inquiry. The Upper School Program allows students to synthesize all they’ve learned throughout the years to find answers that fuel them. Students graduate from Wildwood as prepared graduates ready to create positive change in the world.      

Wildwood School Athletics

The Wildwood School athletics program is committed to adapting to each individual athlete’s needs. Students are pushed to grow their skills while also developing in character. Wildwood School offers Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Cross-Country, Equestrian, Golf, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, Beach Volleyball, and Track & Field for a multitude of teams across a variety of skill levels. 

Wildwood School Arts

Wildwood School encourages the artist in each student to explore through a wide variety of opportunities offered at the school. The department is broken up into three distinct disciplines. Those with a flair for the stage may pursue the Performing Arts and take classes that develop both acting skills and technical theater skills such as designing, lights and sound, costumes, and more! Musicians are given the opportunity to perform throughout the year in classes and concerts. Music classes are experiential and rooted in a variety of genres. Visual Arts students develop their technical skills through a myriad of classes. Eventually, works are displayed in the Student Art Gallery which kicks off with a show that gives student artists the chance to explain and show off their work.         

Activities at Wildwood School

Wildwood School has a wide range of opportunities for students to explore their interests and engage with peers of the same interest. Some examples of student clubs include the Anime Club, Dungeons & Dragons, Wildwood Press, Surf Club, and so many more. For students who wish to engage with their background meaningfully or to be informed, the school has affinity groups such as the BIPOC Affinity Group, White Anti-Racist Group, LGBTQ+ Affinity Group, and more. Parents who may need more time after school hours may enroll their child in the Elementary Enrichment and After School Programs, which ensure that each child has an enriching and community-centered experience.