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Everything Culver City and Westside families need to know about applying to this DK–8 progressive school.
Quick Answer for Busy Parents
The Willows Community School is an independent, coeducational DK–8 day school in Culver City, California. Founded in 1994, it enrolls about 432–509 students with an 8:1 student-teacher ratio. The ISEE is optional for Middle School (Grades 6–8) applicants, while Open House attendance is strongly recommended for all applicants. Applications are due in early January for Lower School and mid-January for Middle School. Willows is widely recognized for integrating Maker education and design thinking across its entire curriculum.
Why Do Families Choose The Willows Community School?
Founded in 1994, Willows is nationally recognized as a balanced, progressive educational leader, incorporating experiential learning and thematic instruction into a curriculum that integrates technology, Maker education, design thinking, and the arts. The school sits on a 4-acre campus in Culver City’s Hayden Tract, a neighborhood known for its creative and technology-sector offices, with distinctive amenities including rooftop basketball courts.
Families are drawn to Willows’s strong academic program and its stated mission to nurture connection, foster character, value content, inspire creativity, and build community. Beyond the core values, parents value how these principles translate into active, student-centered learning that develops both critical thinking and empathy. The school’s collaborative culture ensures that students feel genuinely known and supported, creating a vibrant environment where academic rigor and social-emotional growth go hand in hand.
Did You Know? Willows’s Culver City campus includes rooftop basketball courts, a distinctive feature reflecting the school’s setting in the Hayden Tract, a neighborhood known for creative architecture and design.
How Hard Is It to Get Into The Willows Community School?
While The Willows Community School does not publish an official acceptance rate, admission is highly selective due to strong demand and limited open seats. The school evaluates applicants holistically through teacher recommendations, academic records, parent questionnaires, recommended open house attendance, and optional ISEE testing for middle schoolers.
Because fit with the school’s progressive philosophy is key, demonstrating early interest is essential. Waitlists are common, so prospective families are encouraged to complete all application steps well before deadlines to maximize their chances of admission.
Top Tips for a Strong Application
- Submit your application as soon as the portal opens in mid-August.
- Attend an Open House, as it is a strongly recommended part of the admissions process.
- Confirm the correct deadline for your child’s specific grade, since Lower and Middle School follow different timelines.
Best Practices for Elite Families
- Request an Administrative Recommendation form from your child’s current school with plenty of lead time.
- Ask directly about the Maker education and design thinking curriculum during a visit.
- Visit the Hayden Tract campus in person to see its distinctive facilities, including the rooftop basketball courts.
The Willows Admission Process
Completing an online inquiry form on the school website is the first step in The Willows Community School’s admissions process, where you will receive information and access to schedule tours and events.
- Submit inquiry form.
- Submit online application.
- Application Form & Fee
- Parent/Guardian Statement
- Attend school tours.
- Designate recommendations.
- Current math & English teacher
- Administrator Recommendation
- Request transcript & school records.
- Current & previous year
- Student Information Release Form
- Transcript Request Form
- Standardized Test Score (Optional)
- Schedule admissions interview.
- Parent/Guardian Interview
- Student Interview
- Attend student visits.
The Willows Community School Application Requirements
Parent/Guardian Statement
Submitted via the online portal for all grade levels (DK–8th). Parents complete the parent/guardian statement to share insights into their child’s personality, interests, learning style, and family values to help the admissions committee understand the applicant beyond academic records.
How to write a compelling parent/guardian statement: Share anecdotes that demonstrate your child’s maturity and values rather than repeating their resume. Keep your tone authentic and collaborative. Learn how to write a compelling private school parent statement.
Teacher Recommendations
Delegated electronically through the portal. DK and Kindergarten applicants require a Preschool Evaluation Form. Lower School (Grades 1–5) applicants require a Current Teacher Evaluation Form. Middle School (Grades 6–8) applicants must submit three forms: current Math teacher, current English teacher, and Administrator recommendations.
How to get the best teacher recommendations: To secure strong teacher evaluations, your child must build genuine relationships with teachers. Recommenders should highlight your child’s leadership, behavior, and academic impact on the school community.
Transcript & School Records
Requested electronically using the Student Information Release / Transcript Request Form. Grades 1–8 applicants must submit official current-year progress reports and complete prior-year transcripts. Submitting standardized test scores (such as the ISEE) is entirely optional.
How to improve academic performance: If grades need improvement, seek targeted, consistent academic support months before applications are due. Academic coaching helps strengthen key skills early, allowing students to demonstrate sustained growth on their transcripts.
Admissions Interview
Required for all applying families. The Willows requires a Parent/Guardian Interview with an admissions team member, plus a separate one-on-one Student Interview with a faculty member that includes an informal assessment. Interviews are offered in English and Spanish.
How to prepare for the admissions interview: Applicants and parents can benefit from targeted interview prep to practice discussing academic interests, personal passions, and reasons for applying to The Willows in a relaxed, conversational manner, ensuring they communicate authentically and confidently with the admissions team.
Student Visits
Required for all applicants (DK–8th). DK and Kindergarten applicants attend an interactive campus Group Assessment. Lower School (Grades 1–5) applicants complete a Half-Day Classroom Visit, while Middle School (Grades 6–8) applicants complete a Student Shadow Visit.
How to prepare for the student visit: Help your child view the assessment as an active, engaging classroom experience rather than a formal exam. Emphasize the importance of listening, participating in group activities, and engaging comfortably with peers and faculty evaluators.
Have Questions About Your Child’s Application?
Cardinal Education’s consultants help families prepare for the ISEE and guide them through Willows’s Open House events.
Student Life at The Willows Community School
Student life at The Willows Community School is a balanced, progressive blend of experiential academics, creative arts exploration, interscholastic athletics, and rich community involvement.
Beyond the core classroom, students are encouraged to actively engage their passions through robust enrichment, team play, and collaborative projects that cultivate both personal growth and strong connections across campus.
Academics
Academic life at The Willows balances an inquiry-driven core curriculum with hands-on, experiential learning. The educational approach combines progressive instruction with rigorous skill-building, empowering students to solve problems critically and think independently across disciplines.
| Metric | Overview & Academic Feature |
| Grade Levels Offered | Developmental Kindergarten (DK) through 8th Grade |
| Instructional Approach | Balanced progressive framework focusing on experiential, thematic instruction and project-based inquiry |
| Teaching Models | Co-teaching instructional model and teacher looping (DK–2nd and 3rd–4th grade tracks) for educational continuity |
| Social-Emotional Learning | Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence RULER framework integrated into daily school life |
| Technology Integration | 1:1 device program starting in DK to foster digital literacy and purposeful research |
This structured dynamic prepares students for higher academic levels by emphasizing critical analysis, empathy, and self-directed intellectual development.
Arts
The fine and performing arts program provides hands-on creative expression integrated with academic themes and supported by dedicated specialists.
- Visual Arts Integration: Weekly visual arts classes starting in DK, connecting artistic creation to thematic units and annual school-wide concepts.
- Performance & Theater: Active drama and dance programs that build stage confidence through seasonal assemblies, theatrical productions, and performances.
- Music Education: Comprehensive music curriculum covering vocal instruction, instrumental rhythm, and musical theory.
- Maker & Design Thinking: Seamless integration of maker spaces and digital media skills directly into artistic and classroom projects.
Students gain visual literacy, technical proficiency, and creative confidence as they showcase their work throughout the school year.
Athletics
The physical education and athletic programs focus on personal wellness, team building, and healthy competition across grade levels.
| Athletic Metric | Program Features |
| Program Scope | Comprehensive physical education for all grades alongside Middle School interscholastic sports |
| Interscholastic Sports | Interscholastic team options including Flag Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, and Track & Field |
| Core Values | Emphasis on skill development, high participation, sportsmanship, and physical fitness |
| League Participation | Competitive participation within local independent school athletic leagues |
The athletic department supports both beginning participants and experienced athletes through focused coaching, emphasizing healthy competition and sportsmanship.
After School Programs
The Willows offers comprehensive after-school offerings designed to provide structured enrichment, skill-building, and flexible care beyond regular school hours.
- Extended Care: Daily extended coverage available until 6:00 PM featuring structured indoor and outdoor playtime alongside healthy snacks.
- Specialized Enrichment Classes: Term-based extracurricular offerings including STEM, ceramics, baking, chess, yoga, fencing, and dance.
- Performing Arts & Music: After-school opportunities in instruments, vocal training, and theatrical performance arts.
- Athletic Clinics: Specialized sports skill clinics and non-competitive recreational activities designed to promote physical agility.
These signature extended activities extend learning beyond the traditional classroom, fostering personal passions and community building in a safe environment.
Admissions to The Willows Community School are highly competitive, driven by strong demand, limited open spots, and distinct application components such as recommended Open House attendance and differing timelines for Lower and Middle School.
Cardinal Education’s experienced admissions consultants guide families through every step—ensuring key deadlines are met, navigating specific grade-level requirements, and crafting a standout, compelling application that maximizes your child’s chances of admission.
Related Articles:
Inside the Hayden Tract: The Willows Community School’s Distinctive Culver City Campus
Maker Education and Design Thinking at The Willows Community School
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Willows a religious school?
What is The Willows Community School known for?
Does The Willows require standardized testing for admission?
Is Open House attendance required for all applicants?
What grades are offered at The Willows Community School?
The Maker program gave our daughter a genuine love of building and problem-solving. Cardinal Education guided us through the optional testing considerations and helped us put together a strong Middle School application.
— Willows Parent