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Our first-round application deadline is Friday, December 12, 2025. Completed applications received by midnight on that date will receive first consideration. After December 12, 2025 applications will be considered on a rolling basis if space is available.

For applicants meeting our first-round application deadline of December 12, we will release decisions on the following dates:

Preschool and Kindergarten Notification Date: February 18, 2026

Elementary Notification Date: February 27, 2026

The Raleigh School admissions committee will accept children until winter break if space is available. Please contact our admissions office to inquire about possible openings.

No, we do not require or administer tests for admission at any grade level.

The Raleigh School accepts the largest numbers of new students in Preschool 2s. We welcome new families in most grades each year.

We find children who flourish at The Raleigh School are well-rounded, self-directed, focused, independent, confident, curious learners with strong communication and social/emotional skills.

Children who do best at The Raleigh School have the ability to function independently and work collaboratively with their peers.

In addition, we do give priority admission in the following order:

1. Re-Enrolling Students

2. Siblings of Current Students

If you remain on the waitlist after the school year begins and are interested in reapplying for the following year, we will waive your application fee. We kindly ask that you update your application with any new preschool class preferences, progress reports, or evaluations. A member of our Admissions team will contact you in October to request the updated information.

We turn frequently to our wait pools to fill openings as they arise, often in spring and early summer. Families who are patient often find that we are able to place their child. If your child is placed in the wait pool, it means that we think the child would do well at our school but we do not have space at the time of wait list placement.

No. We place children according to their age on August 31 in the year of admission. Kindergarten and preschool applications will be considered for the appropriate level/grade based on birth date.

Parents will be asked to rank their class choices in order of preference. If we are unable to offer the first choice of class, we will place your child where we have space, and simultaneously place your child in the wait pool for your preferred class or classes.

The Raleigh School uses an August 31 birthdate cutoff for placement in our elementary and preschool classes (excluding our Parent/Child class). Families applying to our preschool program are encouraged to use the placement chart below to determine the appropriate class for their child for the 2026–2027 school year.

For Kindergarten applicants, children must turn five years old on or before August 31, 2026.

2026-2027 CLASS AGE RANGES FOR PLACEMENT

Parent-Child Class
Born: 9/1/24 - 3/31/25

Twos Class
Born: 9/01/23 - 8/31/24

Threes Class
Born: 9/01/22 - 8/31/23

Fours Class
Born: 9/01/21 - 8/31/22