Navigating the School Admission Process

For many of us who attended independent or parochial schools back in the day, the process was pretty simple: Pick a couple of schools, visit their open houses, send in applications, take some tests, and—boom—you were in.

As years have passed, though, the admissions process has become a tad more involved.

That’s why Kristin Green, the director of enrollment at The Catholic High School of Baltimore (TCHS), says, “Parents need to understand the process because every school is a little different. The best place to start is to look at each school’s website.”

Ruthie Sachs Kalvar, director of admission at The Park School of Baltimore agrees.

“Gather data from school websites and attend events on campus to help clarify mission, philosophy, academic programming, extracurricular opportunities, cost, tuition assistance opportunities, and more,” she explains. “Consider the degree to which the school reflects your family’s values and your child’s needs. Through the admission process—including school visits for parents and children—what’s most important to each family will emerge.”

Kalvar suggests that as a first step, you visit the website of the Association of Independent Maryland & D.C. Schools (aimsmddc.org) and check out the section for parents.

“There is information about choosing the right school, and you can conduct a helpful search based on various criteria,” she says.

By looking at a school’s social media accounts, she says that you can get a feel for their philosophy, values, and community.

And, above all, be sure to chill out as you move forward.

“Identifying and choosing a school can certainly be overwhelming,” says Kalvar. “Approach the admission process with a positive mindset. You will not only learn about schools and their distinctive features, but you’ll also gain immeasurable insight into your child, your family, and Baltimore, too.”

DON’T BE LATE!
If you’re looking at high schools, Jason Karolkowski of Rosedale, whose three daughters have attended parochial schools since pre-K, suggests that you attend the high school fairs when your child is in sixth grade.

“You start seeing what’s out there, and becoming familiar with schools that are in your area or schools that your child is interested in,” he says. “Make sure you hit the open houses schools have over multiple years. You can see things that may have changed in the schools over that time, which might be helpful.”

However, if your child will be attending a private school from pre-K and up, “In the fall of the year before the child will be attending school, you should reach out,” says Amy Mortimer, the director
of enrollment management at Friends School of Baltimore.

In terms of high school, Mortimer says that if you explore schools a couple of years before your child will attend, be sure what you liked about them is still the same.

“Things change in schools, and a principal may have left or a program may have changed,” she explains. “We certainly work with families a couple of years ahead, when they want to check out the school or get the lay of the land, and see if an independent school is right for them.”

“If you wait until your child is in eighth grade to start looking, you’re not going to get as much information, and you may feel rushed,” says Green. “I recommend looking in the seventh grade. Come to high school fairs in the fall. In the spring, we all have seventh grade visiting days, where children and parents can learn more about the schools.”

“Approach the admission process with a positive mindset.
“You will not only learn about schools and their distinctive features, but you’ll also gain immeasurable insight into your child, your family, and Baltimore, too.”

GETTING SCHOOLED
After you’ve checked out schools on the web and via high school fairs, it’s time for the next step: the open house. (See our following guide for details on local school open houses.)

Schools usually have their open house events in the fall. If you’ve never been to one before, Nick Brownlee, the vice president for enrollment management at Archbishop Curley High School, describes what you can expect: “You’re probably going to have a current student guiding your tour, and you’ll get a really good feel for the campus and how you feel when you’re there. You can learn about the school’s special programs, such as a STEM or honor’s programs, as well as the academic programs.”

Some schools, such as Friends School, may offer open houses during the regular school day, instead of at night or on a weekend.

“We call them ‘First Look at Friends.’ We show typical school days on purpose,” says Mortimer. “About 80 or 100 people attend, and they can peek into our teachers’ classrooms while they’re teaching, just to be able to see what’s happening and see the culture, the community, and the kind of work that our kids are doing.”

Although looking at a school’s website can give you basic information about the size, location, and educational priorities for the school, be sure to go to the actual school—whether it’s during an open house or on another tour.

“We recommend getting to campus to see a school in action. Look for students who are really engaged and thinking—rather than being told what to think— [or] memorizing and repeating,” explains Kalvar. “Are children of all ages encouraged to hypothesize, experiment, create, and question? Do you see students working both individually and collaborating in small and large
groups? Is process valued, or just the end result?

Learn about the school’s philosophy—then look for it in action.”

She adds, “Families should gather as much information as they can and experience the school’s community—tour classrooms at multiple grade levels, attend available teacher/student discussions, and hear directly from students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Parents should make sure they feel welcomed and comfortable, and that the school understands and appreciates who their child is.”

Also find out if schools have other events when parents and/or children can learn about a part of the institution. For example, TCHS has an event called “Coffee and Conversation,” when parents can sit down with the president, principal, and admissions office staff, and ask them questions. Archbishop Curley has a “Meet the Coaches Night,” when families can learn more in-depth about sports programs.

“We are firm believers in getting to actually see the programs and schools and getting to meet with people who have been there,” says Karolkowski. “If you sit down and meet with the administration ahead of time, you learn more about the school.”

The Karolkowski family also attended a number of fun events at the schools their girls had interest in. Everything from plays to sporting events can give you more of an idea of what the culture and school’s community are like.

“Talk to parents who currently have students at the schools you’re looking into. . .”
“We were able to talk with a couple of parents at the high school fair night, and they also had parents available during the open houses.”

PARENT TO PARENT
When going through the school admissions process, it’s good to hear from other parents.

“Talk to parents who currently have students at the schools you’re looking into,” says Karolkowski. While he and his wife, Jennifer, knew parents at two of the schools their daughters applied to, they didn’t know anyone at another school. But that wasn’t a problem.

“We were able to talk with a couple of parents at the high school fair night, and they also had parents available during the open houses. So, we were able to talk with current parents then,” he says.

“Most of us have Ambassador Programs, where our current families are happy to hop on a call and speak with you,” says Mortimer. “Being able to talk to parent ambassadors and ask them specific questions is important and another good way to get to know the school,”

THE RIGHT REASONS
The Karolkowskis began the process with their oldest daughter, Amanda, who ended up attending TCHS. Although she’s now in college, the Karolkowskis have two other daughters—
Natalie and Sophia—who are also at TCHS, but not because they wanted to follow in their oldest sister’s footsteps.

“When it came time for Natalie and Sophia to choose where they wanted to attend high school, we left the decisions up to them,” says Karolkowski. “They did apply to other schools. But both of them had become so familiar with Catholic High with all the events they had attended there.”

“I think a lot of times, there’s a temptation for students to go where their friends are going. Remind your children that no matter where they go, they’re going to make new friends,” says Brownlee.
“And with social media, kids have friends at every school.”

FINDING THE PERFECT FIT
To determine which school is best for them, your child should attend shadow days at their favorites. (In case you’re not familiar with the term, a shadow day is when your child is paired with a current student at a school and follows them on a typical day to classes, lunch, etc.)

Brownlee says that a child usually narrows their choices down to two schools. If at that point, they’re still not sure, sit with them a make a pros and cons list.

“There’s never anything wrong with making this list,” says Brownlee. “It’s all about finding the best fit for your child.”

Part of determining the best fit, he continues, is asking them questions such as: Where do you feel like you fit best academically? Where do you feel like you fit best socially? Where will you have the most opportunities to participate in those programs you have a passion for? Where do you see yourself excelling?

He adds, “Where does your child feel like they’re going to be happy? Where do they feel comfortable? Where can they see themselves coming to school for the next four years and looking forward to it?”

Green says that it’s also crucial to make sure the school has what your child wants— even in terms of extracurricular activities. “Suppose your child is an average soccer player, but has a passion for it. Will they be able to make the team at a particular school?” she says. “Look for schools where your child can have success both inside and outside of the classroom.”

In addition, Green says, make sure that the school has the academic program that will enable your child to get where they want to be later in life.

Mortimer says that part of the staff’s job is to offer your children the ability to share their passions and interests, along with fanning the flame of new passions and encouraging them to do activities that they never thought they would or could do.

If your child is going into elementary school, she says, “You’re looking for an environment that is going to promote curiosity and creativity and give them the really strong academic building blocks that they need to be successful learners.”

Finally, be sure that your family also feels like they fit in.

“The feeling that we had as far as the sense of community in the schools played a huge part in our family’s decision. You know when you go someplace and you’re interacting with people
whether you feel comfortable or not,” says Karolkowski.

STAY ORGANIZED AND JUST BREATHE
You and your child should read through the applications closely.

“Every school does something a little bit different. Some schools require essays,” says Green. “Make sure to follow the school’s timelines. We all tell people repeatedly when the application
deadline is.”

Kalvar says, “Stay organized and create a plan for gathering required materials and meeting each school’s published deadlines.”

And if you still have questions, always ask.

“If you have questions about a particular program or even want to know if we received your application that you filed online, don’t be afraid to reach out to the schools as well,” says Brownlee.

Most importantly, don’t get stressed out.

“Just breathe. It’s a stressful time for everybody, but the more stress you put on the student, the worse the situation’s going to be. Take your time and have fun with the process,” says Green. “When everything’s been handed in, you can’t do anymore than you already have. If you’ve done everything possible, just sit back and watch as the acceptances roll in.”

CHECKLIST FOR FINDING THE BEST SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD
There are so many aspects to consider when selecting a private school.
Here are some of the main ones to remember:

• Cost

• Location

• Academic programs

• Extracurricular activities

• College prep

• Transportation availability

• Scholarships

• Financial aid

• Student life (dances, etc.)

• Average class size

SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE GUIDE 2024
Looking for the best school for your student? Begin with a visit to one of the area’s many campuses for an open house. Here is our guide to help you navigate this process. Always double-check with the school by phone or via their website to confirm dates and times, pre-register for events, and to inquire about visiting opportunities beyond the open house.

ARCHBISHOP CURLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Catholic
10/26, 10/27, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Sinclair Ln., Baltimore
(410) 485-5000, archbishopcurley.org
Grades 9-12, all boys

ARCHBISHOP SPALDING HIGH SCHOOL
Catholic
10/27, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
8080 New Cut Rd., Severn
(410) 969-9105, archbishopspalding.org
Grades 9-12, coed

BETH TFILOH DAHAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Jewish
Lower School: 10/29, 11/21, 8:45a.m.;
Middle School: 11/4, 12/4, 9:00 a.m.;
High School: 10/30, 11/12, 11/18, 8:30 a.m.
3300 Old Court Rd., Baltimore
(410) 413-2323 , bethtfiloh.com/school
Grades Preschool 2s-12, coed

THE BOYS’ LATIN SCHOOL of MARYLAND
10/20, 10 a.m.
822 West Lake Ave., Baltimore
(410) 377-5192, boyslatinmd.com
K-12, all-boys

THE BRYN MAWR SCHOOL
Pre-k-12: 11/2
Lower school: 10/2, 11/22
Middle school: 10/10
109 West Melrose Ave., Baltimore
(410) 323-8800, brynmawrschool.org
Grades Pre-k-12, all girls (coed preschool)

CALVERT SCHOOL
10/9, 11/22, 11/7, 11/19, 12/4, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
105 Tuscany Rd., Baltimore
(410) 243-6054, calvertschoolmd.org
Grades K-8 and early childhood education
center, coed

CALVERT HALL COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
Catholic
11/9, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
8102 LaSalle Rd., Towson
(410) 825-4266, calverthall.com/admissions/welcome-to-the-hall
Grades 9-12, all boys

THE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL of BALTIMORE
Catholic
10/26, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
2800 Edison Highway, Baltimore
(410) 732-6200, thecatholichighschool.org
Grades 9-12, all girls

CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL
Catholic
11/9, noon-3 p.m.
420 S. Chester Street, Baltimore
(410) 727-3255, cristoreybalt.org
Grades 9-12, coed

FRIENDS SCHOOL of BALTIMORE
Quaker
9/26, 10/24, 11/12, 12/11, 4/9, 9 -11 a.m.
5114 North Charles Street
(410) 649-3200, friendsbalt.org
Grades Pre-K- 12, coed

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
Please visit the website for schedule information.
300 Garrison Forest Rd., Owings Mills
(410) 363-1500, gfs.org
Grades K-12, all girls
(coed preschool, boarding option grades 8-12)

GERSTELL ACADEMY
11/2, 10 a.m.; 11/21, 5 p.m.; 12/6, 9 a.m.
2500 Old Westminster Pike, Finksburg
(410) 861-4400, gerstell.org
Grades pre-K-12, coed

GILMAN SCHOOL
Please visit the website for schedule information.
5407 Roland Ave., Baltimore
(410) 323-3800, gilman.edu
Grades Pre-K-12, all boys

HARFORD DAY SCHOOL
Please visit the website for schedule information.
715 Moores Mill Rd., Bel Air
(410) 838-4848, harfordday.org
Grades pre-K3-8, coed

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL
Catholic
Pre-K-Kindergarten: 9/19, 9:30-11:30 a.m.;
Middle School: 10/10, 6-8 p.m.;
Pre-K 3-8 10/23, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
112 Ware Ave., Towson
(410) 427-4903, theics.org
Grades pre-K3-8, coed

IMMACULATE HEART of MARY SCHOOL
Catholic
10/23, 3:30-5:30 p.m.; 1/26 (time TBD)
8501 Loch Raven Boulevard, Towson
(410) 668-8466, ihmschoolmd.org
Grades preschool-8, coed

JEMICY SCHOOL
Please visit the website for schedule information.
Lower & Middle School Campus: 11 Celadon
Rd., Owings Mills; Upper School Campus: 11202
Garrison Forest Rd., Owings Mills
(410) 653-2700, jemicyschool.org
Grades 1-12, coed

LOYOLA BLAKEFIELD
Catholic
10/20, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
500 Chestnut Ave., Baltimore
(443) 841-3680, loyolablakefield.org
Grades 6-12, all boys

MARYVALE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Catholic
Upper School: 10/10, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.;
Middle School:10/23, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
11300 Falls Rd., Lutherville
(410) 308-8531, maryvale.com
Grades 6-12, all girls

MCDONOGH SCHOOL
Visit website for schedule information.
8600 McDonogh Rd., Owings Mills
(410) 363-0600, mcdonogh.org
Grades PK-12, coed (five-day boarding option)

MERCY HIGH SCHOOL
Catholic
10/12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
1300 East Northern Parkway, Baltimore
(410) 433.8880, mercyhighschool.com
Grades 9-12, all girls

NOTRE DAME PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Catholic
10/19, 8:30 a.m.
815 Hampton Ln., Towson
(410) 825-6202, notredameprep.com
Grades 6-12, all girls

THE ODYSSEY SCHOOL
1/16/25, 6:45-9 p.m.
(Snow date: 1/23, 6:45 p.m. – 9 p.m.)
3257 Bridle Ridge Ln., Lutherville
(410) 580-5551, theodysseyschool.org
Grades K-8, coed

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SCHOOL
Catholic
10/2, 6 p.m., 11/6, 10 a.m., 1/26/25 ,10:30 a.m.,
3/12/25, 10 a.m., 4/30/25, 6 p.m.
4801 Ilchester Rd., Ellicott City
(410) 744-4251, olphschool.org
Pre-K-8, coed

THE PARK SCHOOL of BALTIMORE
10/27, 10 a.m.–noon
2425 Old Court Rd., Baltimore
(410) 339-7070, parkschool.net
Pre-k-12, coed

RESURRECTION-ST. PAUL SCHOOL
Catholic
11/5, 9:30 a.m., 1/28/25, 9:30 a.m.
3155 Paulskirk Dr., Ellicott City
(410) 461-9111, resstpaul.org
Pre-K3-8, coed

ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL
9/28, 10 a.m.-noon
5204 Roland Ave., Baltimore
(410) 323-5500, rpcs.org
Pre-K-12, all girls (coed preschool)

ROSEDALE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Catholic
High school: 10/31, 12/5, 2/6/25
9202 Philadelphia Rd., Baltimore
(410) 687-6844, rosedalechristianacademy.org
Pre-K3-12, coed

ST. AUGUSTINE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Catholic
11/11, 1/26/25
5990 Old Washington Rd., Elkridge
(410) 796-3040, staug-md.org
Grades PreK3-8, coed

SAINT JOHN’S CATHOLIC PREP
Catholic
10/27; Please visit website for schedule information.
3989 Buckeystown Pike, Buckeystown
(301) 662-4210, saintjohnsprep.org
Grades 9-12, coed

ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL COCKEYSVILLE
Catholic
10/1, 1:30 p.m.
105 Church Ln. Cockeysville
(410) 683-0600, sjpray.org
Grades Pre-K-8; coed

ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL-FULLERTON
Catholic
10/19, 9a.m.-noon
8416 Belair Rd., Baltimore
(410) 256-8026, stjoeschool.org
Grades Pre-K4-8th, coed

ST. MARGARET SCHOOL
Catholic
11/12, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Elementary Campus: 205 Hickory Ave., Bel Air
Middle School Campus: 1716 Churchville Rd.,
Bel Air
(410) 879-1113, smsch.org
Grades PreK-3-8

ST. MARK SCHOOL
Catholic
10/17, 9-11:00 am
26 Melvin Ave., Catonsville
(443) 860-0926, stmark-school.org
Grades pre-K3-8, coed

ST. MARY’S PARISH & SCHOOL
Catholic
High School: 10/26, 2 p.m.
Elementary School: 11/8, 9 a.m.
109 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis
(410) 990-4100, stmarysannapolis.org
Grades Pre-K-12, coed

THE ST. PAUL’S SCHOOLS
Episcopal
Lower School: 10/7, 11/9, 12/4, 1/10/25;
Girls Middle School: 10/22, 11/19, 12/10, 1/7/25;
Boys Middle School: 10/30, 11/20, 12/9, 1/8/25;
Girls Upper School:10/15, 11/14, 12/3, 1/14/25;
Boys Upper School: 10/18, 11/12, 12/11, 1/9/25
11152 Falls Rd., Brooklandville
(410) 825-4400, stpaulsmd.org
Six weeks-grade 4: coed
Grades 5-12: single-gender

ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL
Catholic
10/10. Please visit the website for schedule information.
8028 Bradshaw Rd., Kingsville
(410) 592-7617, ssschool.org
Grades PreK 3-8, coed

ST. URSULA SCHOOL
Catholic
11/11, 1/26/25. Please visit the website for schedule information.
8900 Harford Rd., Baltimore
(410) 665-3533, stursula.org
Grades PK4-8, coed

THE SCHOOL OF THE CATHEDRAL of MARY OUR QUEEN
Catholic
10/15. Please visit the website for schedule information.
111 Amberly Way, Baltimore
(410) 464-4117, schoolofthecathedral.org
Grades preK4-8, coed

TRINITY SCHOOL
Catholic
10/19, 11/6, 1/29/25, 2/26/25, 3/19/25,
4/9/25, 9-11 a.m.
4985 Ilchester Rd., Ellicott City
(410) 744-1524, trinityschoolmd.org
Pre-K3-8, coed