Upper School Admissions

UPPER SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

View the Upper School Admissions Calendar

REQUIREMENTS

Please see the steps below for the Upper School application process. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Chris Sanders, Associate Director of Upper School Admissions.

Admissions Application Form

Complete and submit your child's application through Ravenna by clicking here. If you already have a Ravenna account, you may simply login to your account.

Once the application has been submitted, you will have access to the additional required forms. The nonrefundable application fee is $125. However, if you are applying for financial assistance, the nonrefundable application fee is $50. Please contact Jacquie Wilson, Director of Enrollment, if paying the application fee presents a difficulty for your family and we will waive the application fee.

Applicant Interview

Schedule an applicant interview after submitting your child’s admissions application. Interviews may be scheduled through Ravenna. We encourage you to schedule your child’s interview as soon as possible and before February 1, 2020. Your child’s entire file does not need to be complete before scheduling the interview.

Admissions Assessment

Please register your child for the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) by clicking here. Parker's school code is 052843. Your child may take the ISEE at any ISEE approved testing site. In order to be given priority consideration, the last date that applicants may take the ISEE is February 1, 2020.

For applicants living outside of San Diego, the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) may be more readily available than the ISEE. Therefore, we also accept results from the SSAT. Parker’s school code for the SSAT is 3266. You may register for the SSAT by clicking here. In order to be given priority consideration, the last date that applicants may take the SSAT is February 1, 2020.

Please note that either test is acceptable and we do not have a preference for one test over the other. Students applying to the 10th, 11th, or 12th grades may submit either the ISEE, SSAT, PSAT, Pre-ACT, SAT or ACT.

File Completion

For priority consideration, submit the following documents through Ravenna by February 1, 2020:

Admissions Application Form
Administrator, English Teacher and Mathematics Teacher Recommendations - after November 15, 2019
Student Questionnaire
Parent Questionnaire

Request that the registrar at your child’s school mail your child’s transcript (report cards (prior year and first marking period of the current year), immunization record, standardized testing) directly to Parker’s Admissions Office before February 1, 2020.

Immunization Records

Character Skills Snapshot

Parker’s hallmark character education programs originated from Colonel Francis Wayland Parker’s belief that schools have a responsibility to help students become good citizens with integrity, resilience, and social awareness. In his words, “The needs of the society determine the work of the school…the supreme need of society is good citizenship…ideal citizenship demands of the individual the highest degree of knowledge, power and skill.”

In painting a portrait of each applicant, grades and test scores only provide the Admissions Committee with one color. Other important colors include an applicant’s personality and character - which have always been important to the admission process. However, until recently, we haven’t had a tool that we could use to measure the character skills applicants are developing. The Character Skills Snapshot (CSS) is a newly designed assessment tool that will help the Admissions Committee gain additional information on each applicant and may highlight areas where we can help applicants grow if they choose to enroll at Parker. Please click here for more information and to register for the CSS.

EXPERIENCE UPPER SCHOOL

We would love to get to know you. Please join us for a variety of admissions events from now through January, where you can meet our teachers, learn about our curriculum and special programs, and explore our campus.

Campus Tours

Campus Tours are a great way to learn more about Parker. Group tours are scheduled throughout the fall and are also offered during the Open House. On the tour, you will see classes in action and have an opportunity to learn more about Parker’s programs.

Starting October 3 through December 12, families may attend group campus tours on Thursdays from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m., excluding October 17 and November 28.

Please note that individual tours are available for students who have submitted an application. You may contact Chris Sanders (858 / 427-1715) or Marsha Gygax (858 / 427-1713) to schedule.

Prospective Parent Coffees

In addition to the Open House, prospective parents may attend coffees on each campus throughout the fall. These intimate information sessions are intended for parents/guardians of prospective students. Guests will learn about academic, co-curricular and extracurricular activities from the Head of the Upper School, Faculty, Deans and a student panel. Please note, that attendance at coffees is optional.

8:30 a.m. coffee dates: October 29, and November 19
6:00 p.m. coffee dates: October 15, and January 7

Open House

From teachers giving mini-lessons to student ambassadors answering questions, our Open House is an engaging way for parents and children to learn more about Parker. There will be time to explore the campus, meet faculty and administrators, and ultimately gain a deeper understanding of what makes Parker unique.

The Middle and Upper School Open House will be held on Saturday, November 16 from 8 - 11 am.

Visitors' Day

Visitors’ Days at Francis Parker School allow interested students to shadow a current Parker student to classes, enrichment and lunch to gain an idea of what it would be like to attend our School. Visiting the campus is optional for students applying to grades 6 - 12

There are four visit day opportunities for Upper School applicants:

November 4, 2019
December 9, 2019
January 13, 2020
January 28, 2020

We ask that when visiting for the morning, applicants wear comfortable yet modest clothing (no tank tops, yoga/stretch pants or sandals), and leave books, electronics, and non-essential items at home. Classes begin at 8:55 a.m. Therefore, we ask that students arrive by 8:30 a.m. and remain on campus through 12:15 p.m.

Registration for a Visitors' Day may take place after the admissions application has been submitted through Ravenna. RSVP Here

Campus Parking Info

For visits to the Linda Vista campus, please park in the main entrance lot (located at Linda Vista Road and Alcala Knolls Drive). Once you reach the security tower, a guard will assist you in locating a parking spot near the administration building.