Lower School Application Process

Grades Pre-K through 5

Admissions Guidelines and Information
We seek applicants for whom our philosophy will be a good fit for the child and the family. To assess this, we attempt to get to know your child and you in several different ways. Below is the application process for admission to the Lower School.

Application Form
An application for admission must be completed and returned with a $60 check made payable to The Shipley School. An applicant must be four years old on or before August 31 to be enrolled in Pre-K and five years old to be enrolled in Kindergarten for the following school year. As soon as we receive your application, we will contact you to schedule a Parent Interview and Classroom Visit. No interviews or visits will be scheduled without a submitted application.

School Tour and Parent Interview
The best way to learn about Shipley is to visit and see our school community in action. The parent interview includes a tour of the Lower School Campus.

Classroom Visit
Your child’s classroom visit provides Shipley with an opportunity to get to know your child both as an individual and in a classroom setting. Each child applying to Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten is scheduled to visit with a small group of applicants on a selected morning in December or January. Children applying to grades 1-5 have an individual one day visit in their current grade. We will contact you to arrange your child’s visit once we receive your application.

Teacher Recommendation Form and Record Release Form
A confidential Teacher Recommendation Form is required of all Pre-K–5 candidates. It is the family’s responsibility to arrange to have the form sent to Shipley. For grades 1–5, school transcripts and records must be received in order to complete a candidate’s application file.

Outside Testing
Entering Pre-K:  No testing is required.
Entering Kindergarten: WPPSI-III.
Entering grade1: WPPSI-III or WISC-IV, depending on the age of the child.
Entering grades 2–5: WISC-IV.

To Arrange for the WPPSI-III or the WISC-IV
The test can be administered by a licensed private psychologist or by a testing center, such as the following:

Center for Psychological Services
125 Coulter Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003
610-642-4873

MLCA Affiliates
121 N. Wayne Avenue Suite 300
Wayne, PA 19087
610-975-9435

Main Line Educational Services
Rosemont Plaza, Suite 14
1062 Lancaster Avenue
Rosemont, PA 19010
610-525-8127

Main Line Psychological and Educational Associates
119 Coulter Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003
610-896-8666

Deadlines and notifications:
Applications and all supporting documentation must be received by January 21 for a candidate to be considered for admission. Applications received after the deadline are reviewed on a space-available basis.

The Admissions Committee considers all completed applications, and admissions decisions are sent by mail on February 1.