We seek applicants who will thrive in Shipley’s challenging learning environment and make positive contributions to the School. The admissions process is designed to give you opportunities to become familiar with Shipley and to help us get to know your child and your family. We look forward to working in partnership with you this year.

Applications are considered for admission to grades Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12. 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.

Lower School Admission Process

List of 4 items.

  • Application Form

    We encourage prospective parents to complete our online application with an application fee of $60. Once your application is submitted, we will contact you to schedule a Parent/Guardian Meeting and Student Classroom Visit and to discuss the steps of the application process. 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.
  • Parent/Guardian Meetings, Classroom Visits and Tours

    Parent/Guardian Meeting
    This year we are conducting Parent/Guardian Meetings either virtually or by telephone. It is not necessary to have a completed application to schedule a Parent/Guardian Meeting. During this meeting, we will learn more about your child and their interests and help you learn more about Shipley.
     
    The Parent/Guardian Meeting must be completed before the applicant’s visit to campus. This enables us to consider the applicant’s interests when scheduling their classroom visit day. Please contact the Admissions Office to schedule your Parent/Guardian Meeting.

    Student Classroom Visit
    An on-campus classroom visit is required of all applicants. This visit is scheduled after the Parent/Guardian Meeting and following the submission of a completed application. The classroom visit offers students the opportunity to experience a day at Shipley and allows us to get to know your child both as an individual and in a classroom setting.
     
    Applicants to Pre-K, Kindergarten, and grade 1 visit for part of a day, and students applying to grades 2-5 spend a full day at Shipley.

    On Campus Tour (Optional)
    A campus tour is a wonderful way to envision your child at Shipley. Tours are offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings throughout the school year. To register for a tour, please visit www.shipleyschool.org/admissions.


    If you have not yet submitted an inquiry or started an application you can fill out an inquiry now.
  • Confidential Teacher Recommendation Form and School Records

    Confidential Teacher Recommendation Form
    A confidential Teacher Recommendation Form is required of all applicants. This should be completed by your child’s current teacher. To send a request to your child’s teacher, please log into your ShipleyNet account and request the online form in the checklist.

    School Records
    For application to grades 1–5, transcripts (official school records) are required for the current and previous two school years (if applicable). Please complete the Records Release Form. Once it is completed and signed, please give the Records Release Form to your child’s current school and they will send official transcripts directly to Shipley. Forms may be scanned and sent to admit@shipleyschool.org
  • Standardized Testing

    Applicants to Pre-K – Kindergarten: 
    No testing required. 

    Applicants to Grade 1 – Grade 4: 
    The WISC-V is required for applicants to grades 1-4 and can be scheduled with a local psychologist.

    Applicants to Grade 5: 
    We require all applicants to grade 5 to take the lower level Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE).

Application Timeline

Shipley will begin reviewing applications on December 2, 2022, but applications can be submitted any time before January 2, 2023. Applications received after the January 2, 2023 deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis as space allows.

For families who wish to apply for Tuition Assistance, the Tuition Assistance application is due by January 2, 2023, or at the time the application for admissions is submitted. Families can apply for tuition assistance online through School and Student Services (SSS).

List of 1 members.

  • Photo of Courtney Daly

    Courtney Daly 

    Associate Director of Admissions
    Phone/Extension: 4754

Admissions Magazine



Learn how Shipley helps students develop the critical skills of confidence, creativity, and the ability to collaborate and communicate as integral parts of our demanding curriculum.

The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.