How to Apply

Applications
Parents submit the Application for Admission along with the $55.00 application fee to The Key School. Applications for the 2020-2021 academic year must be submitted by January 15. After this date, applications will be reviewed on a space available basis.

Please note, all necessary forms and application checklist items can be accessed by creating your family account. This enables access to a personalized dashboard where you can submit information securely, send forms directly to teachers, access real-time status updates, and be the first to find out about upcoming admission events.

Campus Visits
Due to the volume of interest, Key cannot accommodate individual shadow days in the Upper School. Instead, we encourage students to register for one of our Upper School Drop-In Days offered on Friday, November 8, Friday, December 6 and Friday, January 10. To register for a Drop-In Day or Open House, families must complete the online inquiry and then select the date(s) and event(s) of interest. Questions about Drop-In Day or to register over the phone, please contact Makeba Barnes (mbarnes@keyschool.org; 410.263.9231 ext. 1208).

In addition to campus events, students and families will receive a private tour of campus on the day of their scheduled interview. Admitted students may also request a "Revisit Day" after decisions are released.

Student Application
Key asks students applying to grades 9 through 12 to complete a brief student application. The student application affords applicants the opportunity to tell the Admission Committee, in their own words, why they believe Key is a good fit. The form also provides a space for students to list and rank their interests, activities and hobbies.

Student Interview
All students applying to grades 9 through 12 will interview with an admission counselor. Applicants to the Upper School typically opt to schedule the interview after their family's private tour of campus.

Testing
All applicants to grades 9 through 12 must take either the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE - Key School's code is 210013), offered at several locations throughout the season including at Key School, or the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT - Key School's code is 4355).

References
Teacher reference forms must be completed by the applicant's current English and Math teachers. If the applicant has the same teacher for both Math and English, only one teacher reference form is required.

Transcripts
Parents submit the Records Release Form to the applicant's current school to authorize the release of transcripts to The Key School.

Parents of home school applicants are asked to submit: a syllabus and description for each course; a list of textbooks and readings; reports; assessment and samples of recent work; and student references.

Application
Parents submit the Application for Admission along with the $55.00 application fee to The Key School. Applications for the 2020-2021 academic year must be submitted by January 15. After this date, applications will be reviewed on a space available basis.

Please note, all necessary forms and application checklist items can be accessed by creating your family account. This enables access to a personalized dashboard where you can submit information securely, send forms directly to teachers, access real-time status updates, and be the first to find out about upcoming admission events.

Student Application
Key asks students applying to grades 5 through 8 to complete a brief student application. The student application affords applicants the opportunity to tell the Admission Committee, in their own words, why they believe Key is a good fit. The form also provides a space for students to list and rank their interests, activities and hobbies. The student application may be completed at any point during the process, and many students opt to complete this form after they've had the opportunity to visit and interview on campus.

Student Visit and Interview
Integral to the admission process, student visit days provide the opportunity for interaction with Key students and faculty, and to experience a glimpse of life as an honorary Obezag. At the conclusion of the visit, an admission counselor will conduct a brief interview. Student visits should be scheduled directly with the Middle School Admission Counselor.

Testing
All applicants to grades 5 through 8 grade must take either the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE - Key School's code is 210013), offered at several locations throughout the season including at Key School, or the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT - Key School's code is 4355).

References
Teacher reference forms must be completed by the applicant's current English and Math teachers. If the applicant has the same teacher for both Math and English, only one teacher reference form is required.

Transcripts
Parents submit the Records Release Form to the applicant's current school to authorize the release of transcripts to The Key School.

Parents of home school applicants are asked to submit: a syllabus and description for each course; a list of textbooks and readings; reports; assessment and samples of recent work; and student references.

Application
Parents submit the Application for Admission along with the $55.00 application fee to The Key School. Applications for the 2020-2021 academic year must be submitted by January 15, 2020. After this date, applications will be reviewed on a space available basis.

Please note, all necessary forms and application checklist items can be accessed by creating your family account. This enables access to a personalized dashboard where you can submit information securely, send forms directly to teachers, access real-time status updates, and be the first to find out about upcoming admission events.

Student Observation
First School applicants are observed in a group, play-based setting by teaching faculty and division administrators. Observation groups are scheduled by age/grade, and the available dates will be communicated by your admission counselor. An application for admission must be submitted prior to scheduling an observation.

References
Applicants currently enrolled in school or a daycare program are required to have a current teacher complete Key's reference form. For applicants with no school experience, please submit the reference request form to a non-relative who is well-acquainted with your child.

*Students for whom English is their first language, please refer to the application procedures for the appropriate Grade Level.

TOEFL Scores
Applicants for whom English is not their first language: The Office of Admission requires that both an official TOEFL report, as well as the Student and Parent portions of the application, be completed and submitted before an interview can be scheduled . Additionally, an applicant’s TOEFL score must meet the minimum requirement for the indicated grade of entry to be eligible for an interview (see below).

Minimum TOEFL Scores by grade of entry
Grade 9: 85
Grade 10: 90
Grade 11: 95

Interview
Once the above criteria has been met, an interview can be scheduled. Interviews may be conducted in person or via Skype. To schedule an interview, please contact Makeba Barnes at mbarnes@keyschool.org

ISEE / SSAT
In addition to the TOEFL, all applicants to grades 6 through 12 must also take either the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE - Key School's code is 210013) or the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT - Key School's code is 4355). The SSAT is more commonly administered internationally--test sites can be found at SSAT.org.