Families applying to the Lower and Middle Schools will typically visit Bank Street three times during the Admissions Process:
1) Open House [Click here for description and dates of open houses >>]
2) Child's Visit and Parent Classroom Observation
3) Parent Interview
Important: Although we try to see many families who apply, it is not possible for us to interview all of them. If we do process your application, we will call you soon to schedule a tour and interview. Some families whom we do not invite for an interview will be placed on a Wait List in case an interview slot becomes available. If your application is not processed by mid-February, we will return your application fee.
Child Visits:
The child's visit is designed to give us an opportunity to learn more about your child in a setting where he/she can comfortably engage with materials and interact with other adults and children. Applicants are seen by the Associate Director of Admissions and/ or the appropriate Division Coordinator. We ask that children dress comfortably for play and that they do not bring toys from home to this visit.
We do ask children to separate from their parents in order to participate in the visit except for children applying to the 3s Program. While children are being interviewed, parents will have an opportunity to tour the school. We will schedule the parent interview at the conclusion of the child's visit. One or both parents are welcome to attend.
- This one hour visit includes 4 to 6 families. Children are encouraged to explore the room and participate in activities of their choosing while parents comfortably interact with their child.
- Children applying for the 3s program are not asked to separate from their parents.
- We ask that only one parent accompany their child on this visit.
- Prekindergarten (4/5s) and Kindergarten (5/6s) Programs
- The groups are made up of 4 to 6 children applying to the same grade level
- These visits are play-based
- Children engage in a variety of activities, some at their own initiative and others at the interviewer's request.
- Activities include:
- Exploration/ play with materials in the room
- Working on puzzles
- Drawing a picture
- Listening to a story
- Snack (graham crackers and water)
- Middle School: First Grade (6/7s) through Fourth Grade (9/10s)
- Middle School applicants meet in small groups of 3 to 6 children.
- Applicants are given a brief tour of the school with the Division Coordinator
- These visits involve a variety of academic activities as well as an opportunity to interact with other group members.
Parent Classroom Observations:
During the child's visit, parents are invited to learn more about the Bank Street program by experiencing firsthand what takes place in a classroom on any particular day. Our Visitor's Coordinator makes every effort to place parents in a classroom in each of the Divisions for 10 to 15 minutes. We encourage parents to visit older grades as well as the grades in which their children will be entering in order to get a good overview of the general educational approach throughout the years.
Parent Interviews
The individual parent interview provides us with an opportunity to get to know your family better, discuss what you are looking for in a school, and answer any questions you may have about the educational program at Bank Street. Moreover, we use this time to share our observations of your child's visit so that we can more fully understand your child from your perspective.
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