How To Apply

For the 2011-2012 school year – We currently have a “rolling admission” process for fall 2011 applications. There are a few spaces available in select grades, so it may not be too late to apply for admission in 2011-2012. If you are interested in being considered in this second wave of applications, please contact the Admissions Office to confirm where spaces are available. We would be happy to provide answers about EPS and schedule a tour.

If you have already spoken with Admissions and are ready to start the application process, please click on the link below to enter our online application system.

Click here to apply: Apply Online to Eastside Prep

If you have any difficulties with the online process, please contact the Admissions Office for a hard copy of all forms.

For the 2012-2013 school year – Open House dates for the 2012-2013 admissions cycle are:

  • Saturday, October 15, 10:00am-12:00pm
  • Saturday, November 5, 10:00am-12:00pm
  • Tuesday, December 6, 7:00-9:00pm
  • Thursday, January 5, 7:00-9:00pm

If you would like to see Eastside Prep before the fall Open Houses, please contact the Admissions Office to arrange a tour.

Other Dates to know:

  • Early Application Deadline: December 8, 2011
  • Regular Application Deadline: January 12, 2012
  • Financial Aid Application Deadline: February 3, 2012
  • Upper School Decision Notification Date: February 24, 2012
  • Middle School Decision Notification Date: March 15, 2012
  • Enrollment Decision Due: March 26, 2012

Application Materials

Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) Score

  • ISEE testing dates at Eastside Prep are below. Registration opens at 8:30, Testing is from 9:00-12:00.
    • November 12, 2011
    • December 10, 2011
    • January 7, 2012
    • April 21, 2012

Register for the ISEE at www.iseetest.org. Eastside Preparatory School’s code is 481714.

Questions?
Contact Lauren Formo, Interim Director of Admissions – lformo@eastsideprep.org, 425-822-5668 x342
Kristina King, Admissions Associate- kking@eastsideprep.org, 425-822-5668 x343
Stacie Siegfried, Admissions Assistant- ssiegfried@eastsideprep.org, 425-822-5668 x117

 

FAQ

How big is Eastside Prep?

In 2010– 2011, we are serving 210 students in grades 5–12. We will have approximately 230 students enrolled in 2011-2012 and will continue to grow each year until we reach approximately 300 students. Our campus includes 8 buildings and will expand to 10 buildings in 2011-2012. Our classes are (and always will be) small so students get lots of individual attention. The average class size is 14 students. The maximum class size is 18.

Can you explain how you set your tuition?

We have several goals in mind when we set the tuition each year. First, we want to attract and retain the best teachers and compensate them well. Second, we have many startup costs during our first years including buying furniture, supplies, equipment, and textbooks. Finally, we are located on a campus that can grow as we grow, so in the first years we will be paying a higher rent per student than we normally would. Our tuition is comparable to that of other independent schools, and, as with the other schools, tuition covers only a portion of actual operating costs per year. The rest is made up through each school’s annual fund drive.

We also offer financial aid to those who qualify. About 10% of our student population is on financial aid.

How much homework is there?

Eastside Prep is a college preparatory school; it is assumed that students will be able to manage a homework load commensurate with a college preparatory curriculum. Many of our students participate in sports and other recreational activities, and we try to accommodate them where we are able. For instance, every student has a study period built into their daily schedule. Also, teachers work with all students to improve study, research, and organizational skills so they can complete their homework as efficiently as possible.

How do you promote economic and racial diversity in the student population?

Despite our small enrollment, different economic and racial backgrounds are already represented in our student body. Financial aid is available to low-income applicant families. We send all our press releases to publications that target communities of color, and we advertise in these publications. As our staff expands over the years, we will be able to broaden our outreach into various communities.

What is the research on how people learn, and how do you use it?

Our curriculum and instructional methods are based on the cognitive research on how people learn.

Research shows that…

All learning is constructed out of prior knowledge, so we…

  • Have teachers and students articulate their current knowledge to use it as a foundation for new learning.
  • Create a 5–12 curriculum that is a spiral, returning students to core topics over the years in fresh contexts and more demanding forms.
  • Have students use their knowledge in multiple contexts.

Students can assimilate and use new information better when it is orchestrated in meaningful ways, so we…

  • Use the methodologies of the disciplines (English, history, math, science, etc.) to organize course material.
  • Help students learn to sense and establish relationships and patterns that make information easier to retrieve and apply in new situations.

Learning improves when students think about their thinking, so we…

  • Have teachers model how they monitor their thought processes.
  • Coach students to explore their own thought processes to become more strategic, effective thinkers.

Learning improves when students discover for themselves, so we…

  • Offer hands-on, experiential study.

How do I know that my child will be challenged?

As at any rigorous college-prep school, Eastside Prep students take multiple years of English, history, math, science, language, and art. Students who are more advanced in a subject are offered enriched materials. In the upper grades, when students start to focus their interests, advanced courses will be offered. If you don’t think your child is being challenged, talk to us. We’ll work together to make sure he or she is.

How will colleges know you?

We invite college representatives to visit our school so they know who and what we are. We prepare students for the SAT and ACT by covering appropriate material and skills, such as essay writing, and administering other standardized tests during the school year. Many of our upper school courses prepare students for AP exams if the student wishes to take them.

Is Eastside Prep accredited?

Yes. The Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS) awarded EPS complete and unconditional status as a fully-accredited independent school in January 2010.

Do you require the ISEE?

Yes, students must take the ISEE for the current year and have the scores sent to us. Our ISEE number is 481714. The ISEE provides teachers a common baseline to judge where students are in their learning. While we consider the ISEE as part of the application process, we would not decline a student on the basis of his or her ISEE score alone.

For more information about this exam, please visit www.iseetest.org.