The Admissions Process
Parents who wish to apply for admission of their children should call the school for an appointment @ (310) 451-1332, to set up a school tour and interview. You will receive the application at that time.

Please call well in advance of the planned date of entrance in order to give time to schedule the necessary interviews (see the Admissions Timeline below). Carlthorp is one of the few independent schools that will allow you to interview well in advance of the application year, so don't wait until the last minute if you know you are interested in the school. You can always come back and see us again closer to the admissions date.

The Admissions Committee
In considering each child for admission, the Admissions Committee wants to get to know your child as much as possible. The Admissions Committee will require access to your child's relevant school records. Permission is requested from parents for the Committee to contact either the nursery school for kindergarten applicants, or the previous school for applicants for the grades. The Admissions Packet will also ask for a short description of your child, a photo, and two letters of recommendation.

Kindergarten Readiness Evaluation
A basic kindergarten readiness evaluation is a routine part of the applications process. Don't let the assessment process make your family or your child apprehensive; experienced faculty members will bring your child into a classroom setting along with a small group of peers. An administrator will lead a question and answer session in the library while you wait for your child. The evaluation is just one of the opportunities we have to get to know your child. Aside from the evaluation day, a member of the Admissions Committe will visit your preschool to observe your child in the familiar setting of their own classroom. There is no one "feeder" preschool to our school; in fact, this fall's kindergarten class was selected from 20 different preschools across the city.

The Kindergarten Coffees
Following the assessment day, try to make time to attend one of our Kindergarten Coffees! There is nothing like these panels, led by our amazing kindergarten faculty, administration, parents -- and featuring the wonderfully animated Carlthorp School students, who will tell you in their own words what you need to know about our special school. Contact the Front Office at (310) 451-1332 to obtain the schedule of these key dates.

Financial Aid
Our school offers financial aid to approximately 10% of the student body.

Surviving the Admissions Process
Finally - relax! We all know it's incredibly stressful to put your family and your child through the application process. Don't worry; everything tends to work out for the best. If Carlthorp School is right for you, the odds are you'll know it, and we'll know it. Good luck! We look forward to seeing you around the school.

Kindergarten 2009 Applications Timeline
Spring through Fall 2008 - Interviews with parents of prospective applicants
November 1, 2008 - Deadline for turning in applications for Kindergarten 2009
January 2009 - Kindergarten Readiness Evaluations
February 2009 - Visits to preschools by Kindergarten teachers
Feb-Mar 2009 - Kindergarten Coffees for prospective families
March 20, 2009 - Letters of acceptance mailed

Applications for other than 2009 may be remitted any time. Interviews for grades other than Kindergarten may take place after November 1.