Typical Entry Points
| Grade | Anticipated Openings | Total Enrollment |
| PreK | 18 | 18 |
| Kindergarten | 42 | 60 |
| 1st-5th Grades | Based on attrition | 60 per grade |
| 6th Grade | 20-25 | 85 |
| 7th Grade | 5-10 | 95 |
| 8th Grade | Based on attrition | 95 |
| 9th Grade | 40-45 | 135-140 |
| 10th & 11th Grades | Based on attrition | 135-140 |
Admissions
Step-By-Step
Applying to Riverdale requires a number of steps because we want to know our applicants and their families in many ways. As you begin the process, please contact us at admission@riverdale.edu with any questions. We welcome an opportunity to connect with you.
STEP 1
Get to Know Us
Please join us for one of our virtual open houses. These events are not required but give families a chance to learn about our school and programs. Families who apply will have the opportunity to tour the campus as part of their interview process.
STEP 2
Apply Online
The preliminary admission application for the 2025-2026 school year, found at www.ravenna-hub.com, was due on November 15, 2024. Note to applicants for Grades 1-5, 8, 10-12: We consider applications to these grades based on attrition. Financial aid for these grades is limited. Please see more information in Ravenna. If you are interested in submitting a post-deadline application, please contact us at admission@riverdale.edu before submitting anything in Ravenna.
STEP 3
Schedule an Interview
The best part of the admission process is speaking directly with our applicants. We require an interview for each child who is applying to the school. The sign-up process varies by grade. Please visit your Ravenna account for more details.
STEP 4
Request Recommendation Forms and Transcripts
Once an applicant has created an account in Ravenna, they will be able to generate the required school forms.
STEP 5
Register for Testing
At Riverdale, we like to get to know our applicants in as many ways as we possibly can. We believe that testing/assessments can be one way for our applicants to demonstrate their strength as students, and as such, we have testing requirements for entry to several grade levels. Students applying to Kindergarten must take the FLI assessment (please visit your Ravenna account for more details). Students applying to Grades 5-12 must take the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) or SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test).
There is no required testing for students entering Pre-Kindergarten or Grades 1-4.
Entry Points
Riverdale considers many factors when creating a class, including gender, diversity, ability, and age range. The birth date range of September 1st to September 1st typically works well for our program (students who are entering PreK in fall 2025 born between 9/1/20 and 9/1/21, students entering Kindergarten between 9/1/19 and 9/1/20, etc.), but we are happy to discuss your child’s placement during the interview.
Key Admission
Dates
All admission decisions will be communicated electronically on the specified ISAAGNY (Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York) mailing dates. If a child is admitted to Riverdale and a family chooses to enroll, we will require a signed enrollment contract and deposit by the ISAAGNY reply deadline. These notification dates for the 2025-2026 school year apply only to those applicants who have met the application deadlines.
| GRADE | NOTIFICATION DATE | CONTRACT DEADLINE |
| PreK | Thursday, February 27, 2025 | No later than noon on Thursday, March 6, 2025 |
| Kindergarten | Thursday, February 6, 2025 | No later than noon on Thursday, February 13, 2025 |
| Grades 1-8 | Thursday, February 13, 2024 | No later than noon on Monday, March 3, 2025 |
| Grades 9-12 | Friday, February 21, 2025 | No later than noon on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 |
International
Applicants
Our application process for international students is the same as it is for all applicants. We do not require the TOEFL. Prospective families should complete the application process on their own as we do not work with any placement agencies. We are able to write I-20 visas once a student has enrolled at the school. Riverdale is a day school, and we do not provide housing or homestays.