Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Q

Which grades have open spots? How do I get information?

A

This year, Spence has openings in Kindergarten and Grades 5, 6, 9, and 10. However, later in the season, we may have openings in other grades throughout the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. For further information, to schedule a tour and interview and to obtain an information packet, please contact the Admissions Office at 212-710-8140. To obtain more information, please submit an online inquiry form so that we can send you an information packet.

Q

How do I apply to Spence?

A

Applications are filed online or by downloading the Application PDF from the Web site and submitting it by mail. You may submit an application over the summer, but it will not be processed until after Labor Day. Nor will appointments be made prior to this date. There is no advantage incurred to submitting an application before Labor Day -- we do not limit the number of applications or tour and interview slots.

Q

How old should my daughter be to apply for Kindergarten?

A

Your daughter must be age five by August 31 to attend Kindergarten.

Q

Once I have submitted my application, what is the process?

A

Depending on the grade to which your daughter is applying, all applicant families must: (1) Have your daughter’s current school send us her school report/transcript, schedule and complete ERB testing specific to the grade to which your daughter is applying. We also accept the SSAT for students applying to Grades 9-11. (2) Visit the school with your daughter and have an interview with a member of the Admissions Office. Please consult the online application checklist appropriate for your daughter's grade level for the steps to take in order to complete the full application process.

Applications to Kindergarten and Grades 1-4 are due November 15, and applications to Grades 5-11 are due December 1, with no exceptions. The application process should be complete by early January. If you are interested in a grade for which we are uncertain about openings, please submit the application WITHOUT the application fee, submit ERB testing results, and have your daughter’s current school send us her school report/transcript. Tours and interviews will be scheduled when an opening becomes available.

Q

How will I get information about the status of my daughter's application file and about Admissions events?

A

Please refer to our Admissions Key Dates web page to find out more about Admissions events applicable to your daughter’s grade level. Once you have submitted an application, you will receive invitations to these events via e-mail or postal mail. Over the course of this year, we will be implementing a new web-based system to notify you regarding the status of your daughter’s application. We appreciate your patience as we update our communications systems, as you may receive notification updates electronically or in print. Please make sure that we have a valid email address on file for your family. We would be more than happy to talk to you on the phone to answer any questions you may have regarding this process. When phone lines are busy, please leave a detailed message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

Q

When will I learn of the Admissions decision?

A

Reply dates, as determined by ISAAGNY (Independent School Admissions Association of Greater New York) are as follows:

Grades K/1: February 10
Decision due: February 17

Grades 2-8: February 6
Decision due: February 29

Grades 9-12: February 15
Decision due: March 14

Q

Are first choice letters and/or personal letters of recommendation required?

A

No. We do not encourage first choice letters and ask that you refrain from having personal letters of recommendation mailed to us. The application process is about learning all we can about our applicants based solely on the information that is requested and required in the application.

Q

What is your sibling and alumnae policy?

A

Spence appreciates the enthusiasm that sibling and alumnae families have for the school and we encourage sibling and alumnae families to apply for admission. At the same time, the school believes that a productive learning environment is different for different children. We advise sibling and alumnae families to apply to a variety of schools so that their daughter is matched to the appropriate school. Sibling and alumnae families applying to Kindergarten have the option of an earlier notification date. Aside from that, we do not have a specific "policy" for our sibling and alumnae families nor do we reserve a specific number of spots for those families in any grade. All applicants to the school go through the same process and are evaluated with equal consideration.

Q

What kind of parent involvement is available?

A

Spence prides itself on having created a wonderful community for families as well as students. We encourage family members to be as involved as their time allows. We have a very active Parents' Association through which most of our parent activities take place. Tapestry, our parent diversity and multicultural committee, is a significant part of the Parents' Association and is also a great way to get involved with the parent body at Spence.

Q

Do you offer spring tours?

A

Spence does not offer spring tours. Tours begin at the end of September. And we begin scheduling tours the day after Labor Day. While we do encourage families to start the application process as soon as possible, we do not limit the number of applications nor do we limit tour and interview spots.

Q

How can working parents with a modest income afford Spence?

A

Spence’s financial aid program provides assistance for qualified families from all backgrounds who might not otherwise be able to attend Spence. Spence offers over $3,800,000 in financial assistance to families across a wide band of economic need. In addition, the school offers several tuition payment options to accommodate its families. Financial Aid grants cover tuition, books, lunch, school-related trips, attendance at Parents' Association events, after-school and summer programs, and in some cases, uniforms. A contingency fund assists families with course expenses, tutoring, and college application and graduation expenses.

Q

What percentage of the student body receives financial aid?

A

Approximately 19 percent of the student body receives financial aid.

Q

Will applying for financial assistance influence admissions decisions?

A

While the Admissions Office processes applications for admission as well as for financial assistance, admission decisions are separate from financial aid decisions. We work within a budget; however, we are often able to offer generous financial aid packages to families who qualify for aid. Financial assistance at Spence is entirely need-based.

Q

How can US applicants visit Spence?

A

US applicants may visit Spence in two ways. They may spend 90 minutes on a school tour and interview or they may choose to have a Spence Experience Day. The Spence Experience Day provides an opportunity for US applicants to spend the day at Spence attending classes with a Spence "buddy." It is a unique opportunity to see firsthand the advantages of an all girls’ experience! Spence Experience Days are open to students on a first come, first serve basis. Please call the Admissions office after Labor Day to reserve a spot.

Q

Does Spence offer a diverse community?

A

33% of the student body are girls of color. Our goal is to recruit and to sustain a racially diverse student body and faculty, because this is mutually enriching for everyone involved. To quote from the school's Long Range Plan, "Spence has made great progress in increasing all aspects of diversity within the School. Virtually all the goals from our last Long Range Plan have been met and we are maintaining our commitment to those that are ongoing. Spence now enjoys the most diverse school in our long history. Nevertheless, in a world that is shrinking, flattening, and connecting in ways and at rates we could never have imagined, the need to create a truly rich cultural community is greater than ever. It is clear that Spence graduates will need to function in a complex and polyglot world, and that there is no better place for them to gain confidence and experience than in our supportive, challenging school."

Q

What is the average class size at Spence?

A

The average class size is approximately 16-18 students.

Q

What is the tuition at Spence?

A

For the 2011-12 academic year, tuition is $37,500 for all grades K-12.

Q

Is public transportation available for the younger students?

A

Our families residing in Manhattan within a five-mile radius of the school have two options. Students in Grades Kindergarten through 6 may get to and from school on the Atlantic Express bus, a free service. Buses pick up and drop off at designated stops. Half or full fare MetroCards are issued to students, if the Atlantic Express is not the desired option or the student is in Grade 7 or above. Students living outside of Manhattan are eligible for full fare MetroCards.

Q

Is there an after school program and does it accommodate the schedules of working parents?

A

The Lower School has an after school program, Second Act, which has a variety of classes for students in Kindergarten to Grade 4. Participants in Second Act may stay at school until 6:00 p.m (slightly earlier on Friday). Students in Grades 5 and above can get involved with a variety of after school activities such as athletics, dance (depending on the grade), and can always stay in the school library until 5:30 p.m.

Q

Does everyone live on the Upper East Side?

A

Many students live on the Upper East Side. Many other students reside in all other areas of Manhattan as well as Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and New Jersey.

Q

When are modern languages first introduced?

A

French, Spanish and Mandarin are introduced in Grade 3.

Q

Do students have an opportunity to study abroad in the Upper School?

A

Spence offers both international and domestic study programs to Upper School students.

Q

What colleges and universities do Spence graduates attend?

A

Colleges most often selected by Spence students in the last five years are Cornell, Columbia University, Dartmouth, Princeton, Harvard, Duke, New York University and University of Pennsylvania. For more details, see the complete list.