Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Q

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

A

In a typical year, Spence admits new students into Kindergarten and Grades 6 and 9. If you are interested in one of these grades, please call our office so that we may get your contact information, schedule a tour and interview and send you an application. Alternatively, you may wish to inquire and apply online from our Web site. To schedule all appointments at Spence, please call our office. It is possible there will be openings in various other grades throughout the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. For further information please call the Admissions office at 212-710-8140.

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 my application, what is the process?

A

Within each application packet, there is a checklist of steps to take in order to complete the full application process. 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. (2) Visit the school with your daughter and have an interview with a member of the Admissions Office.

Applications to all grades are due November 15 with no exceptions. The application process should be complete by early January. If you are interested in a grade to 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

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 students as well as families. 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 offered 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 $3,200,000 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.

Q

What percentage of the student body receives financial aid?

A

Over 20 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. Over twenty percent of our student body is receiving financial assistance, and while we do work within a budget, 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

What is the average class size at Spence?

A

The average class size is approximately 16-18 students.

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 University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Princeton University, Harvard University, Duke University, New York University and University of Pennsylvania. For more details, see the complete list.