Admissions

Application Process

Thank you for your interest in Spence!
Applications for the 2026-2027 school year will be available in late August. If you would like to be notified when the application becomes available, we encourage you to submit our inquiry form here. 

We are currently accepting applications for Kindergarten, Grades 6 and 7 and Grade 9. All other grades openings are based on attrition. If you are interested in those grades, please email us for more information. Spence adheres to the admissions timeline mandated by the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY). The application fee of $85 is automatically waived for families applying for Financial Aid. 

Applying to Spence

Applying to Lower School (Kindergarten-Grade 4)

We are accepting applications to Kindergarten for the 2026-2027 academic year. Applicants applying to Kindergarten must be 5 years old by August 31, 2026. All siblings and legacies applying to Kindergarten are eligible for early notification. Grades 1-4 are based on attrition. Please reach out to our admissions team for more information.

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  • Lower School Admissions Checklist

    • Submit your preliminary application by December 1, 2025. The application fee of $85 is automatically waived for families applying for Financial Aid.
    • Schedule your family appointments
      • Kindergarten: Your child will be invited to join an in person Admissions Playgroup where our teachers and admissions team will get to know your daughter better in a classroom setting.
      • Grades 1-4: Your child will be invited to participate in a student visit at Spence. The admissions office will reach out to you with your scheduled time.
    • Schedule your Virtual Parent/Guardian Conversation: Conversations are approximately 30 minutes and are a chance for us to get to know you and your family better. Please log into your admissions portal to select a date that works for you.
    • Request the ISAAGNY Confidential Educational Report: Download Spence’s Permission to Release Records form and submit to your child’s current school. This form allows your child’s current teacher to complete and return the report directly to Spence.
    • Submit Standardized Testing: Spence requires applicants to Grades 3-12 to submit standardized testing scores. We accept either ISEE or SSAT scores completed between August 2025 and early January 2026.
    • Complete the Parent/Guardian Essay: Complete the parent/guardian essay found on the admissions portal. 
    • Submit your Financial Aid application through Clarity: If you require financial assistance with tuition, you must complete the Financial Aid Application by December 1, 2025.
    • Get to know us at an upcoming event: Log into Spence’s admissions portal to see all of our upcoming events for applicants including our Open House and optional school tours. We can’t wait to meet you! 

Applying to Middle School (Grades 5-8)

We are accepting applications for Grades 6 and Grade 7. All other grade openings are based on attrition. Please reach out to our admissions team for more information about these grades. 

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  • Middle School Admissions Checklist

    • Submit your online preliminary application by December 13, 2025. The application fee of $85 is automatically waived for families applying for Financial Aid.
    • Schedule the required student appointments:
      • Applicant interview: one-on-one interviews are approximately 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes with the Parent/Guardian.
      • Grade 6 Group Experience: In addition to the one-one-one interviews, applicants are invited to join an in-person group experience at Spence. More details can be found by logging into the admissions portal.
    • Submit Standardized Testing: Spence requires applicants to Grades 3-12 to submit standardized testing scores. We accept either ISEE or SSAT scores completed between August 2025 and early January 2026.
    • Authorize the release of school records: Download Spence’s Permission to Release Records form and submit to your child’s school. This form allows your child’s school to release the applicant’s transcripts from the current year (when available) and her previous two years.
    • Request ISAAGNY Forms: These forms must be completed by the applicant’s current Math teacher, English teacher and guidance counselor/principal.
    • Complete the Parent/Guardian Essay: Complete the parent/guardian essay found on the admissions portal.
    • Submit your Financial Aid application through Clarity: If you require financial assistance with tuition, you must complete the Financial Aid Application by December 1, 2025.
    • Get to know us at an upcoming event: Log into Spence’s admissions portal to see all of our upcoming events for applicants including our Open House and school tours. We can’t wait to meet you!

Applying to Upper School (Grades 9-12)

We are accepting applications for Grade 9 for entry in fall 2026. We do not anticipate openings in Grades 10-12 for the 2026-2027 academic year.

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  • Upper School Admissions Checklist

    • Complete your preliminary application by December 1, 2025. The application fee of $85 is automatically waived for families applying for Financial Aid.
    • Schedule your required appointments by December 5, 2025: One-on-one interviews are approximately 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes with the parents/guardians. Interviews are offered both in-person and virtual.
    • Submit Standardized Testing Scores: Spence requires applicants to Grades 3-12 to submit standardized testing scores. We accept either ISEE or SSAT scores completed between August 2025 and early January 2026.
    • Authorize the release of school records: Download Spence’s permission to release records form and submit to your child’s Submit the transcript release form to your school. This form allows your child’s school to release the applicant’s transcripts from the current year (when available) and her previous two years.
    • Request ISAAGNY Forms: Three evaluation forms must be completed by your child’s current Math teacher, English teacher, and guidance counselor/principal. Forms must be submitted to us by January 8, 2026.
    • Submit additional application requirements:
      • The Student Essay
      • Student Interests and Activities Form
    • Complete the Parent/Guardian Essay, found on the admissions portal.
    • Submit your Financial Aid application through Clarity: If you require financial assistance with tuition, you must complete the Financial Aid Application by December 1, 2025.
    • Get to know us at an upcoming event: Log into Spence’s admissions portal to see all of our upcoming events for applicants including our Open House and upper school tours. We can’t wait to meet you!

Admissions FAQ

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

ISAAGNY Statement

The Spence School is a proud member of the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY). Founded in 1965, ISAAGNY aims to ensure orderly, professional, and equitable admissions processes at member schools: we do so by observing a shared admissions timeline, engaging in professional development to hone our collective craft, exchanging resources and best practices, and more. The resulting spirit of cooperation serves schools, families, and nearly 30,000 students across greater New York.

Middle & Upper School

22 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128

Lower School

56 East 93rd Street
New York, NY 10128

Athletic & Educational Facility

412 East 90th Street
New York, NY 10128
A K-12 independent school in New York City, The Spence School prepares a diverse community of girls and young women for the demands of academic excellence and responsible citizenship.

212-289-5940


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