Applying To Westside

Learn more about Westside's program by registering for a tour via your Ravenna account.

Campus Tours

Our campus tours are an ideal way to experience Westside School in action. Via our tour, you'll learn about our unique program and get an up-close look at our classroom and specialist spaces. We will share details about your grade of interest and answer your questions. Tours are a required part of our admission process. Out-of-town families can contact admissions@westsideschool.org to arrange a virtual tour.

Preschool: Learn about our play-based program. We will share about the program philosophy, daily schedule, specialist offerings, and much more.

Pre-Kindergarten: Classroom learning stations, and whole and small group times serve as an avenue for each child’s social and academic development in our pre-kindergarten program. In this tour, families will learn about the daily classroom experience, and how learning reflect students' natural curiosity.

Kindergarten-1st Grade: There is still plenty of time for play and community as students take their first steps in our lower school. We will explore our literacy, math, science, and social studies, as well as how specialists complete a robust and enriching schedule. You will also learn how our students' academic and social-emotional journeys progress as they advance through our lower grades.

2nd-4th Grade: This specialized tour highlights the progression of our major content areas in our upper elementary grades, including the importance of joyful learning and student engagement for children of all ages. 

Middle School (5th through 8th Grade) Tour: Middle school families and prospective students are invited to join our tour of Westside School's middle school. During the tour, we will address the transition from lower school and what it's like to join Westside in middle school. We will also cover core classes such as math, language arts, world language, and science, along with our specialist offerings, exploratory classes, advisory program, outdoor education, and more.

Register for a tour through Ravenna

Westside School uses the Ravenna online application system for all grades, including preschool, and shares a common PSIS (Puget Sound Independent Schools) application. The Ravenna System will guide you through all of the steps outlined below, as well as keep you updated on the status of your child’s application.

Application Steps:

1. Submit a student and family photo.
2. Submit Parent/Guardian Statement.
3. Submit the Student Activities and Interests form (Middle School only).
4. Submit one teacher recommendation per student for preschool, pre-kindergarten, and Kindergarten applicants. Submit at least two teacher recommendations per student for grades 1-8.
5. Submit transcripts. For grades 1-8, submit the first semester of 2024-2025 and all of 2023-2024. For preschool, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten, please submit if available.
6. Register for an in-person student visit for your child. Out-of-town families should contact the school to arrange a video option.

A Note About Testing: Westside does not require testing of our middle school applicants. To ensure an equitable process for all, we will not review any submitted scores.

ADMIT: Welcome to Westside!

WAIT POOL: Your student is admissible; there just isn’t enough space. Hang in there; a spot may become available!

DENY: If your student is denied, it is generally due to the fact Westside does not meet their needs. We honor the strength in individual differences and acknowledge some candidates are better suited for a different learning environment.

Westside School believes in every child having access to the joyful learning and academic challenge at Westside School regardless of their family’s ability to pay the full cost of a Westside education. We believe that diversity of all kinds, including socioeconomic diversity, enriches the educational opportunities for all our families. Families for whom tuition looks initially out of reach are encouraged to visit and apply. Visit our Tuition Assistance page for more information. 

Apply for tuition assistance by February 6, 2025