Admissions Process
Thank you for your interest in Sun valley Community School.
Our students are curious, engaged, and ready to explore—in the classroom, in the outdoors, on the stage, or wherever else their passions lead them. We seek students who are eager to learn, to connect with their community, and to grow into their best selves.
Application Process
- Early Childhood Center (ECC)
- Kindergarten
- Grades One through Five
- Grades Six through Twelve
- Boarding Program
- Sun Valley Ski Academy
Early Childhood Center (ECC)
Application Procedure
Once the Admissions Office has received your initial inquiry or application, you will receive an application checklist for your child with links to the required documents and steps listed below.
Please note that applicants to the ECC must have reached two years of age by September 1 of the year of entrance. Children who have reached four years of age by September 1 of the year of entrance are encouraged to attend the five-days/week program (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.).Please be certain that all documents are completed and submitted to the Admissions Office by the application deadline.
Requirements
An Application Form and Parent Statement
Completing the application form and Parent Statement is the first step in our admissions process. Should you need a pdf version, please contact our office.
Within the application, you can indicate which program (three-days, four-days, or five-days/week) you prefer. We strive to balance the class in terms of gender, the ages of the children, and teacher/student ratios; consequently, we are not able to accommodate all requests. You can also indicate whether you are interested in our after-school care program. Typically our aftercare program runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., but in the 2020-21 school year, aftercare will be offered from 1p.m. to 3 p.m.
A Teacher Feedback Form
If your child has been enrolled in a preschool program, we ask that you provide your child’s current teacher with a feedback form, available through your application checklist. Please have the teacher complete and submit it to the Admissions Office.
A Tour or Visit
Families are welcome to tour the school at any point in their application process. Please contact our Admissions Office to schedule a tour of our campus and an opportunity for your child to meet with one of our teachers.
Kindergarten
Application Procedure
Once the Admissions Office has received your initial inquiry or application, you will receive an application checklist for your child with links to the required documents and steps listed below.
Please be certain that all documents are completed and submitted to the Admissions Office by the application deadline. The school cannot make enrollment decisions until all documents have been received.
Tuition Assistance
Parents interested in applying for Tuition Assistance should notify the Admissions Office at the time of application. Tuition Assistance awards are based on the need of the family and the availability of funds. Admissions decisions are made without regard to financial need. Families applying for Tuition Assistance must submit a separate Tuition Assistance Application. Please visit the Tuition Assistance page on our website to learn more.
Requirements
Sun Valley Community School requires that a kindergarten applicant turns five by September 1 of the year of enrollment.
Application Form and Parent Statement
We consider parents to be an integral part of a child's education. Your description of your child will help us understand him or her better. Completing the application form and Parent Statement is the first step in our admissions process. Should you need a pdf version, please contact our office.
Applicant Photo (optional)
Please upload a photo of the applicant with the application form.
Teacher Evaluation Form
We ask that you provide your child’s preschool teacher with a feedback form, available through your application checklist. Please have the teacher complete and submit it to the Admissions Office.
Tour and Visit
Families are welcome to tour the school at any point in their application process. Please refer to your checklist or contact the Admissions Office to schedule a tour of our campus.
Kindergarten Visit
Kindergarten applicants are invited to visit the school for a half day. For the 2021-22 school year, please contact the Admissions Office to learn more about alternatives to visit days due to Covid-19.
Grades One through Five
Application Procedure
Once the Admissions Office has received your initial inquiry or application, you will receive an application checklist for your child with links to the required documents and steps listed below.
Please be certain that all documents are completed and submitted to the Admissions Office by the application deadline. The school cannot make enrollment decisions until all documents have been received.
Tuition Assistance
Parents interested in applying for Tuition Assistance should notify the Admissions Office at the time of application. Tuition Assistance awards are based on the need of the family and the availability of funds. Admissions decisions are made without regard to financial need. Families applying for Tuition Assistance must submit a separate Tuition Assistance Application. Please visit the Tuition Assistance page on our website to learn more.
Application Form and Parent Statement
We consider parents to be an integral part of a child's education. Your description of your child will help us understand him or her better. Completing the application form and Parent Statement is the first step in our admissions process. Should you need a pdf version, please contact our office. For applicants to grades 4 and 5, we require a student response which you will find within the Application form.
Applicant Photo (Optional)
Please upload a photo of the applicant with the application form.
Teacher Evaluation: Homeroom Teacher
We ask that you provide your child’s homeroom teacher with a feedback form, available through your application checklist. Please have the teacher complete and submit it to the Admissions Office.
School Records Request
Please provide the appropriate official at your child's current school with the School Records Request and have records submitted to Community School before the application deadline.
Tour and Visit
Families are welcome to tour the school at any point in their application process. We typically ask applicants for grades one through twelve to spend a day in class with our students. Classroom visits offer an excellent opportunity for prospective students and our faculty to get acquainted. Please refer to your checklist, our visit page, or contact the Admissions Office to schedule a tour and learn about visit alternatives for the 2021-22 school year due to Covid-19.
Grades Six through Twelve
Application Procedure
Once the Admissions Office has received your initial inquiry or application, you will receive an application checklist for your child with links to the required steps and documentation listed below.
Please be certain that all documents are completed and submitted to the Admissions Office by the application deadline. The school cannot make enrollment decisions until all documents have been received.
Financial Aid
Parents interested in applying for Tuition Assistance should notify the Admissions Office at the time of application. Tuition Assistance awards are based on the need of the family and the availability of funds. Admissions decisions are made without regard to financial need. Families applying for Tuition Assistance must submit a separate Tuition Assistance Application. Please visit the Tuition Assistance page on our website to learn more.
Application for Admission, Parent Statement, and Student Responses
We consider parents and students themselves to be an integral part of a child's education and school decisions. The parent statement helps us gain an understanding of each applicant and family. The Student Responses and Writing Sample give voice directly to each student applying to Sun Valley Community School.
Completing the application form, Parent Statement, and Student Responses are important steps in our admissions process. Should you need a pdf version, please contact our office.
Applicant Photo (Optional)
Please upload a photo of the applicant with the application form.
Teacher Evaluation: English or Social Studies
We ask that you provide your child’s English or Social Studies teacher with a feedback form, available through your application checklist. Please have the teacher complete and submit it to the Admissions Office.
Teacher Evaluation: Maths or Science
We ask that you provide your child’s Maths or Science teacher with a feedback form, available through your application checklist. Please have the teacher complete and submit it to the Admissions Office.
School Records Request
Please provide the appropriate official at your child's current school with the School Records Request and have records submitted to Sun Valley Community School before the application deadline.
Admission Testing
Sun Valley Community School requires that applicants to grades six through twelve provide recent standardized testing, ideally from within a year of their application date. We accept State testing, the SSAT, ISEE, ERB, and/or PSAT/SAT test results.
Students needing to complete a standardized test can register for the SSAT test at SSAT.org. Beginning in the 2021-22 application year, they will provide at-home testing options. The SSAT code for Community School is 2547.
Applicants unsure of whether they need to take additional testing should be in touch with the Admissions Office for confirmation (208.229.3960 ext 174). We understand the challenges that sometimes arise when scheduling standardized testing and can work with you on a solution that accommodates your family.
Interview
Applicants for grades six through twelve will be interviewed by the Admissions Office and/or the appropriate Division Head. These informal interviews give us a personal introduction to each student and allow us provide the student with information about the school.For the 2021-22 school year, all interviews will be conducted by the Admissions Office virtually.
Please see your checklist or email the Admissions Office to schedule an interview.
Tour and Visit
Families are welcome to tour the school at any point in their application process. While campus student visits will not be available this year due to Covid-19, there are lots of opportunities to learn more and experience what it might be like to be a student. Please refer to your checklist, see our visit page, or contact the Admissions Office to schedule your tour and learn about ways you can get to know our school for the 2021-22 school year.
Boarding Program
Application Procedure
Once the Admissions Office has received your initial inquiry or application, you will receive an application checklist for your child with links to the required documents and steps listed below.
Please be certain that all documents are completed and submitted to the Admissions Office by your application deadline. The school cannot make enrollment decisions until all documents have been received.
Tuition Assistance
Parents interested in applying for Tuition Assistance should notify the Admissions Office at the time of application. Tuition Assistance awards are based on the need of the family and the availability of funds. Admissions decisions are made without regard to financial need. Families applying for Tuition Assistance must submit a separate Tuition Assistance Application. Please visit the Tuition Assistance page on our website to learn more.
Application for Admission, Parent Statement, and Student Responses
We consider parents and students themselves to be an integral part of a child's education and school decisions. The parent statement helps us gain an understanding of each applicant and family. The Student Responses and Writing Sample give voice directly to each student applying to Sun Valley Community School.
Completing the application form, Parent Statement, and Student Responses are important steps in our admissions process. Should you need a pdf version, please contact our office.
Applicant Photo (Optional)
Please upload a photo of the applicant with the application form.
Teacher Evaluation: English or Social Studies
We ask that you provide your child’s English or Social Studies teacher with a feedback form, available through your application checklist. Please have the teacher complete and submit it to the Admissions Office.
Teacher Evaluation: Maths or Science
We ask that you provide your child’s Maths or Science teacher with a feedback form, available through your application checklist. Please have the teacher complete and submit it to the Admissions Office.
School Records Request
Please provide the appropriate official at your child's current school with the School Records Request and have records submitted to Sun Valley Community School before the application deadline.
Admission Testing
Sun Valley Community School requires that applicants to grades six through twelve provide recent standardized testing, ideally from within a year of their application date. We accept State testing, the SSAT, ISEE, ERB, and/or PSAT/SAT test results.
Students needing to complete a standardized test can register for the SSAT test at SSAT.org. Beginning for the 2021-22 school year, they will provide at-home testing options. The SSAT code for Community School is 2547.
Applicants unsure of whether they need to take additional testing should be in touch with the Admissions Office for confirmation (208.229.3960 ext 174). We understand the challenges that sometimes arise when scheduling standardized testing and can work with you on a solution that accommodates your family.
Interviews
Applicants for our boarding program will be interviewed by the Admissions Office and the Residence Hall Director. These informal interviews give us a personal introduction to each student and allow us provide the student with information about the school.
Please see your checklist or email the Admissions Office to schedule your interviews.
Tour and Visit
Families are welcome to tour the school at any point in their application process. Tours for boarding students will include visiting our main academic campus as well as our Rufus M. Brown Residence Hall. The visit will also include the opportunity for each family to meet with our Residence Hall Director, Clay Wawner, to learn about our boarding program.
While student visits to a day of classes will not be available this year due to Covid-19, there are lots of opportunities to learn more and experience what it might be like to be a student. Please refer to your checklist, see our visit page, or contact the Admissions Office to schedule your tour and learn about more ways you can get to know our school for the 2021-22 school year.
Sun Valley Ski Academy
In addition to completing the Upper School application, Sun Valley Ski Academy (SVSA) boarding applicants will need to submit a Coach's Evaluation from their current program. This form is available through the applicant checklist once an Inquiry or Application have been completed.
Please contact Program Director Jonna Mendes with any questions about the SVSA application process: jmendes@sunvalleyskiacademy.org or 208.720.0512.
READY TO APPLY?
We are here to help you throughout each step of the application process. Please contact the Admissions Office at any point if you have questions or need more information about any aspect of this process: 208.622.3960, ext. 174, or via email.
2020-21 Key Admissions Dates
- Tours and Campus Visits
- Applications Accepted
- Admissions Testing
- Tuition Assistance
- Application Deadline
- Admissions Notification
Tours and Campus Visits
We encourage all families to visit Sun Valley Community School for a campus tour, classroom visits, and conversations with our faculty. Tours for prospective families are typically available year-round.
For the 2020-21 school year, we will offer virtual tours and in-person tours that adhere to our COVID-19 guidelines for opening our campus. We will offer alternative options to student visit days, mostly virtual. Please check back our Visit page for more information, email our Admissions Office, or call us at 208.622.3960, ext. 174.
Applications Accepted
We'll begin accepting applications for the 2021-22 school year on October 1, 2020. Our first round application deadline is February 19, 2021. Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a rolling admission basis in classes with available space.
We welcome all families to contact the Admissions Office to discuss the process and outlook for the 2021-22 or 2022-23 school year.
Admissions Testing
Sun Valley Community School requires that applicants to grades six through twelve provide recent standardized testing, ideally from within a year of their application date. We accept state testing, the SSAT, ISEE, ERB, and/or PSAT/SAT test results.
Students needing to complete a standardized test can register for the SSAT test at SSAT.org. Beginning for the 2021-22 school year, they will provide at-home testing options. The SSAT code for Community School is 2547.
Applicants unsure of whether they need to take additional testing should be in touch with the Admissions Office for confirmation. We understand the challenges that sometimes arise when scheduling standardized testing and can work with you on a solution that accommodates your family.
Tuition Assistance
Parents interested in learning more about making a Sun Valley Community School education affordable, should inquire about our Tuition Assistance Program.
Tuition Assistance awards are based on the demonstrated need of the family and the availability of funds. Tuition Assistance applicants must submit a separate Tuition Assistance application on an annual basis. Applicants who wish to apply for tuition assistance must complete the Parent Financial Statement for SSS and must also submit tax returns.
Tuition Assistance Application Deadline:
- Returning families must return all materials by January 15, 2021.
- New families must return all materials by February 19, 2021.
Tuition Assistance Award Notification:
- Tuition Assistance award notifications will be sent in mid-March.
Learn more about tuition assistance here.
Application Deadline
Our annual main application deadline is in mid- February. After the application deadline, admissions operate on a rolling basis in grades where we have openings. Please contact the Admissions Office to inquire about space available in particular grades.
Admissions Notification
Our application is open for the 2021-22 school year. Please inquire if you are interested in applying.
The Value of the Visit
Many families tell us that their visit to Sun Valley
Community School was a turning point in the admissions process.
We would love for you to spend time on our campus, meet our students and faculty, tour our facilities, and feel the energy and engagement that make Sun Valley Community School such an incredible place to learn.
Please contact the Admissions Office to schedule your visit: 208.622.3960, ext. 174, or via email.