Admission FAQ

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

• Does Poly accept applications from international or foreign students?

  At this time, Polytechnic School does not accept applications from international students and is not able to offer, process, or assist in the procurement of student visas (Form I-20). Please visit www.pasadenaareaschools.org for information about other schools in the area, which may accept international students.

• How do I apply to Poly?

  The application for Polytechnic School is processed online and will be available through our admission portal in October. Lower School applications are due in December, Middle and Upper School applications are due in January. Supporting documents (teacher recommendations, transcripts etc.) are due in January. For a complete list of supporting documents, please check out the How To Apply page of our site.

• Can interested families visit the school?

  Visiting the campus is a great way to learn about the school and to get a sense of the community. During the fall season, open houses specific to each division (Lower, Middle, and Upper School) are offered. Open houses are the best way to see the campus and offer an opportunity to hear from the head of school, director of admission, division director, faculty, current parents, and students. Reservations are required to attend and can be made through the online inquiry. 
  
  Open houses are an optional step in applying to Poly, please reserve a spot online if you are interested in touring the campus. Lower School open houses are for adults only; Middle and Upper School open houses are offered for adults and applicants. Applications may be submitted prior to attending an open house.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: To ensure the health and safety of every prospective applicant family, all of Poly’s 2020 admission and financial aid programming will be held virtually. 
  
  For more information, please check here.

• How many new students enter the school each year?

  Each year, we expect approximately 45 openings in kindergarten, 18-20 in sixth grade, 10-12 in seventh grade, and 25-30 in ninth grade. These numbers may vary slightly year-to-year due to enrollment and attrition. Spaces in non-entry grades (grades 1-5, 8, and 10-12) are available only through attrition.

• How old should my child be to apply to kindergarten?

  All applicants must be five years old by Aug. 31 of the year they wish to enter kindergarten, so they should apply during the fall of the year before. There are no exceptions to the birthday deadline.

• Must I take the ISEE at Poly?

  The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is offered at many locations and schools in the area and across the country. Students applying to Poly do not need to take the test on the Poly campus. It is important to indicate that the results from testing should be sent to Poly using the school code (052402). Students applying for grade 6 will take the lower exam, applying for grades 7-8 will take the middle, and those applying to 9-12 will take the upper. 
  
  Applicants to grades 6 through 12 are required to take the ISEE. Visit www.erblearn.org for more information and to register for the exam. While Poly requires the ISEE, the results are only one factor considered during the admission process. Poly encourages students to take the exam only once during the application season. Should we receive more than one score report for an individual, only the first set of results will be considered.
  
  

  Independent School Entrance Exam (Official Statement Here)

  Because of extraordinary circumstances impacting applicant families due to COVID-19, Poly has waived the standardized testing requirement in our admission process for entrance into the 2021-2022 school year. 

• Where do I find the supporting application forms (such as the Parent Statement, Teacher Recommendations Forms, etc.)?

  Supporting documents will be available on the admission portal, when the online application is available beginning in early October. These forms include Student Statements, Parent Statements, Teacher Recommendations, Transcript Release Forms, and others.

• When will we receive notification of admission decisions?

  Notification letters for admission and financial aid decisions for the 2021-22 school year will be announced on Friday, March 5, 2021.

• What does it mean to be in the wait pool?

  Unfortunately, Poly has more qualified applicants than open spots in each class. The wait pool consists of a small group of students for each grade who would be appropriate for Poly but cannot be initially accepted. The wait pool for each grade is unranked; should a space become available, all applicants at all grade levels in the pool will be considered. Spaces vacated in one grade may be filled at a different level or within a different division. The wait pool remains active until the first day of the school year, as vacancies can sometimes develop unexpectedly. Students are not admitted during the school year. The Admission Team will reach out to wait pool families directly and promptly with an offer of admission should a space become available.

• What is the new California Immunization Law (SB 277)?

  New California immunization law (SB 277):
  
  

  Effective January 1, 2016, parents of incoming kindergarten and seventh grade students will no longer be allowed to submit personal beliefs exemptions for any currently required school vaccine. All other students with personal belief exemptions, filed prior to 2016 and on file in the Health Office, may attend school.  For a list of required vaccinations for entry to kindergarten and seventh grade, please visit Shots for School at http://www.shotsforschool.org/.