Admissions Process

Please Note: Wilberforce continues to accept applications after the February deadline on a rolling basis until all classes are full.  Space is limited - apply as soon as possible.

The Application Process

1. Apply for Admission: Due January 31

   • Submit completed applications with a $75 application fee by January 31st

   • Mail applications to 75 Mapleton Road, Princeton, NJ 08540

2. Apply for Tuition Aid

   • Apply for Financial Aid (need-based), due January 31st

   • Apply for The Wilberforce Scholarship (merit-based, middle school students only, due March 1st

3. Submit Teacher Recommendations: Due February 16th

   • The Teacher Recommendation Form is included in the application linked in Step One.

   • Please give the Confidential Teacher Recommendation Form to your student's current or most recent teacher. Ask the teacher to mail the completed form directly to the TWS Admissions Office. Please give them enough time to complete the recommendation and return it to the school by February 16th.

4. Submit Student Records: Due February 16th

   • The Release of Records Form is included in the application document linked in Step One.

   • Please give the Release of Records Form directly to the appropriate administrator in your student's current school (please do not send this form to The Wilberforce School). Please note that schools appreciate as much advance notice as possible and some require these forms to be submitted prior to Christmas break to be able to complete them by the due date.

   • This form simply informs your student’s school that they are authorized to release these academic records to TWS, and tells them which records we need. Your school should prepare the student records listed on the Release of Records Form and mail them directly to the TWS Admissions office.

5. Admissions Testing: Scheduled by Admissions Office in late February

   • Explorers One and Two: Testing Day is Saturday, February 25th

• Students applying for Explorers One and Two are tested in groups. The testing environment is primarily designed to assess school readiness.

• Once your completed application is received, please make plans to bring your child to the school for 1-2 hours on Saturday, February 25th

• Classes One through Eight: Testing is by appointment

  • The school will contact you to schedule the exact time of testing once your completed application has been received. Most testing takes place in the morning. Students applying for Class One and higher are tested on an individual basis. Individual testing includes informal inventories, standardized achievement, and school ability testing.

  • Upon receipt of your child's application, the admissions office will contact you to schedule an appointment for testing.

6. Parent Interviews: Scheduled for March 1st (evening) or March 3rd (all day)

   • The admissions office will contact parents of applicants to arrange an interview on one of these dates. Both parents are required to attend the interview.

   • All parents are required to read the following materials prior to the family interview: The Wilberforce School Mission & Philosophy, Statement of Faith, and Curriculum Overview.

7. Notification Letters: Mailed by March 21st

   • The Admissions Committee will mail notification letters to families no later than March 21st

8. Return Signed Contract: Due April 12th

   • Following notification of acceptance, the family has until April 1st to confirm enrollment by submitting the signed Contract, and the Tuition Schedule with indication of payment method (along with a check for the Book Fee and Tuition Deposit).

A Few Notes

• Waiting Pools: When a class is full, applicants may be placed in a waiting pool for that class. If a slot opens up, students will be selected from the waiting pool to fill the open slot.

• Age and Class Placement

  • Explorers One:  Older four-year olds and younger five-year olds

  • Explorers Two: Older five-year olds and younger six-year olds

  • Class One:  Older six-year olds and young seven-year olds

• A Special Note to Parents: We want each child at Wilberforce to thrive.  Placement decisions are made on the basis of age, testing, and other factors.  We pay particularly close attention to children whose dates of birth fall in or near the summer months.  Our curriculum is generally one grade level ahead of national norms in most subject areas.  Experience has shown that most children benefit by having more time to develop and mature before entering Class One. Being relatively young may not be a critical issue at the Explorers level, but when a child reaches Class One and above, the age disparity can be much more pronounced as these children begin to work at a higher level of academic difficulty alongside classmates who are as much as a year older.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Wilberforce School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally made available to students at the school. The Wilberforce School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, scholarship programs, or athletic and other school administered programs.