Application Process
We are pleased that you are considering a Sandy Spring Friends School education for your child. Our 2019-2020 academic year application is available online via Ravenna. Our application process will allow you to become familiar with our school, while we have the opportunity to get to know you and your child and help you determine whether SSFS is the right school for your family.
Please note that admissions decisions were sent to families with completed applications on March 1, 2019. Applications submitted after this date are considered on a space-available basis. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.
We encourage you to click the green tabs below for more information, and to ask many questions throughout the application process. We can always be reached at admission@ssfs.org or by calling 301-774-7455.
- Visit Us
- Complete an Online Application
- Submit Your Forms
- Admission Testing
- Shadow Visit and Parent Interview
Visit Us
If you have not already had a tour of our campus, we recommend that you attend an upcoming Discover SSFS event, or contact us to make arrangements for a private tour.
Complete an Online Application
SSFS is one of the DC-area schools using a web-based application called Ravenna for the submission of online applications. Ravenna allows you to efficiently apply to schools and track the status of your application online. Families are encouraged to create a Ravenna account, then select the "Washington, DC" area from the dashboard and click on Sandy Spring Friends School to access more information and our application. Questions? Contact admissions@ssfs.org.
Submit Your Forms
The online application, as well as school record requests, teacher recommendation forms, and other documents are available via Ravenna.
Admission Testing
Preschool (Age 3)-Grade 1 - Applicants are assessed during their visit to SSFS
Grades 2-5 - Applicants should be tested (WISC-V) by an educational diagnostician (see list of admission testing sites here)
Grade 6: Applicants for 6th grade will complete in-house testing when they are on campus for a shadow visit.
Grades 7-12 - The SSAT is the preferred test for applicants. For grades 7-8, we will also accept the ISEE or WISC-V. For grades 9-12, we will also accept the ISEE, PSAT, or SAT.
Click here for a list of recommended test sites.
Shadow Visit and Parent Interview
Preschool (Age 3)-Grade 1: Applicants will be invited to attend a Saturday morning playgroup.
Grades 2-8 (optional for grades 9-12): Applicants will spend time during a school day shadowing a host student. When possible, parent interviews will be scheduled for the same date as the classroom visit. Applicants will be contacted by an admissions office representative to schedule required visits and interviews.
See a calendar of visit dates here; note that all visit days must be confirmed by the admission office.
