Lower School - Application Process - McDonogh School

Lower School

APPLICATION AND APPLICATION FEE

Your child’s online application must be submitted no later than December 6, 2024.

PREKINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIRST GRADE

  • Submit Application and Application Fee ($65)
    Your child’s online application must be submitted no later than December 6 2024.
  • Schedule Your Parent Meeting
    Once your child’s application is submitted, a member of the admissions team will reach out to help schedule your parent meeting time. Meeting times fill up quickly as the application deadline approaches.
  • Submit Teacher Referrals
    Following the submission of your application, please fill out the common referral request form for your child’s primary teacher or non-related caregiver. This form can be accessed in your parent portal. Completed forms must be received by McDonogh no later than January 15, 2025.

We are committed to gathering as much information as we can about each of our Lower School applicants. We welcome one additional letter of support from an educator, coach, or community leader who has been involved in your child’s academic and social development. Please note: this is not required but would be included in your child’s application.  

  • Request School Records
    Please submit your child’s report card or progress report if they receive one from his or her current school. We recognize that this may vary between school programs and depend on the age of your child. 

    All teacher referrals, school records, and additional submissions must be received no later than January 15, 2025.
  • Complete Required Assessment
    Prekindergarten, kindergarten, prefirst, and first-grade applicants will join members of our admissions team for a small group assessment in our Admissions Office. Additional information regarding scheduling your child for his or her assessment will be shared once your child’s application has been received.

SECOND THROUGH FOURTH GRADE 

  • Submit Application and Application Fee ($65)
    Your child’s online application must be submitted no later than December 6, 2024.
  • ScheduleYour Parent Meeting
    Once your child’s application is submitted, a member of the admissions team will reach out to help schedule your Parent Meeting time. Meeting times fill up quickly as the application deadline approaches.
  • Complete Required Testing
    All applicants (Grades 2-4) should complete the ISEE Primary (Independent School Entrance Exam) by January 15, 2025. The ISEE Primary, a computer-based assessment, must be taken here at McDonogh. At the time of registration, please remember to request that the results be forwarded to McDonogh School. Our school code for the ISEE is 210750.  With the assistance of an admissions associate, you will use the following link to complete registration online at https://iseeonline.erblearn.org/.  
  • Submit Teacher Referrals
    Following the submission of the application, parents can electronically request common referral/teacher recommendation forms to be sent to McDonogh School via their parent portal. Please make this request to your child’s math and reading teachers. If your child has only a homeroom teacher, please ask a specialty teacher to fill out the second recommendation no earlier than October 30, 2024.
  • Request School Records
    Following submission of the application, parents can electronically request transcripts and school records to be sent to McDonogh School via their parent portal.  Please request transcripts to be sent after the first term of the current school year. Transcripts must be received no later than January 15, 2025.

We are committed to gathering as much information as we can about each of our Lower School applicants. We welcome one additional letter of support from an educator, coach, or community leader who has been involved in your child’s academic and social development. Please note: this is not required but would be included in your child’s application.

Age Requirements

To enter prekindergarten in the fall of 2025: Applicants must be 3 by September 1, 2024. The appropriate birthday range for prekindergarten applicants is late summer/fall 2020 to August 31, 2021.

To enter kindergarten in the fall of 2025: Applicants must be 4 by September 1, 2024. The appropriate birthday range for kindergarten applicants is late summer/fall 2019 to August 31, 2020.

To enter prefirst in the fall of 2025: Ages can vary in prefirst, but the majority of children entering prefirst in the fall of 2025 will have birthdays from May 2019 to December 2019. Children must currently be in a kindergarten program in order to apply to prefirst.

To enter first grade in the fall of 2025: Applicants must be 5 by September 1, 2024. The appropriate birthday range for first-grade applicants is late summer/fall 2018 to August 31, 2019.