How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Germantown Friends School!
We're here to help every step of the way.
Come visit our Main Campus in Germantown or our Center City Campus for Early Childhood, and get to know our teachers, deans, directors, and students. We look forward to meeting you!
To apply to GFS, start here!
The first step is to submit an inquiry by clicking on New Applicants above. After completing the inquiry form, you’ll receive an email with instructions to set up an admissions portal account where you'll find information on the admissions process and submit your application.
Once your account is set up, access the admissions portal by clicking Current Applicants above. If you applied in a prior year, please submit an inquiry to begin a new application.
*Families with multiple applicants: Click the "Add Another Candidate" button on the inquiry form when prompted to add information for each child in your family who is applying.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
More details are available in your admissions portal. Please see instructions above under New Applicants to set up your portal.
Application Initiation Items
✓ Demographic Information*
✓ Parent/Guardian Questionnaire*
✓ Applicant Interests (K-11)*
✓ Applicant Statement (6-11)*
✓ School History (for prior applicants)*
Required Appointments
✓ Virtual Parent/Guardian Interview (one per family)
✓ Virtual Applicant Interview (9-11)
✓ Applicant Visit (Preschool - 8)
Teacher Recommendation & Academic Items
✓ Primary Subject Teacher Recommendation (Preschool - 11)
✓ Math Teacher Recommendation (6-11)
✓ ISEE or SSAT Test Scores (6-11)
✓ Graded Writing Sample (6-11)
Official Transcripts
✓ School Year 2025-26 (1-11)
✓ School Year 2024-25 (2-11)*
✓ School Year 2023-24 (6-11)*
Other Required Items
✓ Observation Video (Preschool & PreK)
APPLICATION TIMELINE FOR 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR
We encourage you to complete your application by December 18 for first round admissions. Applications completed after December 18 will be reviewed on a rolling basis with decisions released weekly.
Summer 2025
While the application process officially opens in August, you can begin over the summer and get a head start by submitting an inquiry.
August 1, 2025
Application process opens. All items in the Application Initiation section of the application checklist become available for submission.
September 1, 2025
Required admissions appointments open. Families may start to schedule required admissions appointments via the portal.
October 1, 2025
Financial aid application opens. Financial aid application requirements can be found here. Please note: The financial aid application is submitted via Clarity and is separate from the admissions application.
December 17, 2025
Admissions & financial aid application deadline for January (first round) decision release. All required items, including required appointments, must be completed by December 18 to be eligible for January (first round) decision release.
January 26, 2026
First round admissions and financial aid decisions released. Possible admissions outcomes are an accept, wait pool, or regret decision.
February 2, 2026
Rolling application review begins. Review of applications completed after December 18 will resume in February and continue on a weekly, rolling basis.
February 23, 2026
Enrollment deadline for applicants admitted during first round review. Please note: For applicants accepted during the rolling cycle, the deadline to enroll is two weeks from the date of acceptance.
Spring and Summer 2026
Ongoing rolling review and decision release.
In keeping with the Quaker testimony of Equality and our school’s commitment to diversity, Germantown Friends School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, political beliefs, or citizenship status in the administration of its educational policies, application for admissions or financial aid, or athletic and other school-administered programs.