Admissions

Apply to Priory Day (6-12)

Steph S., Class of 2023

I chose Priory because of the faith this school had in me and for the support I knew they would be able to provide me with, academically and emotionally.

The act of applying to a new school is exciting, but it can be daunting as well. This journey asks applicants to understand themselves in new ways, and to reflect upon the gifts and talents they would bring to a new community. In many ways, the search for an independent school is an exercise in self-reflection and self-evaluation.

Our admission season formally opens on September 1. To get started, we invite you to create a Ravenna account and complete your necessary biographical information. Once our application goes live, you will be one of the first to know about the admission process to the 2023-2024 school year. Create your Ravenna account by clicking on the blue button to the right that says, "Create a Ravenna Account."

If you are interested in applying to our residential (boarding) program, we invite you to read about the application requirements for our boarding program. Do not forget to learn more about our residential program by visiting the boarding section of our website.

Individuality is one of the five Benedictine values we cherish at Priory; we recognize that every student has gifts to be discovered, nurtured, and treasured. The primary goal of our admissions process is to identify the gifts and talents of each applicant. This work requires our admissions committee to identify each applicant’s strengths and areas for continued growth in order to build a community of students whose collective gifts will create a dynamic and mission-aligned educational experience. Through this holistic evaluation approach, we honor each applicant's individuality by celebrating their achievements within their individual context.

*Ravenna is best viewed through a Google Chrome browser.

Application Process for Day Students

List of 5 items.

Step 1: Create your Ravenna Account

Woodside Priory uses an online application platform maintained by Ravenna. Families are strongly encouraged to set-up and update their Ravenna profiles. In order to apply or sign up for any admission event, prospective families must have an active account. Click on the blue button in the upper right that says "Create a Ravenna Account." The admissions season begins with the opening of our application for the next school year in early September.
Step 2: Learn about Priory through On-Campus Events

* Please check here often throughout the fall for information on additional events.

We encourage prospective families to attend events that will help them understand whether Priory is a fit for their child. Except where explicitly noted, attendance at admission events is optional.

Parent Tours:
Join members of the admissions team for an hour-long tour of our campus. You will learn more about academics, athletics, and campus life, and have the opportunity to ask questions about the admissions process.

Student Tours:
Applicants can sign up for student-led tours after school. In addition to seeing our campus, you'll be able to truly picture yourself here through conversation with current students.

Open Houses
Our Open Houses will begin with a Welcome Address from Head of School Patrick Ruff. Afterwards, families are invited to explore campus at their own pace to learn more about academics, athletics, and campus life.

Open House Dates:
Saturday, October 8, 2022
-Middle School: 10:00am - 12:00pm
-Upper School: 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Saturday, December 3, 2022
-Middle School: 10:00am - 12:00pm
-Upper School: 1:00pm - 3:00pm

All events require advance registration through Ravenna.
Step 3: Complete the Online Essay

While we do not accept traditional standardized testing, we do require an online proctored writing sample.

Several Bay Area schools have coordinated to allow students who apply to any of these schools to only have to do the writing sample once.

You can access the registration page on your Ravenna profile.
Step 4: Complete your Admission Application in Ravenna
Once you have created your Ravenna account, you are ready to begin your application. All requirements are completed through Ravenna, including:
1. Complete the Application Form (biographical information)
2. Submit your Application Fee
3. Complete the Parent Supplement (short essay questions completed by parents/guardians)
4. Complete the Student Supplement (essay questions completed by student/applicant)
5. Email requests for Teacher Recommendations (through Ravenna)
6. Send Transcript Release forms to your current school
The priority deadline for the 2023-2024 school year is January 12, 2023.

If you intend to apply for financial aid, the deadline is also January 12, 2023. Please visit the Financial Aid page for more information and guidance.
Step 5: Sign-Up for an Interview

The final step of the application process is a group interview. Our interviews take the form of 30-minute group activities and are facilitated by a Priory faculty member. An interview is required for all applicants.

Applicants will be notified to sign up for an interview time slot through Ravenna after the application deadline, typically in late January.

For admission to the 2023-2024 school year, we are planning to host interviews in-person. More details will be provided in December 2022.

Important Admissions Dates

Important Admissions Dates:

Please note: Woodside Priory is at full enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year. We invite prospective families to consider applying for transfer admission for grades 7-11 once our season opens on September 1.

Application deadlines for the 2023-2024 school year are as follows: