Admission

Get to know us! Plan your visit.

Hawken offers a variety of ways to help parents make the important decision of where and how to educate their children. One of the best ways to get to know us is to visit.

Parents can learn about Hawken and the admission process during one of our weekday Parent Visits.
Families can engage with our campus, curriculum, and community. Meet faculty and tour facilities at an Open House.
Families can schedule a personal tour or meeting with a member of our admission team.

For more information contact the Admission Office. For directions to our campuses, please click here.

We're Here For You!

Welcome from the Admission Office

We are delighted that you are interested in learning more about Hawken School, a coeducational day school that offers a challenging, real-world education for students from toddler through grade 12.

Hawken was founded to be different - because that’s what it takes to prepare students to thrive in a changing world. From becoming co-educational in 1973 to designing innovative schedules, programs, and learning spaces that support learning by doing, Hawken boldly adapts to and reflects the values of the present to prepare students for a promising future.

With $10.7 million in tuition assistance to 45% of our student body, we welcome students and families from all backgrounds. While you’ll find an abundance of information on our website, we will be providing ways for you to get to know us and learn about our innovative, nationally recognized programming. Click here to inquire online and we’ll keep you informed of upcoming events.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Families interested in applying for the 2022-2023 school year should begin their applications in the fall of 2021 and note the deadlines below.

Application Timelines

Application Deadline, Grades Toddler-12	January 14, 2022
Flexible Tuition Deadline, Grades K-12	January 14, 2022
Notification Date, All Grades	February 11, 2022
Responses Due, All Grades	February 25, 2022

Applications completed after the deadlines are subject to limited space and/or Flexible Tuition.

Student Visits

Grades 6-8: Student Visit Day

Students applying to grades 6-8 will engage with our campus community and have the opportunity to experience learning at Hawken. To schedule please call the Lyndhurst Admission office at 440-423-2950.

Grades 9-12: Virtual Visit Day

Students engage with our campus community and complete their admission interview. To schedule this required part of the application process call 440-423-2955 for the Upper School, and 440-423-8801 for the Mastery School. Please note that the application and application fee must be submitted in order to schedule a visit day. Students applying to both the Upper School and the Mastery School will need to schedule visit days at both campuses.

Delegate the Evaluation and Recommendation Forms

Toddler:

Caregiver Observation Form: Through your secure online Ravenna account you will be prompted to send a link for the Caregiver Observation Form. Please delegate this form to a daycare provider, babysitter, nanny, or someone who has spent time with and/or caring for your child. We ask that you send it to someone other than a relative. Once they have completed the form, it will be sent to us directly.

Preschool, Prekindergarten, Kindergarten:

Caregiver Observation Form: Through your secure online Ravenna account you will be prompted to send a link for the Caregiver Observation Form. Please delegate this form to a daycare provider, babysitter, nanny, or someone who has spent time with and/or caring for your child. We ask that you send it to someone other than a relative. Once they have completed the form, it will be sent to us directly.
Teacher Observation Form: If your child is currently enrolled in a school or daycare program, use the prompt in the online application to send his/her current teacher a link to complete the Teacher Observation Form. Once the teacher has completed this information, it will be sent to us directly. This form is required for any student currently enrolled in a program. If your child is not currently nor has ever attended a program, please bypass this step in the application.

Grades 1-12:

English and Math Evaluations: Delegate the Teacher Evaluation forms to the current English and math teachers from the online application using teacher email addresses. Teachers will complete and submit the evaluations online.
School Administrator or Guidance Counselor Evaluation: Delegate the evaluation to the appropriate Principal, Guidance Counselor, or school administrator. The administrator will complete and submit the evaluation online.
Optional Personal Recommendation: Delegate the optional personal recommendation to a non-family member who knows the applicant well, such as a coach, clergy member, scout leader, music or art instructor, or an additional teacher. The recommendation will be submitted online.

Requests are best made after the first marking period in order to allow time for teachers to get to know your child. All evaluations and recommendations are due by the January 15, 2021 application deadline.

Print and Submit the School Records Release Form to Current School

Applicants to Grades 1-12 print and sign the School Records Release form through the online application and take to their current school. Schools submit the requested records directly to the Hawken School Admission Office. Hawken requires transcripts and/or report cards from the 2020-21 school year (through the most recent marking period) and the complete 2019-20 academic year.

Testing

Grades Toddler-5:

The Student Discovery Day (required) is an interactive experience with Hawken teachers for applicants Toddlers through Grade 5. Sessions for 2022-2023 applicants are:

Saturday, December 11, 2021
Saturday, January 8, 2022

Schedule your child's Discovery Day visit through your secure online Ravenna account. Please note that this is a required step in the application process for your child and may be a virtual event.

Grades 6-8:
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is required for students applying to Grades 6-8. Applicants may register online for the test at iseetest.org. Please note that the deadline to register for the test is three weeks prior to the test date. Hawken's Lower and Middle School ISEE code is 365940. The ISEE is offered at Hawken’s Lyndhurst campus for applicants to Grades 6-8 on the following dates:

Saturday, December 4, 2021, 8:30 am
Saturday, January 8, 2022, 8:30 am

Grades 9-12:

All students applying for grades 9-12 must submit ISEE scores. Applicants may register online for the test at iseetest.org. Please note that advanced registration is required. The ISEE is offered at Hawken’s Gates Mills and University Circle campuses for applicants to Grades 9-12 on the following dates:

Saturday, November 20, 2021, 8:30 am, GM
Saturday, December 4, 2021, 8:30 am, UC
Saturday, January 8, 2022, 8:30 am, GM & UC

For students entering 11th and 12th grades, submission of PSAT, SAT I, or ACT scores is acceptable for exams taken within the last year.

FAQs

List of 7 items.

When should we schedule a visit to campus?
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Students applying to Hawken spend a day in our community. These visits may be scheduled beginning in September and must be completed before the application deadline.
When do we begin the admission process?
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The admission process for applicants begins the year prior to desired entry, keeping in mind Hawken’s application deadlines listed above. Applications received after the stated admission deadlines will be considered on a rolling admission basis as they become complete and will be subject to space availability.
Is there an age requirement for Preschool, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten applicants?
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Yes. Families of applicants to Preschool, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten should keep the following birthday cutoff dates in mind:
- Toddlers must be 18 months of age by September 30th of the school year in which they will enter Hawken.
- Preschool students must turn three by September 30th of the school year in which they will enter Hawken.
- Prekindergarten students must turn four by September 30th of the school year in which they will enter Hawken.
- Kindergarten must turn five by September 30th of the school year in which they will enter Hawken.
All enrolled students must be able to use restroom facilities independently with the exception of toddlers.
What criteria are used for admission decisions?
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Admission to Hawken is competitive and is based upon the strength of a student’s application as well as space availability. Each applicant’s file will be reviewed by an admission committee consisting of faculty and administrators in the division to which the student is applying. The committee considers each applicant’s promise of academic success at Hawken and alignment with Hawken’s Purpose Promise and Principles.
When are families notified of admission decisions?
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Please refer to Hawken’s application timeline above for further details. Typically, families will have two weeks from the time admission decisions are given to notify Hawken of their intent to enroll.
Does Hawken School accept international students?
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Hawken is able to accept international students. However, Hawken does not have a residential program and enrolled students must live with an adult family member who will act as their guardian while in the United States. Hawken does not offer an ESL/ELL program and students should be fluent in written and spoken English. We require the ISEE (or SSAT) and the TOEFL as part of the application process. In addition, applicants must complete an interview, either via Skype, or during an on-campus visit day. If a student is accepted and enrolls, Hawken will issue an I-20 Form.
Is there bus transportation?
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Hawken transports approximately 25 percent of our students each year. Our transportation program meets all state requirements and inspections regarding the approval of bus drivers, standards for buses, and safe speeds. There are three choices of transportation services for students. Click here to learn more about transportation at Hawken.

List of 3 events.

Mastery School of Hawken Admission Parent Visit (Virtual)

Mastery School of Hawken Admission Parent Visit (Virtual)

Upper School Merit Night

Get to know us! Plan your visit.

We're Here For You!

Lower & Middle School

Birchwood School

Upper School

Mastery School

Welcome from the Admission Office

Application Timelines

Application Process

Create an Online Account

Student Visits

Delegate the Evaluation and Recommendation Forms

Print and Submit the School Records Release Form to Current School

Testing

FAQs

List of 7 items.

When should we schedule a visit to campus?

When do we begin the admission process?

Is there an age requirement for Preschool, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten applicants?

What criteria are used for admission decisions?

When are families notified of admission decisions?

Does Hawken School accept international students?

Is there bus transportation?