• Inquire or RSVP
    Interested in finding out more about Hawken or attending one of our events? Click "Inquire or RSVP" to create an online account, RSVP to events, and receive reminders of events, deadlines, and news from the school.
  • Apply Online
    Hawken utilizes a secure online system called Ravenna to manage applications. Click the button above to create your account and start the application process. Through Ravenna, families can submit required components and track the application process.

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.
 
Academically progressive with a dual focus on character and intellect, 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.
 
While you’ll find an abundance of information on our website, the best way to get to know Hawken is to visit. With over $9.6 million in tuition assistance each year, we welcome students and families from all backgrounds to tour our campuses, explore our state-of-the-art facilities, and learn about our innovative, nationally recognized programming. To sign up for a group event, individual tour, or visit day please call 440-423-2950 (grades toddler-8), or 440-423-2955 (grades 9-12) or click here to inquire online.
 
We look forward to welcoming you!
 
Kathy O’Neal
Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management

Get to know us!

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 is to visit.

  • Parents can see school in session during one of our weekday Parent Visits. 
  • Families meet faculty and tour facilities at an Open House. 
  • Families can schedule a personal tour or meeting with a member of our admission team. 
  • Students attend classes during their visit day as part of the application process.

Individual campus tours and student visit days may be scheduled by contacting the Admission Office at 440-423-2950 (Lower and Middle School) or 440-423-2955 (High School). 

For directions to our campuses, please click here.

Visit us!

Lower & Middle School

Toddler - Grade 8
Lyndhurst Campus

Parent Visits:
Wednesday, 9/11/19, 9:00 am
Tuesday, 10/15/19, 9:00 am
Thursday, 12/5/19, 9:00 am

Open Houses:
Sunday, 11/10/19, 1:00 pm
Sunday, 4/19/20, 1:00 pm

To RSVP for Lower & Middle School events held at the Lyndhurst Campus, please call 440-423-2950.

Birchwood School

Preschool - Grade 8
Cleveland-West Campus

Open Houses:
Sunday, 10/20/19, 2:00 pm
Sunday, 1/19/20, 2:00 pm

To RSVP for Birchwood School events held at the Cleveland-West Campus, please call 216-251-2321.

Upper School

Grades 9 - 12
Gates Mills Campus

Parent Visits:
Thursday, 9/19/19, 12:30 pm
Thursday, 10/17/19, 8:30 am
Tuesday, 12/10/19, 8:30 am

Open Houses:
Sunday, 11/3/19, 1:00 pm
Sunday, 4/26/20, 1:00 pm

To RSVP for Upper School events held at the Gates Mills Campus, please call 440-423-2955.

Mastery School

Grades 9 - 12
University Circle Campus

Informational Sessions:
Sunday, 9/15/19, 1:00 pm
Sunday, 10/13/19, 1:00 pm
Sunday, 12/15/19, 1:00 pm
Sunday, 1/12/20, 1:00 pm
Sunday, 2/23/20, 1:00 pm

Open Houses:
Sunday, 11/17/19, 1:00 pm
Sunday, 5/3/20, 1:00 pm

To RSVP for Mastery School events held at the University Circle Campus, please call 440-423-2955.

Application Timelines

Acceptance to Hawken is dependent on two factors: applicant qualifications and availability of space.

Because spaces are limited and the applicant pool is competitive, it is to the candidate’s advantage to complete their application by the admission deadlines listed below. 

Application Deadline, Grades 1-12 January 17, 2020
Flexible Tuition Deadline, Grades 1-12

 January 17, 2020
Application Deadline, Toddler, PS, PK, K            January 24, 2020
Flexible Tuition Deadline, Kindergarten
   		 January 24, 2020
Notification Date, All Grades February 14, 2020
Responses Due, All Grades February 28, 2020

Applications completed outside the above timeline will be considered on a rolling admission basis and may be subject to limited space and/or limited Flexible Tuition.

Application Process


Hawkens's application process is thoughtfully designed to allow us to get to know your child and your family.


1

Create an Online Account

To begin the application process, create an online account by clicking here. Then do the following online: 

  • Submit the application fee of $35 for toddler - grade 8, and $40 for grades 9-12
  • Upload a photo of your child (strongly recommended)
  • Submit the Parent/Guardian Questionnaire
  • Submit Student Questionnaire (Grades 1-12)
2

Student Visits


Toddlers, Preschool, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten: Student Exploration Visit, Student Discovery Group

The Student Exploration Visit gives children applyintg to preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten an opportunity to explore our Early Childhood Center, The Nido. Not only do students enjoy navigating the many areas of the Nido designed specifically for young children, but this visit also allows you to envision your child in the Hawken environment. 

Please call our Lower School Admission Office at 440-423-2950 to schedule a Student Exploration Visit. (Please note that this visit is for applicants to preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten. Applicants to the toddler program do not attend an Exploration Visit.)

The Student Discovery Group is an interactive and engaging step in your child’s application to the toddler program, preschool, prekindergarten or kindergarten. Along with a small group of peers, your child will spend an hour with Hawken faculty participating in meaningful activities. This will allow your child to experience the culture of a Hawken classroom while teachers are able to engage with and observe your child’s approach to learning. Discovery Group sessions are designed intentionally for the developmental age range of teh applicant and are formatted slightly differently for each grade level from todders-kindergarten. Sessions for 2020-2021 applicants are:

  • Thursday, January 16, 2020 (Preschool)
  • Friday, January 17, 2020 (Toddler)
  • Friday, January 24, 2020 (Toddler, Preschool, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten)
  • Saturday, January 25, 2020 (Toddler, Preschool, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten)
Schedule your child's Discovery Group visit through your secure online Ravenna account.

Grades 1-4: Student Visit Day (optional)
Please call the Lower and Middle School Admission Office at 440-423-2950 to schedule a visit day for your child. Students have the opportunity to visit classes and experience Hawken for a half day. Parents of applicants have to option to take a campus tour and meet with the admission staff.

Grades 5-8: Student Visit Day
Please call the Admission Office at 440-423-2950 to schedule a visit day for your child. Students will visit classes and experience Hawken on this day. Parents of applicants have to option to take a campus tour and meet with the admission staff.  

Grades 9-12: Visit Day & Interview
This required part of the application process enables prospective students to thoroughly experience Hawken’s learning community. Students applying to both the Upper School and the Mastery School will need to schedule visit days at both campuses. Visits fill up quickly, so please call 440-423-2955 in advance to schedule.
  • At the Upper School, students will attend classes with one or more student hosts and complete an admission interview. After dropping their students off, parents are invited to take a campus tour and to meet with a member of the admission staff to ask questions. 
  • Visit days at the Mastery School will be held in a group format on October 14 and November 12 and include opportunities to engage with Hawken students and faculty through project work and discussions. Parents will have the opportunity to meet with a member of the Mastery School Design Team to ask questions. 
3

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.
4

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 2019-20 school year (through the most recent marking period) and the complete 2018-19 academic year.


5

Testing


Toddler, Preschool, Prekindergarten, Kindergarten:
Early childhood applicants are evaluated as part of the Student Exploration Visit and the Student Discovery Group described in Step 2.

Grades 1-4:
For Applicants to grades 1-4, assessments will take place during the applicant’s Discovery Day. Sessions for 2020-2021 applicants are:
      • Saturday, December 14, 2019
      • Saturday, January 11, 2020
Grades 5-8:
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is required for students applying to Grades 5-8. 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 5-8 on the following dates:
  • Saturday, November 16, 2019
  • Saturday, December 7, 2019
  • Saturday, January 11, 2020
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 the deadline to register for the ISEE is three weeks prior to the test date. Hawken Upper School’s ISEE code is 361262. The ISEE is administered at Hawken School's Gates Mills campus for Grades 9-12 on the following dates:
  • Saturday, November 16, 2019
  • Saturday, January 11, 2020
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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  • When do we begin the admission process?

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

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  • What criteria are used for admission decisions?

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  • When are families notified of admission decisions?

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  • Does Hawken School accept international students?

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  • Is there bus transportation?

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An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12

Lower & Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135 
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106

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