When are Bay Area private school application deadlines for fall 2027?
You probably already have a shortlist. Three schools on a sticky note, plus one you're only touring because your neighbor won't stop talking about it. This page tells you when each one closes, what testing it wants, and whether it has actually posted its fall 2027 date. The short version: most Bay Area private schools close January 5–8, 2027, and a handful close in October and November. Those are the ones that get people. Last checked October 12, 2026.
Schools are grouped the same way as our private school guides: gifted and advanced, dyslexia and learning differences, bilingual and immersion, and other independent schools. Inside each table, rows run by area (SF, Marin, Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Tri-Valley), so the schools near you sit together. Chain schools like Stratford and Challenger play by different rules, so they get their own section.
Schools that haven't posted their 2027–28 dates are still listed. If a school is on your list, you'd rather see Not posted than wonder whether we forgot it. Bookmark the page; the log at the bottom says what changed since you last looked.
Deadlines in the next 90 days
- Oct 28, 2026: BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. Early round, TK and kindergarten only. That's about two weeks away, so if BASIS is on your list, this is your week. Add to Google Calendar
- Nov 3: The Nueva School. Guarantee deadline for kindergarten and grades 5–10. Miss it and you can still apply in January; you just get whatever testing slots are left. Add to Google Calendar
- Nov 5: Helios School. Guarantee deadline for K–4, and it includes the IQ report. Testers book up, so call one before you start the essays. Add to Google Calendar
- Dec 4: Head-Royce School. Preliminary application and fee, all grades. The full application follows on Jan 8. Add to Google Calendar
- Dec 18: San Francisco Day School. Kindergarten parent application. Right before the holidays, because of course it is. Add to Google Calendar
- Jan 5–8, 2027: almost everyone else. Harker, Nueva, Menlo, Castilleja, College Prep, The Bay School and Sterne close Jan 5. Helios closes Jan 7 at noon. Head-Royce and Athenian close Jan 8. Yes, that's the first week back from winter break. Write the essays in December. Add to Google Calendar
The whole season in one line: apply (now to January), then testing and visits (mostly winter), then decisions (March 11–12 for most schools), then about a week to say yes. Harker wants its contract by noon on March 19. Plan a calm week in mid-March. You won't get one, but plan it anyway.
Parent tip
Book testing before you write a single essay. You can write an essay at 11 pm. You can't book a Wechsler appointment at 11 pm. Harker requires one for TK through grade 2, Helios wants an IQ report by Nov 5 for K–4, and College Prep needs ISEE or SSAT scores by Feb 1.
Gifted and advanced schools
Deadlines for the schools in our gifted and advanced guide. Most close January 5, but Nueva and Helios have November guarantee dates and BASIS closes its TK–K early round on October 28. This is also the group most likely to want an IQ test, so see the tip above.
| School | Area | Deadline | Financial aid | Testing and interviews | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Nueva SchoolHillsborough and San Mateo · PreK–12 | Peninsula | Jan 5, 2027Guarantee deadline Nov 3 for K and grades 5–10. Decisions Mar 12 | Feb 3, 2027 | IQ assessment recommended for lower and middle school | Verified |
| Menlo SchoolAtherton · grades 6–12 | Peninsula | Jan 5, 2027Family items. Records and recommendations Jan 31. Decisions Mar 12 | Jan 5, 2027 | Menlo STAR assessment for local applicants | Verified |
| Castilleja SchoolPalo Alto · grades 6–12, girls | Peninsula | Jan 5, 2027Transcripts through end of January. Decisions Mar 12 | Jan 5, 2027 | No ISEE or SSAT; writing sample and interview | Verified |
| Crystal Springs Uplands SchoolHillsborough · grades 6–12 | Peninsula | Expected Jan 5, 2027The school's page still shows an older cycle | Not listed | No ISEE or SSAT reported; writing sample and interview | Pending |
| Khan Lab SchoolPalo Alto and Mountain View · TK–12 | Peninsula | Not postedPage still shows the 2025–26 cycle | — | Ask admissions | Not posted |
| The Harker SchoolSan Jose · TK–12 | South Bay | Jan 5, 2027Decisions Mar 12; contract due Mar 19, noon | Separate aid page | Wechsler for TK–2; ISEE for 2–5; ISEE or SSAT for 6 and 9 | Verified |
| BASIS Independent Silicon ValleySan Jose · TK–12 | South Bay | Oct 28, 2026Early round, TK and K only. Regular round Jan 27, 2027 (TK–9); file complete by Feb 12 | Not listed | ISEE or SSAT for grades 2–9 | Verified |
| Helios SchoolSunnyvale · K–8 | South Bay | Jan 7, 2027, noonGuarantee deadline Nov 5 for K–4. Decisions Mar 11; contract Mar 18 | Jan 7, 2027 | IQ report, student workshop and parent interview | Verified |
| The College Preparatory SchoolOakland · grades 9–12 | East Bay | Jan 5, 2027Family forms. Recommendations, records, test and interview by Feb 1. Decisions Mar 12 | Jan 5, 2027Documents Feb 5 | ISEE or SSAT by Feb 1; Zoom interview | Verified |
| The Athenian SchoolDanville · grades 6–12 | Tri-Valley | Jan 8, 2027Report card Jan 29. Decisions Mar 11 (middle), Mar 12 (upper) | Jan 8, 2027 | Ask admissions | Verified |
Dyslexia and learning differences schools
Deadlines for the schools in our dyslexia and learning differences guide. Sterne is the only one with a posted January date. The rest admit on a rolling basis and haven't posted 2027–28 dates, which is normal for specialist schools, not a red flag. Rolling means the seat goes to whoever asks first, so ask about openings in your child's grade now.
| School | Area | Deadline | Financial aid | Testing and interviews | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterne SchoolSan Francisco · grades 4–12 | SF | Jan 5, 2027Extra materials by Feb 1. Decisions Mar 11 (4–8), Mar 12 (9–12). Also rolling when seats open | Feb 5, 2027 | Math and reading check at the student visit (grades 4–8) | Verified |
| North Bridge AcademyLarkspur · grades 2–8 | Marin | Not posted | — | Cognitive testing | Not posted |
| Charles Armstrong SchoolBelmont · grades 1–8 | Peninsula | Not postedRolling admission in 2026–27 | — | No formal assessment to apply (2026–27 policy) | Not posted |
| Sand Hill SchoolPalo Alto · grades 2–8 | Peninsula | Not postedPage still promotes 2026–27 | — | Ask about evaluation requirements | Not posted |
| Athena AcademyPalo Alto · grades 1–8 | Peninsula | Not posted | — | Ask about evaluation requirements | Not posted |
| The Learning Center at Almaden Country DaySan Jose · grades 1–8 | South Bay | Not posted | — | Ask about eligibility | Not posted |
| Stellar Academy for DyslexicsNewark · grades 3–8 | East Bay | Not posted | — | Ask admissions | Not posted |
| Hope Academy for DyslexicsConcord · grades 3–8 | East Bay | Not posted | — | Ask admissions | Not posted |
| Bayhill High SchoolBerkeley · grades 9–12 | East Bay | Not posted | — | Ask about eligibility | Not posted |
Heads up
Ask each school which evaluation it needs and how recent it has to be. Evaluators book out too, and you don't want to find out in January that your report is a year too old.
Bilingual and immersion schools
Deadlines for the schools in our bilingual and immersion guide. Kindergarten is the easiest way in for a child who doesn't speak the language yet. After that, expect a language assessment. Presidio Knolls and Silicon Valley International have posted their dates; most of the others still show last year's.
| School | Area | Deadline | Financial aid | Testing and interviews | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presidio Knolls SchoolSan Francisco · PreK–8 · Mandarin | SF | Jan 11, 2027Middle school Jan 15 | Same day as the application | Info session required. Ask about Mandarin for grades 1 and up | Verified |
| Chinese American International SchoolSan Francisco · PreK–8 · Mandarin | SF | Jan 15, 2027Listed, but one school page labels it 2026–27 | Not listed | No Mandarin needed for K; later entry varies | Pending |
| Silicon Valley International SchoolPalo Alto and Menlo Park · PreK–12 · German, French, Mandarin | Peninsula | Jan 13, 2027Supplemental forms Jan 21. Decisions Mar 11 (PreK–8), Mar 12 (9–12) | Jan 21, 2027Variable tuition | Language assessment for later entry | Verified |
| French American School of Silicon ValleySunnyvale and Santa Clara · PreK–8 · French | South Bay | Not posted | — | Ask about language placement | Not posted |
| German International School of Silicon ValleyMountain View · German | South Bay | Not posted | — | Ask about language requirements | Not posted |
| Escuela Bilingüe InternacionalEmeryville and Oakland · Spanish | East Bay | Not postedPage still shows 2026–27 (rolling) | — | Ask admissions | Not posted |
| École Bilingue de BerkeleyBerkeley · French | East Bay | Not postedTours start in October | — | Ask about the accelerated French pathway | Not posted |
Other independent schools
Not in one of our guides, but on plenty of shortlists. Two of these come early: Head-Royce wants a preliminary application by December 4, and SF Day's kindergarten application is due December 18.
| School | Area | Deadline | Financial aid | Testing and interviews | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Day SchoolSan Francisco · K–8 | SF | Dec 18, 2026Kindergarten. Grades 1–8: Jan 5, 2027. Decisions Mar 11 | Jan 11, 2027 | Kindergarten assessment in January; parent interview | Verified |
| The Bay School of San FranciscoSan Francisco · grades 9–12 | SF | Jan 5, 2027Decisions Mar 12 | Jan 5, 2027 | No tests considered; every student interviews | Verified |
| Lick-Wilmerding High SchoolSan Francisco · grades 9–12 | SF | Expected Jan 5, 2027Not on the school's page yet | Not listed | Test-free; interview | Pending |
| Head-Royce SchoolOakland · K–12 | East Bay | Dec 4, 2026Preliminary application and fee. Full application Jan 8. Decisions Mar 11 (K–8), Mar 12 (9–12) | Jan 4, 2027New families | Ask admissions | Verified |
| Park Day SchoolOakland · TK–8 | East Bay | Jan 19, 2027Preliminary application. Parent statement Jan 25. Decisions Mar 11 (TK), Mar 18 (K–8) | Jan 22, 2027 | Student video for grades 2–8 | Verified |
Chain schools: less about the date, more about the seat
Chain schools work differently. Most take applications year-round, run many campuses, and admit as seats open, so getting in is usually less of a contest than at Harker or Nueva. It isn't automatic, though. Most assess kids first, and when a grade is full you go on a waitlist. At Stratford that waitlist runs in order of application date, which is a polite way of saying no deadline still means don't wait. Tri-Valley families: Stratford has a Dublin campus.
| Chain | Bay Area campuses | How getting in works |
|---|---|---|
| Stratford School | 30+ campuses across the Bay Area and Southern California, including Dublin and Milpitas | Rolling, no deadline. Tour, apply, then an assessment for K and up. Full grade? Waitlist, in order of application date. Kids can start mid-year if a seat opens |
| Challenger School | 10 California campuses, including Sunnyvale and Ardenwood (Fremont) | Applications taken year-round. Campus visit plus a placement test for K–8. Application fee and tuition deposit up front |
| BASIS Independent | Silicon Valley (San Jose) and Fremont | The exception: real deadlines. Silicon Valley's TK–K early round closes Oct 28, 2026. ISEE or SSAT for grades 2–9 |
| Alpha School | San Francisco, Palo Alto, Piedmont | Rolling, set by each campus. No 2027–28 dates posted yet |
What Verified, Pending and Not posted mean
- Verified: the school's own admissions page shows the fall 2027 date.
- Pending: a date is out there, but the school's page doesn't show it yet, or still labels it with last year.
- Not posted: no fall 2027 date yet. That doesn't mean there's no deadline. It means the website hasn't caught up with the admissions office, and the admissions office will happily answer an email.
All dates are for fall 2027 entry. Schools do move dates, so confirm with admissions before you submit anything.
What changed
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2026 | First version: 32 schools, 15 verified |
What parents ask about private school deadlines
When do Bay Area private schools send admission decisions?
Most release fall 2027 decisions on March 11–12, 2027. Helios, SF Day and Sterne (grades 4–8) go on March 11; Harker, Nueva, Menlo, Castilleja, College Prep and The Bay School on March 12. Park Day's K–8 decisions come March 18. You usually get about a week to commit: Harker's contract is due March 19 at noon.
What is a guarantee deadline?
A guarantee deadline is an earlier date that secures your child a spot in a school's testing or visit sessions. Nueva's is November 3, 2026 for kindergarten and grades 5–10. Helios's is November 5 for K–4, and the IQ report is due by then too. Miss it and you can still apply in January, but session spots depend on what's left.
Do Bay Area private schools require the ISEE or SSAT?
It depends on the school and grade. Harker requires the ISEE for grades 2–5 and accepts ISEE or SSAT for grades 6 and 9. College Prep requires ISEE or SSAT scores by February 1. Menlo uses its own STAR assessment for local applicants. Castilleja and The Bay School don't consider test scores, and Lick-Wilmerding is test-free.
When are financial aid applications due?
Usually on or near the application deadline, so apply for aid at the same time, not after an offer. Head-Royce wants new-family aid forms by January 4, 2027; Menlo, Castilleja and College Prep by January 5; Helios by January 7; Athenian by January 8. Some are later: Nueva's is February 3 and Sterne's is February 5.
Are chain private schools easier to get into?
Usually it's easier to get a seat, yes. Stratford and Challenger take applications year-round across many campuses and admit as space opens. But it isn't automatic: Stratford assesses children from kindergarten up, Challenger gives a placement test for K–8, and full grades go to a waitlist. BASIS Independent is the exception, with real deadlines and ISEE or SSAT for grades 2–9.
Can I still apply after the January deadline?
Sometimes. Sterne accepts applications year-round when seats are open, and Charles Armstrong admitted on a rolling basis for 2026–27. Chains like Stratford and Challenger take applications all year. Most selective schools fill their main entry grades in March, so a late application works best in grades with natural turnover. Ask each admissions office which grades have openings.
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