Admissions

Families can now apply for the 2024-2025 school year in the Spring Round for grades with availability !

First Time Applicants for 24-25: Families who are applying for the first time complete the Willow Supplemental Admissions Form (SAF).
Main Round Applicants for 24-25: Families who applied during Main Round reactivate their applications by completing the Spring Round Reactivation Form.

Grades Accepting Applications

We cannot confirm exact counts on available seats and the waitlist by grade until NOLA-PS finalizes school matches by April 30, 2024.

We are accepting applications for grade K, 3-5, and 8-12 based on projections. Families can apply for:

  • Available Seats: Grades 5, 8, 11

  • Limited Seats & Waitlist: Grades K, 3, 9, 10, 12

  • Waitlist: Grade 4

We are not accepting applications to grades 1, 2, 6, or 7. These grades are anticipated to have no available seats and a waitlist.

Getting Started on the Road to The Willow School

Thank you for your interest in The Willow School! We are looking forward to meeting your family through the admissions process for the 2024-2025 school year. If you have any questions, please reach out to our admissions team.

Understanding the Application Process

All public schools in New Orleans, including Willow School, participate in the NOLA-PS Common Application Process (NCAP). Our school, along with four other public schools in Orleans Parish, has academic admissions criteria that require a supplemental application and an admissions exam. This process is essential to evaluate the readiness of applicants for our rigorous program and is reflected in a matrix score.

In every application round, all prospective families must complete the steps of the application process:

  • Complete the Willow Application.

  • Take an eligibility assessment in person at The Willow School.

  • Complete the Arts Interest Portfolio.

  • Submit supporting documentation based on the applicant’s grade level.

  • Complete enrollment actions with New Orleans Public Schools through the centralized enrollment system.

Prospective families can learn about the specific next steps for the current admissions round on the application process page.

Supporting documentation can be submitted through the SAF, or turned in via email or in person after the SAF has been submitted. Documents can be scanned and uploaded through the Supplemental Application Form (SAF), emailed to the admissions team, or submitted in person to the admissions office at the middle school campus (5625 Loyola Avenue) between 8:30am and 4:00 pm or by appointment.

Spring Application Process

Just like in the Main Round, applicants complete an application (or reactivate their previously submitted Main Round application), complete the assessment, and submit supporting documentation (report card or parent questionnaire and Arts Interest Profile). Learn more about the application components and eligibility calculations on the matrix page.

See the next steps and timelines for the Spring Round on the application process page.

Main Round Application Process

Main Round applicants have moved through the first four stages of the admissions roadmap below. All families have been notified of their eligibility by The Willow School admissions team.

NOLA-PS will communicate school match and waitlist information to families by April 30, 2024.

AdmissionsRoadmap

Understanding Matrix Calculations

The Willow School has a rigorous academic program, with accompanying higher expectations. Acceptance to The Willow School is determined by the applicant’s total matrix score, which is calculated as described below.

The matrix score is a sum of points from Math Assessment (all grades) + Reading Assessment (all grades) + Arts Interest Form completion (all grades) + Curriculum Meeting/Questionnaire (K-1 only) OR GPA (grades 2-12 only).

Learn more about the matrix calculations on the matrix page.

Family Support

If you need help with any parts of the admissions process, or have questions, please reach out to our admissions team. We are looking forward to getting to know your child through the application process.

For Grades K - 4: Email LowerAdmissions@willowschoolnola.org or call 504-324-7318

For Grades 5-12: Email UpperAdmissions@willowschoolnola.org or call 504-304-3961

In person support and computer assistance is available by appointment. Please contact the admissions office by email or phone to schedule a time to visit our admissions office at the middle school campus (5625 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115).

Why Willow?

The Willow School's renowned academic program engages students and challenges them to think critically, analytically, and creatively. A National Blue Ribbon School, The Willow School has mastered the art of balancing a rigorous academic program, with accompanying higher expectations, and student well-being.

Our unique curriculum is founded on the concept of arts integration. The school believes strongly in the power of combining critical thinking skills and creativity to prepare its students for a successful academic future and to help them develop and grow into adulthood.

An Orleans Parish public school, The Willow School maintains an "A" rating with the Louisiana Department of Education and serves more than 2,000 students on three campuses.

The Willow School does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s race, color, ethnic group, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.