Spring Round Application Process

During the Spring Round of admissions, families can apply (or reapply) for grades that are projected to have available seats or a short waitlist after Main Round. Final Main Round matches will not be made by New Orleans Public Schools until April 30, 2024.

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.

What's Different in the Spring Round

Grades Open for Applications: During Main Round, Willow accepts applicants to all grades K-12. In the Spring Round, Willow does not accept applicants to grades where it is projected that there are no available seats and a long waitlist after the Main Round. For the 2024-2025 school year, Willow is accepting applicants in the Spring Round for grades K, 3-5, and 8-12.

NOLA-PS Application ("OneApp"): Families do not need to complete a NOLA-PS application during the Spring Round. Eligible students will be asked to complete a NOLA-PS Seat Request Form, which will be used in the placement process with the school district. The Seat Request Form tells the district that your student wants to accept an available seat at Willow more than another NOLA-PS school assignment.

Assessment Matrix Score: In the Spring Round, students who applied in the Main Round can take the assessment again, resulting in two assessment scores (one from Main Round and one from Spring Round). Applicants can use their best scores from the math and reading sections to earn matrix points in the Spring Round. For example, let's say a student earned 9 matrix points in math and 4 matrix points in reading on the Main Round assessment, then earned 8 matrix points in math and 8 matrix points in reading in the Spring Round assessment. For the Spring Round matrix calculation, we would use the student's highest scores to calculate their total assessment points: 9 points in math from the Main Round and 8 points in reading from the Spring Round.

Mid-Year Report Card: Applicants provide the most up to date report card available for the application period. Main Round applicants who were asked to provide a mid-year report card shared a report card from the first semester, first trimester, or first two quarters. For the Spring Round, applicants who are asked to provide a mid-year report card will share a mid-year report card reflecting the first semester, two trimesters, or three quarters.

Priorities: Priorities do not apply during the Spring Round. According to Orleans Parish School Board policy, priorities can only apply during Main Round. For Willow, this means there is no sibling priority, Tulane priority, or economically disadvantaged priority for the Spring Round of admissions.

Quicker Timeline: The Spring Round is shorter than the Main Round application period. There is less time for document submission and follow-up, so we ask that families respond as quickly as possible to outreach from the Willow admissions team.

Submit the online Willow application by completing the SAF or Reactivation Form by May 3

Unlike the Main Round, the only application families need to complete in the Main Round is the Willow admissions form. Families do not need to complete a NOLA-PS application.

If you are a first time applicant, you'll complete the full Willow Supplemental Admissions Form (SAF). If you already applied in Main Round, you simply need to do the Reactivation Form. Families do NOT need to do both forms - only one or the other.

First Time Applicants: Submit the Willow Supplemental Admissions Form (SAF) by 5/3/2024.

Families should complete the Willow Supplemental Admissions Form (SAF) as early as possible. You only complete this form once.

  • Log into the system. If it is your first time applying, sign up and create your family profile. If you already have an account, log in to access the application.

  • Express your preferences for an assessment date.

  • Share testing accommodations information, if applicable. Learn more on the eligibility and assessment calendar pages.

  • Upload supporting documents for the Willow SAF, which include:

    • K Applicants: student birth certificate

    • 2nd Grade Applicants: Copy of 2023-2024 mid-year report card (first semester, second quarter or first trimester)

    • 3rd-12th Grade Applicants: Copy of final 2022-2023 report card

    • K-12 Applicants: Arts Interest Profile

  • Families will have until May 23, 2024 to submit all documentation to the Willow School admissions team. See step 3 for more information.

Main Round Applicants: Submit the Willow Spring Round Reactivation Form by 5/3/2024.

If your family applied in the Main Round for the 2024-2025 school year, you do not need to complete the SAF again. You simply need to complete the brief Reactivation Form to reapply during the Spring Round, indicate your family's preference for a new assessment date, and share new accommodations paperwork (if applicable).

Families will have until May 23, 2024 to submit all documentation to the Willow School admissions team. See step 3 for more information. See step 3 for more information.

Applicant takes the assessment on May 11 or May 18

Applicant completes the assessment at Willow.

After completing the Willow Supplemental Admissions Form (SAF) or the Spring Round Reactivation Form, each child is assigned a day and time to complete testing at one of our Willow School campuses. Families will receive details about the assessment logistics via email prior to the test date. See the assessment calendar for spring round assessment dates and the deadlines for submitting accommodations paperwork (if applicable).

Assessment results are usually available to parents within a week of the assessment.

Please note: Applicants who do not earn at least 15 points from the assessment components of the matrix will not be asked to complete the remaining next steps, as it would be impossible to attain the minimum matrix points needed to qualify. Students can earn a maximum of 20 points from the assessment.

Complete Family Next Steps by May 23

Families complete additional next steps based on the applicant’s grade level.

  • Grades K & 1: Guardian will review the curriculum meeting video and submit the online Parent Questionnaire. This information will be available through the SAF and emailed directly to guardians of applicants.

  • Grade 2: Copy of 2023-2024 mid-year report card (first semester, two trimesters, or three quarters).

  • Grades 3 to 12: Copy of final 2022-2023 report card

  • Grades 10-12: Applicants must provide report cards or transcripts of all high school work completed during the applicant’s academic career

  • Grades K-12: If not yet completed, guardian submits the student’s Arts Interest Portfolio.

Families Reactivating Main Round Applications: If your family is reactivating an application and already completed these steps, you may not need to do them again. The Willow admissions team will follow up with your family to let you know which documents need to be submitted in order to maximize your child's opportunity to earn points on the eligibility matrix based on their Main Round application.

Families have until May 23, 2024 to submit all documentation to the Willow School admissions team. Families can turn in documentation any way that works well for you:

Final Matrix Score Calculation & Communication by May 29

Matrix Calculation

Willow calculates each student’s matrix score based on their assessment performance (reading and math), arts interest profile, and grade-specific components (guardian participation for K-1 or GPA for 2-12).

Willow communicates to guardians about their child’s eligibility by email no later than May 29, 2024. All eligible students will be asked to complete a Seat Request Form to indicate they would like to accept an available seat at The Willow School. The Seat Request Form is not available online. The Willow admissions team will email your family a Seat Request Form if you are eligible and asked to complete it.

  • Applicants to grades K & 1 must have a total of 25 of 30 possible matrix points

  • Applicants to grades 2-12 must have a total of 28 of 33 possible matrix points.

NOLA-PS School Assignment Process in early June

School Assignment Process

New Orleans Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is responsible for managing all enrollment, including the Main Round match process and student assignment in the Spring Round. The Willow School team works closely with the district staff at New Orleans Public Schools to assign eligible students to available seats or to the waitlist.

Based on the number of eligible students in each grade who complete a Seat Request Form, applicants will be assigned to an available seat at Willow or to the waitlist. If there are more eligible applicants than available seats, NOLA-PS will determine which students receive placement by running a mini-lottery where each applicant is assigned a random number. Priorities do not apply in the Spring or Summer Rounds, per Orleans Parish School Board policy. Families will receive notification of their assignment to The Willow School or to the waitlist in early June 2024.

The Willow admissions team is happy to answer any questions you have and help you complete your child's application. Please reach out to us by email or phone. In-Person and virtual appointments are available by request for support or computer access.

Applicants in Grades K-4, please reach out to Peter Hunt: email LowerAdmissions@willowschoolnola.org or call 504-324-7318.

Applicants in Grades 5-12, please reach out to Jenny Cromer: email UpperAdmissions@willowschoolnola.org or call 504-304-3961.

Our admissions office is located at the Willow middle school campus at 5625 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115.