Summer Round Application Process

During the Summer Round of admissions, families can apply (or reapply) for grades that have available seats or a short waitlist after the Main Round and Spring Round. Families can apply to grades 3-5, 8, and 10-12 at The Willow School for the 2024-2025 school year during the Summer Round. The Summer Round application was open from June 5 to July 15, 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 Summer Round

Grades Open for Applications: During Main Round, Willow accepts applicants to all grades K-12. In the Summer Round, Willow only accepts applicants to grades with a short waitlist or available seats. For the 2024-2025 school year, Willow is accepting applicants in the Summer Round for grades 3-5, 8, and 10-12.

No NOLA-PS Application ("OneApp"): Families cannot access seats at Willow through the NOLA-PS Open Enrollment Form. Since Willow applicants need to meet the eligibility criteria before they can be assigned to a seat, The Willow School is not listed as an option on the NOLA-PS Open Enrollment Form. Families do not need to complete a NOLA-PS application ("OneApp") during the Summer 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.

Maximum Assessment Matrix Score: In the Summer Round, students who applied in the Main Round or Spring Round can take the assessment again, resulting in an additional assessment score. Applicants can use their best scores from the math and reading sections to earn matrix points in the Summer Round. We consider all available scores in calculating a student's highest possible matrix score. 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, then earned 10 matrix points in math and 7 matrix points in reading in the Summer Round assessment. For the Summer Round matrix calculation, we would use the student's highest scores to calculate their total assessment points: 10 points in math from the Summer Round and 8 points in reading from the Spring Round.

Maximize GPA with Report Card Options: For the Summer Round, applicants are asked to provide final year report card from the 2023-2024 school year in addition to the final year report card from the 2022-2023 school year. The admissions team calculates the student's GPA at each timepoint used in the Main Round and Spring Round to determine the student's best GPA and maximize the applicant's GPA matrix points. For the Summer Round, applicants who are asked to provide a second report card are asked to share a final year report card for the 2023-2024 school year.

Priorities: Priorities do not apply during the Summer 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 Summer Round of admissions.

Quicker Timeline: The Summer 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.

Step 1:

Submit the online Willow application by completing the SAF or Reactivation Form by July 15

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 or Spring Round, you simply need to do the Summer 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 7/15/2024.

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:

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

    • K-12 Applicants: Arts Interest Profile

  • Families will have until July 26, 2024 to submit all documentation to the Willow School admissions team. See step 3 for more information.

Main Round or Spring Applicants: Submit the Willow Summer Round Reactivation Form by 7/15/2024.

If your family applied in the Main Round or Spring 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 Summer Round and share new accommodations paperwork (if applicable).

Families will have until July 26, 2024 to submit all documentation to the Willow School admissions team. See step 3 for more information.

Step 2:

Complete Family Next Steps by July 26

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

  • 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 or Spring 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 previously submitted applications.

Families have until July 26, 2024 to submit all documentation to the Willow School admissions team. Families can turn in documentation any way that works well for you:

Step 3:

Applicant takes the assessment on July 27

Applicant completes the assessment at Willow.

After completing the Willow Supplemental Admissions Form (SAF) or the Summer 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.

The only assessment day for the Summer Round is July 27, 2024. There is no alternate or makeup assessment day. If your child cannot attend the assessment in person at Willow on July 27, they cannot take the assessment during Summer Round. See the assessment calendar for more information 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.

Step 4:

Final Matrix Score Calculation & Communication by August 2

Matrix Calculation

Willow communicates to guardians about their child’s final eligibility by email no later than August 2, 2024. 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).

  • 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.

Step 5:

Eligible Students Complete NOLA-PS Seat Request Form by August 5

NOLA-PS School Assignment Process in early August

School Assignment Process

All eligible students will be asked to complete a Seat Request Form by August 5, 2024 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.

New Orleans Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is responsible for managing all enrollment, including the Main Round match process and student assignment in the Spring and Summer Rounds. 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 August 2024.

Students who are assigned to seats at Willow for the 24-25 school year during the Summer Round are asked to complete new student registration as quickly as possible so they can begin school with their peers on August 14, 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. Please note that the school building is closed in July and the admissions team is not available for in-person support.