The only application families need to complete in the Spring Round is the Willow application 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 Admission Form (SAF). If you already applied in Main Round, you simply need to do the Spring Round Reactivation Form. Families do NOT need to do both forms - only one or the other.

First Time Applicants: Submit the Willow Supplemental Admission Form (SAF) between April 1 - April 30, 2026.

Families should complete the Willow Supplemental Admission 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.

• 3rd-12th Grade applicants may submit a copy of the final 2024-2025 report card and/or a copy of mid-year 2025-2026 report card (three quarters, two trimesters, or one semester)

• All applicants submit the Arts Interest Profile as a component of the SAF.

Main Round Applicants: Submit the Willow Spring Round Reactivation Form between March 27 - April 30, 2026.

If your family applied in the Main Round for the 2026-2027 school year, you do not need to complete the SAF again. You simply need to complete the brief Spring Round 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).

Accommodations Documentation

• Due by 4/26 for the assessment on 5/9.

• Due by 5/7 for the assessment on 5/16.

Students receive accommodations during school testing for a variety of reasons, primarily to ensure that they have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities. These accommodations are typically provided to students with documented disabilities or special needs, as mandated by laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Learn more about accommodations requests on the eligibility assessment page.

Report Cards for 3rd-12th Grade Applicants - Due by 5/10.

If not submitted on the SAF, families should email the Willow admissions team a copy of final 2024-2025 report card and/or a copy of mid-year 2025-2026 report card (three quarters, two trimesters, or one semester).

Applicants to grades 10-12 must submit additional documentation about credits earned in high school by 5/10. See the matrix page section called Additional Requirements for Eligibility for more details.

Document Submission Methods - Submit by 11:59pm on the deadline.

All documentation must be received by 11:59pm on the deadline posted. Documents will not be accepted after these deadlines. Please contact the admissions team if you need help.

Families can turn in documentation any way that works well for you:

• Upload it to the Supplemental Admission Form (SAF)

• Email it to LowerAdmissions@willowschoolnola.org (grades K-4) or UpperAdmissions@willowschoolnola.org (grades 5-12).

• Drop it off at our admissions office at the Willow middle school campus (5625 Loyola Ave) between 8:30am-4:30pm on school days.

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.

After completing the Willow Supplemental Admission 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. Learn more about the assessment experience on the eligibility assessment page. Assessment results are usually available to parents within a week of the assessment.

Makeup Dates: If for any reason, the applicant is unable to be assessed on May 9, the parent/guardian must notify the Admissions Office about the need for a makeup assessment on the next school day following the missed assessment date. Requests to schedule for May 16 must be submitted by May 11. Missed assessments can NOT be made up if the assessment date missed is the final testing date on May 16.

Please note: Applicants who do not earn sufficient points on the assessment 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. Learn more on the matrix page.

A matrix score is calculated for each applicant based on their assessment performance (reading and math), arts interest profile, and grade-specific components. Applicants must earn 28 matrix points in order to be eligible for The Willow School for the 2026-2027 school year.

Willow communicates to guardians about their child’s eligibility by email no later than May 22, 2026. 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.

Participate in school assignment process in late May.

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. Students will either be assigned a seat or placed on the waitlist based on their random number. Priorities do not apply in the Spring or Summer Rounds, per Orleans Parish School Board policy. Families will receive notification from NOLA-PS of their assignment to The Willow School or to the waitlist in late May or early June 2026.