Admissions Process

We welcome inquiries about admissions at any time. Please contact our Admissions Coordinator or call 510-841-7248 for any questions not covered here.

WALDEN INQUIRY AND APPLICATION PACKET

Walden Center & School uses Ravenna to collect inquiries and manage our application process. After completing an inquiry form, you will have the option to register for tours and info sessions. You may create a Ravenna account, if you do not already have one, after completing the inquiry form. 

Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Age Requirement

For the 2024-2025 school year, Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students must have a birthdate before Sep 1, 2020. Kindergarten students must have a birthdate before Sep 1, 2019.

For the 2025-2026 school year, Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students must have a birthdate before Sep 1, 2021. Kindergarten students must have a birthdate before Sep 1, 2020.

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2025 – 2026 Admissions Process

1. Complete the Inquiry Form and create an account in Ravenna.

2. Sign up for a tour and/or information session for 2025-26*
*A video tour of an active day at Walden is available upon request.  

*We accept applications for admissions and financial aid beyond the current stated deadlines. Missed our tour dates? Please contact our Admissions Coordinator to schedule a visit.

3. Complete an application and include $85.00 fee* in your Ravenna account.

We have a courtesy application due date of Friday, December 20, 2024 for siblings and those who are ready to apply and a final due date of Friday, January 17, 2025. Walden will accept and consider most applications after this deadline, but will give preference to applications filed by the January deadline.

4. Ask a current teacher to fill out a recommendation form

Walden uses the standard ISSFBA forms. The form should be filled out by one of your child’s current teachers prior to the child visit.  If your child is home schooled, an adult or mentor who has worked academically with your child in a group may fill out the form.

Be sure to sign and date the recommendation before giving to your child’s teacher. The recommendation forms are confidential and will be facilitated via Ravenna by the courtesy deadline if applying then, and no later than January 17, 2025. 

5. Complete two financial aid forms if applying for financial aid

Walden financial aid applications and the online SSS application are both due Friday, February 28, 2025. Our application will be available on Ravenna or may be requested via e-mail.  SSS forms may be obtained on the SSS website.  Please contact Walden’s business manager if you have questions about financial aid.

For more detailed information about financial aid and the internal application click here.

6. Child visit

Once your application is complete, we will send instructions on how the child visit will be conducted.

7. Notification of admissions decisions

Applicant families are notified electronically of admissions decisions. Decisions are e-mailed Thursday, March 20, 2025. This date is the same for all EBISA member schools.

8. Enrollment contracts and payments due Thursday, March 27, 2025

Please contact our admissions coordinator, Winona Alexander, at with any questions you may have.