Admission Frequently Asked Questions

Our selection is based on both academic and non-academic considerations. The admission committee looks for students who love to learn, are curious and have varied interests. A strong applicant demonstrates strong character and integrity and has a desire to engage in both the Harker and the greater community. We look for families who support our mission and want to partner with us to build a community where students are supported on their own unique journeys, growing at their own pace into the global citizens of tomorrow.

We have a range of students and interests at Harker; however, we understand that Harker might not be a fit for every student. Some students could be a better fit for Harker if given a few years. Please contact us should you have specific questions about your child.

Our main entry points are kindergarten and grades 3, 4, 6 and 9. We accept applications to all other grades except grade 12, and enrollment will be offered to qualified applicants if a space becomes available.

*Harker, K-12, has a 97% retention rate with minimal attrition.

Children applying to our kindergarten must be 5 years old by Dec. 1 of their kindergarten year. We believe that students should remain in their peer cohort and should not be significantly older or younger than their peers. Therefore we don’t recommend repeating or skipping a grade at Harker.

We value the commitment of our families, alumni and faculty/staff who want to have their children attend the same school and this is considered by the admission committee. Admission is not automatic, and they must be a good match for our program and meet our qualifications.

The Harker School will release decisions through Ravenna, our online application portal, on March 19, 2021, 4 p.m. Application and decision notification dates are established by the Bay Area Admission Directors (BAAD) consortium of independent school admission directors.

The parent/guardian response (signed contract and deposit) is due by March 27, 2021.

Members of the admission committee review applicant files and then meet as a group to discuss and make recommendations to the admission office. The committee’s goal is to find the best fit between Harker and the students we enroll, seeking those students and families who represent a range of diverse interests and experiences. We take a holistic view of each applicant’s file, with every component being considered in our admission decision. There is not a single piece that determines whether or not a student is offered admission. We strive to admit a balanced and diverse group of students who will thrive at our school and add to the overall Harker community.

All completed applications will receive one of the following admission decisions:

• Acceptance: An offer of admission is extended, and the applicant is invited to enroll.

• Wait Pool: When an applicant meets our qualifications, but space is not available, they will be placed in the wait pool. There is not a ranked list within the wait pool. Should space become available between March and late summer, the admission committee will review all wait pool applicants and select one who best fits the composition of that grade. The wait pool does not carry forward into the next admission season, and applicants will need to reapply.

• Regrets: Harker may not be the right fit at this time and the applicant does not meet our qualifications. Some students will be stronger applicants when re-applying for a later grade level.

We only enroll students in the fall of the new school year. We do not accept mid-year transfers, and we typically don’t fill from the wait pool once the school year has started.

Offers of admission cannot be deferred to the following year. Because many considerations go into each admission decision, including the number of spaces available and the strength of the applicant pool for a particular grade level, we are not able to defer offers of admission to the following school year. If you decline the offer of admission for this year, you may reapply for admission next year.

Yes. An application is considered late if it is submitted after our January deadline. If qualified, late applicants are placed in our wait pool and considered for openings that may occur after first round decisions are released in March.

We are a day school only. All students must be living with a parent or guardian while attending Harker.

We welcome international applicants who are fluent in English and prepared to fully engage in our program. Applicants who are attending a school outside of the United States and/or require the I-20 are considered as “international applicants.”

• At Harker we work directly with applying families and do not work with educational consultants or agents. International families must apply directly to our school and communicate with the admission directors.
• We do not offer an ESL program, boarding or arrange home-stays. It is expected that lower and middle school students reside in the Bay Area with a parent. We prefer that upper school students live with a parent.
• We do not have a separate pool for international applicants. International students applying to The Harker School must meet the same admission standards as domestic students, and successfully complete all stages of the highly selective admission process.
  • Unless students have been attending a school where all their courses are taught in English, it is unlikely that they will qualify.
  • We do not accept the TOEFL.
• If an international student is accepted and enrolls, Harker will issue an I-20 after full tuition is received in mid-June.
• While Harker does not offer ESL curriculum during the regular school year, we do offer a robust English Language Institute (ELI) in the summer. For more information visit https://www.harker.org/summer#bookmark-eli or contact ELI@harker.org.