Admission

Application Procedures

Admission Application Procedures

We sincerely appreciate your interest in Parker as an educational option for your child. Our admission process is designed to provide students and families with opportunities to learn about Parker, understand our educational philosophy and get to know our inclusive community.
 
As a department, our goal is to maintain integrity, confidentiality, inclusivity and transparency in our Admission and Financial Assistance programs. The National Association of Independent Schools professional standards for admission and financial assistance guide our practices, and we encourage prospective families to review them as they consider applying to Parker.
 
We look forward to getting to know your student and learning more about your family’s educational goals and aspirations throughout our application process.

List of 7 items.

  • How to Apply

    The first step in our process is to create a profile in Finalsite and submit an application for admission. There is no fee to apply.

  • When to Apply

    Our primary entry points (where we admit the most children) are Junior Kindergarten (JK) (our entry grade level for four-year-old students), 6th grade (the first year of the Middle School) and 9th grade (the first year of the Upper School). 

    Each child applying for admission to Junior Kindergarten must be four years old on or before September 1 of the year of entry.
     
    For example, if your child was born between:
    • 9/2/21 and 9/1/22, apply for the 2026–27 school year in the fall of 2025

  • Important Deadlines

    Deadline to Apply for Admissions
    Friday, November 21, 2025

    Deadline to Apply for Financial Assistance
    Friday, November 21, 2025

    Deadline to Submit Supplemental Materials
    Friday, January 9, 2026

    Notification of Admission Decisions
    Friday, February 27, 2026

  • Parent/Guardian Meeting

    The parent/guardian meeting, which lasts about 30–45 minutes, is an informal conversation between the parent/guardian(s) and member of the Admissions team. The purpose of the meeting is to learn more about your family and the things you are looking for in a school. Please come prepared to talk about your favorite subject—your child! We also encourage you to ask any questions that you have about Parker at this time.

    After you have submitted your application for admission, please schedule your parent/guardian meeting through the Finalsite portal.

  • Student Visit Day

    More information about SK–5th Grade student visits will be communicated to applicants after the application has been submitted.

    Middle and Upper School student visit days are known as “Shadow Days” and can be scheduled through the Finalsite portal. 

  • Standardized Testing

    Either the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) or Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) is required for students applying to 6th–12th grades. Parker seeks information about a student’s academic performance, including strengths and challenges, from several sources and from more than one academic year. The scores on the ISEE and SSAT exams are just one of these sources that help us better understand each student as a learner. Students may register for the test at iseetest.org or ssat.org.

    To request a form for a fee waiver, please email faid@fwparker.org.

  • International Applications

    Parker accepts international applications for every grade level, JK–12. All international students must adhere to the standard admission requirements and demonstrate proficiency in English. It is useful to have taken a language proficiency test such as the TOEFL. All international students must reside with a parent or legal guardian while enrolled at Parker and provide documentation. Once a student has been formally accepted and enrolled, the Admission Office is able to assist with issuing an I-20 Form for the family to apply for a F1 student visa.

Common Questions

List of 2 frequently asked questions.

  • How many spaces are available for new students in each grade?

    You may apply for any grade level at Parker, but it is helpful to understand which grade levels typically have more spaces available.

    Junior Kindergarten: As our primary entry grade, typically 54 spaces are available.

    Senior Kindergarten–5th Grade: Spaces for new students in these grades are created through attrition and few spaces may be available. Historically, between zero and five students are admitted. Because we cannot predict when these spaces become available, we urge you to apply and remain in communication with our team if you are interested.

    6th Grade: This is the primary entry grade for Middle School and as many as 15 new students may join the class.

    7th Grade: Typically this grade, the “middle of the Middle School,” generally has between two and five new students join the class. 

    8th Grade: Spaces for new students in this grade are created through attrition and few spaces are available. Historically, between zero and two students join the class. 
     
    9th Grade: Like JK and 6th grade, this is an important entry point. Approximately 25 to 30 new students will join the class.

    10th–12th Grades:     Spaces for new students in these grades are created through attrition and few spaces are available. Historically, between zero and five students are admitted. Because we cannot predict when these spaces become available, we urge you to apply and remain in communication with our team if you are interested

  • What is the racial/ethnic composition of Parker's student body?

    2023–24 racial/ethnic composition includes:
    • 9.1% - African American (AA)
    • 9.8% - Asian American (ASA)
    • 0.1% - Pacific Islander (PI)
    • 7.6% - Latino/Hispanic American (LHA)
    • 2.1%  - Middle Eastern American (MEA)
    • 17.2% - Multiracial American (MRA)
    • 0.2% - Native American (NA)
    • 1.2% - International (I)
    • 2.2% - Decline to Identify (DI)
    • 50.4% - European American (Caucasian) (EA)
330 West Webster Avenue | Chicago, Illinois 60614 | 773.353.3000
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.