Chapin School

Chapin describes its teaching approach as a rigorous college-preparatory liberal arts education that develops both strong academic skills and students’ social, emotional, and life skills. The school emphasizes intellectual curiosity, critical and creative thinking, collaboration, close faculty-student relationships, and the development of empathy, resilience, and global citizenship. (chapin.edu)

Chapin’s admissions process begins with its online application in Ravenna; for the 2026-2027 cycle, the school says the application opened on September 2, 2025, and the application deadline for all grades was December 1, 2025. (chapin.edu) Requirements vary by division: Kindergarten applicants need a parent/guardian interview and tour, playgroup, video, and school report; Classes 1-3 require a student visit, parent/guardian interview and tour, video, and school report; Classes 4-5 require a parent interview/tour, student visit, school reference/records, and a self-expression submission; and Classes 6-10 require a student questionnaire, parent supplemental questions, tour, student interview, teacher evaluations, school records, and an in-person Chapin academic assessment, with Character Skills Snapshot also required for Classes 8-10. (chapin.edu) Chapin states that ISEE and SSAT scores are not part of the process for Middle or Upper School applicants, Kindergarten applicants must be five years old by August 31 of the enrollment year, admission to Classes 1-3 depends on available space, and Chapin does not accept applications to Classes 11 or 12. (chapin.edu) Key dates shown on the site include December 9, 2025 deadlines to schedule Lower and Middle School visits/interviews and January 8-9, 2026 deadlines for school reports to complete applications, depending on division. (chapin.edu) Chapin says it does maintain a wait pool after the process ends, and its stated priority category is an early-notification option for Kindergarten applicants with currently enrolled siblings and for daughters of alumnae who attended Chapin at least three years or graduated, although the school also says every child is evaluated with equal consideration. (chapin.edu)