Menlo

Menlo describes its teaching approach as a joyful, engaging, challenging, and supportive education that empowers students to explore broadly, question deeply, think critically, and develop curiosity and confidence. Its curriculum is presented as relevant and responsive, with teachers who inspire, challenge, nurture, and support students while helping them grow into ethical, responsible, and engaged community members. (menloschool.org)

Menlo School asks families to start by creating a Ravenna account, selecting Menlo, registering for admissions events, and completing the online application; applicants are also encouraged to attend preview/parent events, and the student visit plus interview are required parts of the process. (menloschool.org) For Fall 2026, family-controlled items are due January 8, 2026, remaining school-submitted items are due January 30, 2026, decisions are released in Ravenna on March 20, 2026 after 4:00 p.m., and enrollment contracts/deposits are due March 27, 2026 before noon. (menloschool.org) Required materials include the pre-application form and fee or waiver, Kira family video questionnaire, activity/interests form, student “10-Minute Takes,” student interview, transcripts, counselor/principal recommendation, teacher recommendations, and a STAR Assessment with writing sample; local applicants must use Menlo’s STAR process, while some out-of-area or international applicants may use SSAT/ISEE and international applicants may also need TOEFL scores. (menloschool.org) On waitlist-related policies, Menlo says late Fall 2026 applications submitted after the regular January 8 deadline are considered only for its spring/summer wait pool if submitted by May 1, 2026, and transfer applicants may also be offered a place in a wait pool that stays active through the summer. (menloschool.org) For priority categories, Menlo explicitly says siblings are carefully considered because it values keeping families together, but sibling admission is not guaranteed; it also notes that its main entry grades are 6 and 9, while other grades are considered on a space-available basis rather than under a broader published priority list. (menloschool.org)