Middle School (Grades 5–8)

Visit and
Apply

Thank you for your interest in Nueva! Through Ravenna Solutions, our online admissions system, you can sign up for events, fill out and submit application components, and monitor your application status. Don’t worry—by creating a profile for your student, you are not yet committing to apply, and you will gain access to explore all of our events.

Start by clicking the "Apply Online" button below.

APPLY ONLINE

How to Explore and Visit Nueva

Program Previews
- Our optional on campus Program Previews are for families interested in applying for the 2024–25 school year. The Program Preview provides prospective applicants and their parents/guardians a glimpse into life at Nueva. This is a unique opportunity to experience Nueva's teaching and learning and hear directly from current members of our community. The event will include demo lessons, presentations, and lively panels.
- Program Previews are held in October, November, and December.
- Registration for the optional Program Preview is required through Ravenna.
Campus Tours
- We are excited for families to see our community in action! Come join us in Hillsborough for an optional tour of our middle school campus given by a community member. These tours are offered from mid-September to mid-December.
- Parents/guardians may register for this visit only after Part I of the application is submitted and processed. Space is limited—register soon!
Virtual Office Hours
- We know applying to an independent school can get a little overwhelming with many events, steps, and chances to learn more about the community. Our team is here to support you and your family.
- These optional office hours are hosted by the Admissions Team monthly from September to December. Open to parents/guardians, this is an opportunity to connect with a member of the Admissions Team to clarify any questions you have about the application process.

Additional Optional Events (all grades)
- We invite prospective families to register for optional admissions events to learn about the Nueva community. We offer workshops and panels covering topics such as student life, giftedness, equity & inclusion, life after Nueva, and financial assistance. Check your Ravenna dashboard for updates and more information.

Inquire Online

MS Application Checklist

In This Section

Application Process

Guarantee Deadline: November 13, 2023 (see step for submitting Part II of the application)

Application and Supplemental Materials Deadline: January 9, 2024

Click on each step for more details

Inquire and create a Ravenna account

Submit Part I of the application

Complete Wechsler IQ Assessment

Please schedule your child’s WISC-V evaluation as soon as possible.

Learn more about the Wechsler IQ assessment here.

Off-campus assessments
On-campus assessments

Off-campus assessments

The IQ assessment is one of the first steps in our application process.

Please contact a licensed psychologist to schedule your child's assessment as soon as possible. For your convenience, here is a list of licensed, independent psychologists who administer these assessments in our area. Please note: this is not an exhaustive list.

See our Guidelines for Submission for more information on how to submit your child's results.

On-campus assessments

The IQ assessment is one of the first steps in our application process.

On-campus appointments for the Wechsler evaluation are available to current community members (i.e., faculty/staff and siblings), families applying for financial assistance, and/or families applying from our partner community-based organizations (e.g., A Better Chance, Peninsula Bridge, SMART).

If you meet one of these criteria and would like an on-campus appointment, please email results@nuevaschool.org.

Submit Timed Writing Sample and Analytical Thinking Exercise

Applicants are required to complete and submit an ungraded Timed Writing Sample and Analytical Thinking Exercise administered virtually by an independent third-party group, Test Innovators. They may complete this requirement on various dates this fall. Results must be submitted to Nueva by the application deadline, January 9, 2024.
Registration for the Timed Writing Sample and Analytical Thinking Exercise is through Test Innovators, not Ravenna. On the day of the writing sample and analytical thinking exercise, applicants join a Zoom room and receive an essay prompt from a live proctor. They will have 30 minutes to plan, write, and submit an essay on the topic and 15 minutes for the analytical thinking exercise.

This application requirement is shared by the following Bay Area independent schools: Castilleja, Crystal Springs Upland, Episcopal Day School, The Nueva School, Sacred Heart Schools, Silicon Valley International School, The Girls’ Middle School, and Woodside Priory. Applicants applying to more than one of these participating schools will sit for and submit only one timed writing sample. They may not re-take this timed writing sample.

Applicants who receive test accommodations at their school may contact Test Innovators directly to make arrangements.

The timed writing sample fee is $50. If this fee is a hardship, please email admissions@nuevaschool.org to request a fee waiver.

Submit Part II of the application

Complete and submit Part II of the application. This is an opportunity for parents/guardians to tell us a bit more about their applicant. After Parts I & II of the application and the IQ assessment results are submitted and processed, we will contact you to schedule your child's required My Nueva Day and parent/guardian conversation.

Parents/guardians who submit Parts I & II of the application and IQ assessment results by November 13 are guaranteed an opportunity for an in-person My Nueva Day visit for their child. Applicants who submit Parts I & II after November 13 will be scheduled for a My Nueva Day as availability allows.

Register for My Nueva Day and a Parent/Guardian Conversation

These events take place after Parts I & II of the application have been submitted and IQ assessment results have been received and reviewed by our admissions office.

My Nueva Day
Parent/Guardian Conversation

My Nueva Day

Spend time on our campus and participate in hands-on, collaborative activities led by Nueva faculty. Applicants will be in conversation with faculty/staff and other applicants.

My Nueva Day is required and can be scheduled only after Parts I & II of the application have been submitted and your child's IQ assessment results are within range. This event is for applicants only. My Nueva Days are offered from October to December and are typically held on weekdays during school hours.

If Parts I & II of the application are submitted by November 13, applicants are guaranteed an opportunity for an in-person My Nueva Day. Applicants who submit Parts I & II of the application after November 13 will be scheduled for a My Nueva Day as availability allows.

Parent/Guardian Conversation

The Virtual Parent/Guardian Conversation is a chance for you to meet with a member of our community. This is an opportunity to ask any questions you may have while also allowing us to learn more about your child and family. Conversations typically last 20 minutes and are offered from mid-September to December. Part II of the application must be submitted prior to your scheduled parent/guardian conversation.

Parent/guardian conversations are open only for grades PK, K, 5, 6, and 9. If you are the parent/guardian of an applicant to any other grade and would like a parent/guardian conversation, you may join the waitlist (found on Ravenna) and you will be scheduled as availability allows. Please see the FAQ website for more information on this step for those who have applied to Nueva previously.

Submit Part III of the application: Student Questionnaire and My Page

Submit required supplemental materials

Student Evaluation Forms are completed and submitted to Nueva directly by the applicant's school.

Confidential current principal or counselor recommendation form
Confidential teacher recommendation forms (2022–23 previous core subject teacher and 2023–24 current core subject teacher)
Transcript release form and transcripts: We require the previous year's (2022–2023) progress reports/grades, standardized test scores (that are a part of a student’s cumulative file), and current grades when they become available (usually late January). All materials should be uploaded to Ravenna by the student’s current school, not the parents.

Please note: Nueva considers only required application materials and evaluations, so we respectfully request no additional documents be submitted on behalf of a student or their family.

The Admissions Office appreciates and is always delighted to receive applications well in advance of the deadline! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call 650-350-4528, or email admissions@nuevaschool.org.

Si necesita ayuda en español, comuníquese con Melanie León, directora de admisiones, mleon @nuevaschool.org o llame al 650-235-7111.

Apply for Financial Assistance

Nueva uses the Clarity platform to process all applications for tuition financial assistance. The financial assistance and supplemental documents are due February 2, 2024.

Find out more about Nueva's middle school

Middle School Admissions Contacts

Melanie León
Director of Admissions
650-235-7111
Email Melanie

Maggie Loft
Admissions Assistant
650-350-4528
Email Maggie

Dunja Solari
Associate Director of Admissions
650-350-4527
Email Dunja

Ariana Bickham
Assistant Director of Admissions
650-350-4594
Email A riana

Lupe Ruiz
Admissions Associate
650-350-4524
Email Lupe

Middle School (Grades 5–8)

Program Previews

Campus Tours

Virtual Office Hours

Additional Optional Events (all grades)

Find out more about Nueva's middle school