Upper School (Grades 9–12)

Visit and
Apply

Thank you for your interest in Nueva! Through Ravenna, 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 2025–26 school year. Program Previews provide 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, tours, and lively panels.
    • Program Previews are held in September, October, and November.
    • Registration for an optional Program Preview is required through Ravenna.
       
  • Campus tours

    • We are excited for families to see our community in action! Come join us in San Mateo for a tour of our Upper School campus given by one of our student Maverick Tour Guides. These tours are offered from October to December.
    • Parents/guardians and applicants may register for a tour only after the Family Information Form and application fee are 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, and steps.
    • Optional virtual 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

    • 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, and financial assistance. Check your Ravenna dashboard for updates and more information.

Application Process

At Nueva, we believe in holistically enriching the academic, personal, and social lives of our students to ensure they will be effective scholars and global citizens. As a result, we will accept applications from students interested in joining our Upper School for grades 9 and 10 to provide the most time for students to become part of the community and take advantage of all that Nueva has to offer. Applications for admission to grades 11 and 12 are only considered in special circumstances. If you or your student have questions about applying outside of grades 9 and 10, please don't hesitate to reach out to admissions@nuevaschool.org.
 
Guarantee Deadline: November 13, 2024
 
  • If the prerequisites are met by November 13, 2024, your family is guaranteed an opportunity for an in-person Activity Session (applicant event) and Virtual Parent/Guardian Conversation. 

PREREQUISITES:

  • Family Information Form submitted
  • Parent Questionnaire submitted
Application and Supplemental Materials Deadline: January 9, 2025 

Click on each step for more details.

Important Note: 

Entrance testing is not required and not accepted.

  • Nueva does not require nor accept the ISEE/SSAT exam results as part of the application process. 
  • IQ assessments are also not required for admission to the Upper School. However, previous IQ assessment results may be submitted to our office via email at admissions@nuevaschool.org.
     

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 650-235-7119, 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 application and supplemental documents are due February 4, 2025.

Upper School Admissions Contacts

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

Emily Fedor
Associate Director of Admissions
650-235-7158
Email Emily

Katie Grobeck
Assistant Director of Admissions
650-235-7199
Email Katie

Melanie Abella
Admissions Assistant
650-235-7119
Email Melanie