Upper School (Grades 9–12)

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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.

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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 San Mateo for a tour of our upper school campus given by one of our student Maverick Tour Guides. These tours are offered from mid-September to mid-December.
- Parents/guardians and applicants may register for a tour 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.

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US Application Checklist

In This Section

Application Process

At Nueva, we believe in holistically enriching the academic, personal, and social lives of our enrolled 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 a 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, such as a student's family moving from out of the area. 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.

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

Submit Timed Writing Sample

Applicants are required to submit an ungraded Timed Writing Sample 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 is through Test Innovators, not Ravenna. On the day of the writing sample, students 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.

This application requirement is shared by the following Bay Area independent schools: Castilleja, Crystal Springs Upland, Episcopal Day School, Menlo 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.

Students 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

This is an opportunity for parents/guardians to tell us a bit more about their applicant. Once Parts I & II of the application are submitted, you will be eligible to register for the required My Nueva Day and optional parent/guardian conversation (9th grade applicants only).

Parents/guardians who submit Parts I & II of the application by November 13 are guaranteed an opportunity for an in-person My Nueva Day visit for their child and a parent/guardian conversation (9th grade applicants only). Applicants who submit Parts I & II of the application after November 13 will be scheduled for a My Nueva Day and a parent/guardian conversation as availability allows.

Register for My Nueva Day and a virtual parent/guardian conversation

These events take place after Parts I & II of the application have been submitted.

My Nueva Day
Optional Virtual 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. This event is for applicants only. My Nueva Days are offered in November and 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 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.

Optional Virtual 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.

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.

These conversations are not required for admission to the upper school, but they are encouraged. Conversations take place after Parts I & II of the application have been received. We guarantee a conversation to parent/guardians of 9th grade applicants who submit Parts I & II by November 13. After November 13, we will continue to schedule conversations as space is available.

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 current English teacher recommendation form
Confidential current math teacher recommendation form
Transcript release form and transcripts: We require the previous year's (2022–2023) progress reports/grades and 2023-2024 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.

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. If submitted, these documents will be reviewed only if a more clear picture of the applicant’s learning profile would be helpful to the reading committee.

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 650-350-4524.

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 2, 2024.

Find out more about Nueva's upper school

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

Melanie Abella
Admissions Assistant
650-235-7119
Email Melanie

Upper School (Grades 9–12)

Program Previews

Campus tours

Virtual Office Hours

Additional Optional Events (all grades)

Important Note:

Find out more about Nueva's upper school