FPO

Welcome to
Admissions

Welcome to The Nueva School! We are excited for you to learn more about all that Nueva has to offer.

Nueva is a dynamic community committed to educating gifted learners from pre-kindergarten through Upper School. Our mission is to inspire passion for lifelong learning, foster social and emotional acuity, and develop the imaginative mind. 

As a community that values curiosity, compassion, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and authentic learning experiences, Nueva students embrace intellectual, social, and academic challenges. With the support of our exceptional faculty, they also find comfort in knowing they have a safe space to ask questions, make mistakes, and enjoy the journey of learning. 

We are eager to help you understand the limitless possibilities of a Nueva education and encourage you to continue exploring our website to learn more about our community and the admissions process. Better yet, come visit us in person! Throughout the admissions season we will offer opportunities to spend time on our beautiful Hillsborough and San Mateo campuses where you will meet many members of our community, from faculty to students to current parents to the admissions team

We look forward to partnering with you as you search for the right school community for your family. 

Warmly,
The Nueva Admissions Team


Important Admissions Dates

  • Lower and Middle School applicants: We highly recommend that students take an IQ assessment with a licensed psychologist as soon as they are eligible. 
     
  • Early September 2024
    Applications open through Ravenna. Check for registration deadlines for optional events
  • November 13, 2024
    Guarantee Deadline for grades K, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10 (please see division specific Visit and Apply pages for more details)
     
  • January 9, 2025
    Deadline for Ravenna application and all required documents
     
  • February 4, 2025
    For those applying for financial assistance, deadline to submit application and all supplemental documents
     
  • March 21, 2025
    Admissions decision notification for all grades
     
  • March 25–26, 2025
    Campus visits for Middle and Upper School admitted students
    Campus visits for parents/guardians of Lower School admitted students
  • March 28, 2025
    Deadline to submit admissions decision reply for all grades

Get in touch! 


Email:

admissions@nuevaschool.org

Phone:

Lower and Middle School: 
(650) 350-4528

Upper School:
(650) 235-7119

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


Student Voices

At Nueva, student voices are valued and respected. We regularly document the reflections of our students and alumni on their learning, their school projects, and their feelings about our community. Hear some first-person testimonials about Nueva’s culture and our students’ opinions and experiences.

Illustrations by Thalia R. '22

A Place of Belonging

Above all, Nueva is a sanctuary for gifted learners. Our shared curiosity and love of learning bonds our community across every grade and division.

Student-teacher Relationships

Ask any of our students what they love most about Nueva and the most common answer you’ll hear is “The teachers!” 

Learning Culture with No Ceilings

Our flexible, responsive learning culture rises to meet the interests and ambitions of our students. We’re here to help them go as far and as wide as they want to go.

Connect with Nueva Social Media!

Nueva News

Lower School Digs Into Food Systems With Community Service Learning

This year, the Lower School community service learning (CSL) series is focused on the food system. Teachers have been weaving this theme into their curricula, and with the campus garden, compost systems, and café, students have a plethora of opportunities to deepen their understanding of food production, the importance of healthy soils, sustainable waste practices, and the direct impact of these factors on health and well-being. 

Five—ok, Six—Questions for...Jessie Dubreuil, Upper School English Teacher & 10th Grade Dean

Jessie Dubreuil is fascinated by the permeable line between students’ academic lives and their lives outside the classroom, and her career has centered on the combination of the two. A member of the English faculty and the 10th grade dean, Jessie brings her experience and passion as both an educator and teaching and learning administrator to her work. Get to know her as part of our "Five Questions For" series.

In Conversation: Rowan and Allen

Our video series, In Conversation, features candid conversations between members of the Nueva community. In our fourth episode, Rowan B. ’26 sits down with english teacher Allen Frost.

Snapshots: Middle School Adventure Day

On Friday, September 20, the entire Middle School went off-campus for Adventure Day. It’s a day of bonding as well as practicing the skills of traveling together as a group—behaving responsibly when off campus, taking care of your things, and listening to instructions—all in preparation for the May Trips.

A Lesson on Joy and Resilience

"When I signed up for the first Nueva Community Service Learning (CSL) trip to the Philippines, I never imagined I would end up in a small coastal town singing pop songs while crafting with local boys—which would end up teaching me a lesson on joy and resilience. Yet, that’s exactly what happened in July this past summer," writes junior Kayla L. 

Redefining Giftedness

Nueva alum Ellie Kearns ’24 contemplates the true meaning of "giftedness" in this opinion piece, encouraging her peers to reflect on the privileges and support systems that contribute to their success.

Originally published in the June 4, 2024 issue of the Nueva Current.

The Nueva School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Nueva does not discriminate on the basis of these factors in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial assistance program, or athletic and other school-administered programs.

In accordance with the requirements set forth in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Nueva School provides this notice of nondiscrimination and states that Nueva School does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities. Questions concerning Title IX may be referred to the School’s Title IX Coordinator whose contact information is below or to the Office for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education. 

Title IX Coordinator:
Scott Bowers, Director of Human Resources 
131 E. 28th Street, San Mateo, CA 94403 
(650) 235-7172, sbowers@nuevaschool.org