Admissions

Let us know you’re interested

Email the admission team, fill out an inquiry form, or sign up for a tour.

Applications for the 2027–2028 school year will be accepted beginning September 8, 2026 and will be due January 14, 2027. Our application for the 2027–2028 school year is on Ravenna.

Spruce Street School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or use of trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disability.

Application Process: Steps to take

Step 1: Start Step 2: Tours and Open Houses Step 3: Student Visit Step 4: Interview

Step 1: Start

Start your application

You will complete your application through the Ravenna platform. To get started, create an online account, create a profile for your student(s), then locate Spruce Street School in the School Directory where you can Explore or Apply.

Note: Explore will give you initial information about our admission process and will allow you to register for school tours and/or one of our Open Houses. When you're ready to apply, click the Apply button—you will still be able to decide whether or not you want to submit the application and the fee later.

To continue, you will complete the following steps in Ravenna:

Complete the application and submit the application fee*
Complete the PSIS Parent/Guardian Statement
Designate one of your child’s current school year classroom teachers to complete a Teacher Evaluation Form
For applicants entering 1st–5th grade ONLY: request school transcripts from your child's current school by downloading the Records Request form from Ravenna

* Spruce Street School offers application fee waivers for applicant families using a flexible pricing model. We encourage families to use a fee waiver amount that is most appropriate for their family.

25% fee waiver: Spruce25 (application fee remaining: $48.75)

50% fee waiver: Spruce50 (application fee remaining: $32.50)

75% fee waiver: Spruce75 (application fee remaining: $16.25)

100% fee waiver: Spruce100 (application fee remaining: $0.00)

We also accept the PSIS waiver code to cover 100% of the application fee: PSIS2027 (application fee remaining: $0.00)

Step 2: Tours and Open Houses

Please note: we ask that all parents and/or guardians of applicants attend an Open House or a school tour as part of the application process. Families may choose to attend either event—or both!

Sign up for a Tour

Tours are held on Thursday mornings from 9:00–10:30am and are by appointment only. Tours begin with a guided walk to view our building and see our school in action, followed by a lively student marimba performance, and conclude with a Q&A session with our school leadership and faculty. Please note that tours are adults-only events.

Attend an Open House

All prospective families and students are invited to attend an Open House to explore our building, meet our community, and learn more about the Spruce Street School difference.

Our Open Houses begin promptly at 10:00am with a lively student marimba performance, followed by a tour of our building and classrooms led by current family tour guides, and ends with a Q&A session with our entire faculty and staff. Children are welcome to attend this event.

The Open Houses will be held on December 5, 2026 and January 9, 2027, and begin promptly at 10:00am.

While we encourage you to pre-register for an Open House through Ravenna, it is not required—you are welcome to attend our Open House even if you have not pre-registered. To pre-register, click on the "Upcoming Events" button in our Ravenna school profile.

Step 3: Student Visit

The student visit is the best part!

Kindergarten applicants:

All kindergarten applicants are required to attend the Kindergarten Student Visit Day on Saturday, February 27, 2027. More details will be shared in January.

1st through 5th grade applicants:

Applicants to 1st through 5th grade will have their student visit scheduled on an independent rolling basis in January and February. Students will spend a full day at school in one of the classrooms.

Step 4: Interview

If you have questions or would like more information:

Contact Admissions

Tuition

Tuition for the 2026–2027 school year is $38,325.00. Tuition includes all activities during the school day and before-school care. Tuition for the next school year is usually set in January by the Board of Trustees.

Spruce Street School is committed to socioeconomic diversity, and approximately 30% of our students receive financial aid every year. Toward its goal to be as affordable and accessible as possible, the school is currently undergoing a capital campaign to build a financial reserve dedicated to financial aid. Learn more about financial aid at Spruce Street School.

A Typical Financial Year at Spruce Street School:

Tuition: expect a 4–8% increase in tuition each year of your child’s attendance; financial aid is available.
Annual Fund gift: gifts range from $5 to $15,000 or more, and should be a meaningful gift for each family. The average gift is about $1,200 per child.
Auction: all families participate in the auction in multiple ways such as volunteering, attending, procuring a live auction item, or hosting a buy-in party.
Capital Campaign: the school is currently undergoing a capital campaign to build a reserve fund for financial aid; families have the opportunity to support this effort.
Childcare: after-school care is available. Costs range depending upon amount of time required, starting with a minimal drop-in fee and ending with full-time care (about $3,600 for the year). Students who receive financial aid for tuition also receive financial aid for extended day.
Other costs at your discretion: scholastic books, classroom gifts.

Financial Aid

Spruce Street School is committed to socioeconomic diversity. To that end, the Board of Trustees has set a goal to be the highest quality, most financially accessible K–5 independent school of its kind in the Seattle area. The school strives to admit all children who would thrive in its educational program and community, regardless of their families' ability to pay, and to maintain a student body reflecting a broad social and economic mix. Approximately 30% of our students receive financial aid every year.

Family's Contribution

Spruce Street School's contribution is supported by its annual fund and annual auction.

A family's contribution is based on need, and the school uses Clarity to help determine financial need.

All families are asked to contribute financially to their child's education in a meaningful way. Intended as a supplement to family resources, financial aid awards are made not only to families whose ability to pay school costs is extremely limited, but also to those who may need only minor subsidy to meet the tuition requirements.

These scenarios demonstrate potential awards for families with more than one child and different annual incomes. These examples are estimates and are not intended to be actual offers.

What to Expect Financially During the Year

Families can choose to pay for tuition in one payment, three payments, or ten payments. There are no penalties for paying over time.

Tuition covers all educational costs for the school year, including field trips, overnight camping trips, before school care, books, and supplies.

After school care is not included in the cost of tuition. Students who receive financial aid for tuition also receive financial aid for extended day.

The school has an annual fund and auction every year. Families are expected to support both in meaningful ways.

How to Apply

Spruce Street School will be working with Clarity (https://auth.clarityapp.com/en/signup/) and applications will open in September.
- Click here for a quick reference guide for Clarity
- Click here for a complete Family Application Guide for Clarity
One form per family or per separated/divorced spouse is required.
2024 and 2025 tax returns and W-2 forms will be required to apply.
You may write a cover letter explaining any additional financial circumstances the committee should consider.
Submit completed application by February 4, 2027.

Financial Aid Policy

Adopted by the Board of Trustees, May 2019

Philosophy and Objectives

Spruce Street School’s Financial Aid Program has a two-fold purpose: to strive to provide mission-appropriate students an opportunity for a high-quality education which might otherwise be unobtainable for them and to strive to provide to the school a student body reflecting a broad social and economic mix. We believe that all children regardless of their family’s ability to pay full tuition should be considered for admissions and the Board dedicates specific funds in each year’s budget to support this belief.

Funding Private School Education

Spruce Street School recognizes that the primary responsibility for financing a student’s independent school education rests with their family. All families are asked to contribute financially to their child’s education in a meaningful way. Intended as a supplement to family resources, Financial Aid awards are made not only to families whose ability to pay school costs is extremely limited, but also to those of somewhat more substantial means who may need only minor subsidy to meet our tuition requirements. Financial Aid at Spruce Street School is awarded based on a family’s demonstrated financial need. In no case would a student who does not qualify be awarded aid, nor would a student ever be awarded aid in excess of their computed need.

Financial Aid Manual: Please read Spruce Street School's entire Financial Aid Policy .

Financial Aid Policy: Please read Spruce Street School's entire Financial Aid Policy.

Please feel free to contact us at any time at financialaid@sprucestreetschool.org.