Admissions
Main Round matches for the 2025-2026 school year are now available from NOLA-PS.
Eligible families were notified of possible placement at The Willow School by New Orleans Public Schools on March 27, 2025. Main Round matches are available in the New Orleans Public Schools Parent Portal. Visit www.enrollnolaps.com for more information.
Most eligible families who did not receive a placement at The Willow School will be on the waiting list. Families who received a school placement at a school ranked higher than Willow will not be on the Willow waiting list. NOLA-PS will share waitlist information, including your waitlist position at Willow, with families by April 10, 2025.
Spring Round is open now for grades 3, 5, 8, 9, 11 & 12!
During the Spring Round of admissions, families can apply (or reapply) for grades that have available seats or a short waitlist after Main Round. The Willow School is NOT accepting applications to grades K, 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, or 10 in the Spring Round because they are full with a waitlist. The next opportunity for these applicants to apply is the Main Round for the 2026-2027 school year. We will start taking applications Fall 2025. If you would like to be notified when the Main Round opens, you can fill out 2026-2027 Main Round Interest Form.
Learn more and see key dates on the Spring Round page. The Spring Round for The Willow School is open from March 28 to April 30, 2025 for the following grades:
Grade 3 - limited seats and waitlist
Grade 5 - available seats
Grade 8 - available seats
Grade 9 - waitlist only
Grade 11 - limited seats and waitlist
Grade 12 - limited seats and waitlist
Select the Appropriate Spring Round Application: First time applicants should complete the Willow Supplemental Admissions Form (SAF). Applicants who applied in Main Round and did not meet the eligibility criteria should complete the Spring Round Reactivation Form. Eligible families who are on the waitlist should not reapply.
Getting Started on the Road to The Willow School
Thank you for your interest in The Willow School! We are looking forward to meeting your family through the admissions process for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have any questions, please reach out to our admissions team.
Please Note: The graphic below contains the original deadlines, which have been extended by NOLA-PS. Please review the application process page for updated deadlines.
Understanding the Application Process
All public schools in New Orleans, including Willow School, participate in the NOLA-PS Common Application Process (NCAP). Our school, along with three other public schools in Orleans Parish, has academic admissions criteria that require a supplemental application and an admissions exam. This process is essential to evaluate the readiness of applicants for our rigorous program and is reflected in a matrix score. We recommend attending our open houses and reviewing our school website to learn more about the programs we offer. We encourage you to submit your application, and we look forward to reviewing it.
The eligibility criteria are the same in each admissions round. Learn more about the application processes and key dates on the Main Round and Spring Round pages.
Understanding Matrix Calculations
The Willow School has a rigorous academic program, with accompanying higher expectations. Acceptance to The Willow School is determined by the applicant’s total matrix score, which is calculated as described below.
The matrix score is a sum of points from Math Assessment (all grades) + Reading Assessment (all grades) + Arts Interest Form completion (all grades) + Curriculum Meeting/Questionnaire (K-1 only) OR GPA (grades 2-12 only).
Learn more about the matrix calculations on the matrix page.
Family Support
If you need help with any parts of the admissions process, or have questions, please reach out to our admissions team. We are looking forward to getting to know your child through the application process.
For Grades K - 4: Email LowerAdmissions@willowschoolnola.org or call 504-324-7318
For Grades 5-12: Email UpperAdmissions@willowschoolnola.org or call 504-304-3961
If you need help with accessing the application in Spanish or Vietnamese, please reach out to the admissions team.
In person support and computer assistance is available by appointment. Please contact the admissions office by email or phone to schedule a time to visit our admissions office at the middle school campus (5625 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115).
Why Willow?
The Willow School's renowned academic program engages students and challenges them to think critically, analytically, and creatively. A National Blue Ribbon School, The Willow School has mastered the art of balancing a rigorous academic program, with accompanying higher expectations, and student well-being.
Our unique curriculum is founded on the concept of arts integration. The school believes strongly in the power of combining critical thinking skills and creativity to prepare its students for a successful academic future and to help them develop and grow into adulthood.
An Orleans Parish public school, The Willow School maintains an "A" rating with the Louisiana Department of Education and serves more than 2,000 students on three campuses.
The Willow School does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s race, color, ethnic group, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.