Our school, along with three other public schools in Orleans Parish, has academic admissions criteria that require a supplemental application and an admissions assessment. This process is essential to evaluate the readiness of applicants for our rigorous program and is reflected in a matrix score.

All applicants must complete their eligibility assessment in person at The Willow School. After your family submits the Willow Supplemental Admissions Form (SAF), you will receive an email with the date and time of your child's assessment. All students are assessed in math and reading. Applicants can earn a maximum of 20 points from the eligibility assessment (10 possible points in math and 10 possible points in reading). See the matrix page for more information about how scores and eligibility are calculated.

Assessment dates for grades K-12 can be found on the assessment calendar. Remote testing is not an option.

Kindergarten applicants are assessed individually at the lower school campus (7315 Willow Street).

The assessment takes about 20 minutes and includes a math problem solving section and a listening comprehension section. The math section covers basic concepts and everyday applications. The listening comprehension section covers listening comprehension at the level of the word, sentence, and passage. Students receive a component score for receptive vocabulary (selecting a picture that matches a word) and oral discourse comprehension (responding aloud to questions after listening to a passage). Students must respond verbally in the oral discourse section. The kindergarten assessment is taken on an iPad, but applicants do not need to have any technology skills; students can respond by speaking or by pointing.

Applicants to grades 1-12 will be assessed in a group setting at the lower school campus (grades 1-4) or high school campus (grades 5-12).

The assessment includes sections on reading and math. The reading and vocabulary sections cover grade-level content for informational reading and literary reading in the domains of vocabulary, explicit meaning, implicit meaning, key ideas, and author's craft. The math sections cover grade level content in the domains of number sense & operations, algebraic patterns/connections, data analysis, geometry, and measurement. The assessment evaluates essential competencies, conceptual understanding, and extended reasoning.

The number of sections and time for breaks varies between grade levels. Applicants to grades 2-12 take the assessment on the computer. Applicants to first grade take the assessment either on the computer or on paper. Parents select the method of assessment for first grade applicants as a component of the Supplemental Admissions Form (SAF). The assessment duration is approximately:

• Grade 1: 2 hours

  • One section on Vocabulary (20 minutes)

  • One section on Word Analysis (20 minutes)

  • One section on Math (25 minutes)

• Grades 2-3: 3 hours

  • Two sections on Reading (20 minutes & 25 minutes)

  • One section on Vocabulary (15 minutes)

  • Two sections on Math (25 minutes each)

• Grades 4-9: 3.5 hours

  • Two sections on Reading (30 minutes each)

  • One section on Vocabulary (15 minutes)

  • Two sections on Math (30 minutes each)

• Grades 10-12: 2.5 hours

  • One section on Reading (40 minutes)

  • One section on Vocabulary (15 minutes)

  • One sections on Math (40 minutes)

Students receive accommodations during school testing for a variety of reasons, primarily to ensure that they have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities. These accommodations are typically provided to students with documented disabilities or special needs, as mandated by laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

If a parent/guardian wishes to request accommodations for their student on the eligibility assessment, The Willow School must receive a copy of the current accommodations paperwork before the deadline for their scheduled assessment date. Families must meet this deadline so the Willow School team can review the submitted documentation and ensure the accommodations are in place for the assessment. Please review the posted deadlines for accommodations paperwork for each assessment date on the assessment calendar.

For a student to receive accommodations, the submitted paperwork must include the student's full name, diagnosis and recommended accommodations, signature from a licensed professional, and be dated less than two years old. Examples of accepted paperwork include an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Individualized Accommodations Plan (IAP) or 504 plan, evaluation from a school system or licensed professional, school-based accommodations plan, or English Learners (EL) Accommodations Checklist. Submitted paperwork is reviewed by the Willow team to determine appropriate accommodations for the admissions assessment. If an applicant's paperwork is missing required information, the Willow admissions team will be in touch with next steps and options.

Students may only take the assessment one time per application round. If the child is unable to complete the assessment and does not receive a score, the child will not be able to be considered for admission in that round. Applicants who are not admitted during Main Round can apply again in a later admissions round for the upcoming school year if seats are available at their grade level.

Suspected testing irregularities should be reported immediately. If you believe that your child has experienced a testing irregularity that would impact their score, it must be reported to The Willow School admissions office by emailing the admissions team (LowerAdmissions@willowschoolnola.org for grades K-4 or UpperAdmissions@willowschoolnola.org for grades 5-12) within two school days of the administration of the assessment. 

The results of the admissions process are final. Appeals for assessment results, admissions decisions, or deadlines based on individual circumstances are not accepted in order to be fair and consistent with all applicants. Please reach out to the Director of Admissions (maggie_schodell@willowschoolnola.org) with any questions.

The Willow School is an Orleans Parish public school.  If the applicant is offered a placement for enrollment, they must be a legal resident of Orleans Parish to register at The Willow School.  Approved proof of residency must be provided by August 1. Students must maintain Orleans Parish residency throughout their tenure at The Willow School.