Application Platforms
While each school has an individualized application, many independent schools now use Ravenna as their platform for online applications.
Creating a Ravenna account:
To begin your family’s application, go to Ravenna and create an account. Be sure to create this account using an email address you will have access to throughout the entire admission season, as this will be your primary email contact with the school(s).
Schools that use Ravenna: Alto International School, The Athenian School, The Bay School of San Francisco, Bentley School, The Branson School, Castilleja School, The College Preparatory School, Crystal Springs Uplands School, Drew School, The Harker School, Head-Royce School, International High School, Jewish Community High School of the Bay, Kehillah Jewish High School, Lick-Wilmerding High School, Marin Academy, The Marin School, Maybeck High School, Menlo School, Mid-Peninsula High School, The Nueva School, Orinda Academy, Sacred Heart Prep, Atherton, San Domenico School, San Francisco University High School, Urban School of San Francisco, Waldorf High School of the Peninsula, Woodside Priory School.
After you have created your account, you can view a list of schools in your area using Ravenna. If you would like to explore a school, you can view their application process and sign up for events. If you are in a region with multiple schools, you can choose to apply to one school now and add other schools later. Note that once you have chosen to explore or apply, the school will be aware of your interest.
In some regions, schools choose to share forms. These shared forms, such as essays or teacher evaluations, make the process easier for you and reduce the amount of time needed to complete an application. Shared (or common) forms are clearly marked so be sure not to use a specific school’s name in any of the answers to those questions.
Applications materials typically include the following:
Parent/Guardian section with short answer questions
Student section with short answer questions and a main essay question
Student interview
Standardized test scores (unless schools are test-optional, as is the case for many this year! See the tab entitled "Testing" to learn more.)
Transcript Release Form and Recommendation Forms*
Application fee
Please note that if the application fee represents a financial challenge for your family, most schools will consider a request for a discount or full fee waiver. Typically this information is included in the Ravenna portal, and the next step is to either call or send an email to each school. Please let me know if you have any questions about this!
Millennium is responsible for the following:
Transcripts/Narratives for 7th and 8th grade
Recommendation letters* (English, Math, High School Counselor)
Recommendation Forms for faith-based schools: Saint Ignatius and Sacred Heart Cathedral will send counselor recommendation forms directly to Erin after student applications are submitted; we will complete and return them before the deadlines.
Recommendation Forms for independent schools*: Please print, sign, and return to me a hard copy of the English, Math, and Principal/Counselor recommendation forms, along with the Transcript Release Form. I will take care of communicating with the teachers and collating the information for each school to which you are applying.
Ask Ashley about this (below)
*Important note: We use an internal system to write, collate and distribute recommendations. As a result, you do not need to add any names on the Ravenna delegation form, nor do you need to send individual recommendation forms from other platforms. Instead, you will sign ONE of each of the four blank forms accessible below and return them to me by December 7. I will take care of the rest!
Additional Recommendations: High schools discourage applicants from submitting additional recommendations. However, if a student has a teacher, coach, camp counselor, employer, etc. who would add a unique perspective about the student, please have that person contact Erin directly. Through a phone conversation or email exchange, I will collect information and anecdotes to include in my counselor letter. Again, these additional voices are helpful only when they help articulate a strength or skill that is less evident here at Millennium.
Please sign, print and return the Recommendation Forms along with the Transcript Release Form that will be provided below once they are available for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Parents for Public Schools is a great resource for many of your questions!
Lowell 9th Grade Applications and SFUSD Enrollment Applications will be available in October on the SFUSD website.
The deadline to submit the Lowell application, along with the SFUSD application, is ________.
If you are not applying to Lowell, the SFUSD application deadline is January 15, 2021.
SFUSD and Lowell Applications should be turned in to the Educational Placement Center in person no later than ____________. Address: Educational Placement Center – Lowell Admissions, 555 Franklin Street, Room 100, San Francisco, CA 94102
Ruth Asawa School of the Arts (SOTA)
Click here to learn about the application process and here for information about auditions, which will take place in February. Please note that students will only be allowed to audition for ONE discipline and participate in ONE audition.
Applications can be submitted beginning on October 16.
Application/Portfolio Deadline: Friday, December 11, 2020 before 3:30 pm (no exceptions)
SFUSD application deadline: Friday, January 15, 2021
Boarding School applications
Boarding schools may use an internal application, or they may choose to use an online application system that is shared by other schools. To learn more about which systems are being used, click here.
Most applications are due on either January 15, 2021 or February 1, 2021. Please make sure to make a note of which deadlines to pay attention to for your individual process.