Our carefully-designed admission process helps us identify students who will benefit most from Sand Hill’s specialized and personalized approach.
New students are accepted based on completion of the steps outlined below and whether there is an available class placement that we determine would address the child’s learning needs.
We are currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year.
Please allow adequate time to complete the entire admissions process. We follow the ISSFBA notification schedule and BADA Principles of Good Practice. Also note that the admissions process is separate and independent from the financial aid process. Find out more about financial aid at Sand Hill School.
Getting Started
Schedule an informational Parent Visit at Sand Hill School. The Parent Visit lasts about 60 minutes and includes time to observe the classroom and time to chat with a Sand Hill School staff person to ask questions. Courtesy review of ed-psych testing report provided.
If you have any questions about whether Sand Hill School is the right fit for your child, please contact Admissions Coordinator, Julia Rodriguez at jrodriguez@chconline.org or call 650.688.3605. Julia will be happy to help you. Please include the age, desired grade and diagnosis of your child so we can better assist you.
Application
Register online via Gradelink and complete the online application with a $150 application fee. The application is simple, and you can save your progress and return to it at any time.
Getting to Know Your Child
Print the Teacher Recommendation, and give the form to your child’s current teacher to complete. Upload the completed form to your Gradelink account.
Once we receive notice that your application is complete, we will contact you to:
- Request copies of any psycho-educational tests/evaluations you may have for your child from the past two years. If you do not have cognitive scores from the last two years, we can arrange for a full WISC evaluation to be conducted here at CHC at a reduced cost to you. Please upload these reports/forms to your Gradelink account.
- Schedule a classroom shadow experience for your child. This is an opportunity to spend the day (or part of a day) in the appropriate classroom so that we can assess how the child responds in the Sand Hill School environment. During the shadow experience, we will also conduct a child interview during which we will spend about 30 minutes one-on-one with your child. This child interview gives us the opportunity to engage your child in some specific learning activities and experience their response.
Getting to Know the Parents
After the shadow experience, the Admissions Director will contact you to schedule a parent interview. During the parent interview, we will provide you with feedback (including the shadow experience and child interview) and answer remaining questions you may have about Sand Hill School.
Admission Decision
March 17, 2021: Notifications mailed
March 25, 2021: Responses/enrollment agreement due
Sand Hill School is a proud member of the ISSFBA and have agreed to adhere to the Bay Area Directors of Admission Principles of Good Practice.
As such we follow a common application and decision schedule, and we agree to observe “Decision Week.” Decision Week is one week prior to the contract deadline, and schools including any constituent from the school community agree NOT to initiate contact with families, including tours/visits, outreach, or event invitations. The lack of targeted events allows families to focus on the decision making process. Parents of admitted students may, of course, initiate contact with school officials and community members.
