Applying to Lower Divisions
2026–2027 ECFS Admissions Events
Ethical Culture
Check back in the spring 2027 for more events at Ethical Culture.
Fieldston Lower
At Fieldston Lower, social and academic growth carry equal weight. Each grade builds its curriculum around the cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills students need for the 21st century. Join us online to hear what it’s like to become part of our community in these grades, with time for questions after the presentation.
Get an inside look at the early learning experience at Fieldston Lower, from year-long thematic study to project-based, experiential learning, with ethics at the center of it all. Time for questions follows the presentation.
By September 1, 2027, Pre-K applicants must turn four years old, Kindergarten applicants must turn five years old, and 1st Grade applicants must turn six years old.
Create an account in our online application system and submit your application by Friday 11/13 at noon.
The application fee is $75, payable online. Fee waivers are available to qualifying families. Contact us at 718-329-7575 to request one.
If you’d like to be considered for need-based financial aid, submit your financial aid application by Tuesday 12/1.
Initiate the request through your parent portal checklist. If you need a fillable PDF, contact our office directly.
We do not require or accept standardized testing for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade applicants.
All Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade playgroups take place in person at our Fieldston campus in Riverdale, regardless of the division you’re applying to. In a relaxed classroom setting, admissions staff members observe students as they interact and explore age-appropriate, fun, and familiar materials.
During the playgroup, parents and guardians receive a tour of the Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper campuses. Plan for about 1.5 hours total. Kindergarten playgroups begin in October, and Pre-K playgroups begin in November, with scheduling open through January.
1st Grade applicants applying only to Ethical Culture are not scheduled for a playgroup, since 1st Grade is an attrition-based entry point for that division. Families applying to 1st Grade at both divisions will be scheduled for a playgroup.
Through the parent portal checklist, interested families can self-schedule for a 1.5 hour tour of the applicable division. Tours run on fall mornings, led by parent volunteers and a member of our admissions team, and include a group Q&A with a division administrator.
Families applying to Pre-K, Kindergarten, or 1st Grade at Fieldston Lower will complete a required one-on-one online interview with a member of our admissions team. Self-schedule through your parent portal checklist.
Create an account in our online application system and submit your application by Friday 11/13 at noon.
The application fee is $75, payable online. Fee waivers are available to qualifying families. Contact us at 718-329-7575 to request one.
If you’d like to be considered for need-based financial aid, submit your financial aid application by by December 1.
Initiate all three requests through your parent portal checklist.
If we anticipate an opening in your student’s grade, we’ll schedule a parent or guardian interview and a one-on-one assessment on campus.
Families applying to an attrition-based grade are invited to a special event each December, where you can learn more about your division, our attrition-based process, and meet lower school administrators, teachers, and our admissions team.
Sibling, alumni, and faculty and staff faculty/staff applicant families receive special consideration in our admissions process, and every applicant is evaluated using the same criteria, with each admission decision guided by what’s best for that individual student. We’re proud that more of these families apply to ECFS each year, and we remain committed to welcoming new families whose values align with our mission. Sibling, alumni, and faculty/staff applicant families should submit applications by Thursday 10/1 October 1st or 10/1. Appy here today.
