HOW TO APPLY
Applying to Lower Divisions
ADMISSIONS UPDATE
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School application for the 2027–2028 academic year is now open. Explore our pages to learn more about our Admissions process.
Ethical Culture (Pre-K–5th Grade, Manhattan)
Fieldston Lower (Pre-K–5th Grade, Bronx)
Thank you for your interest in the Ethical Culture Fieldston School! We place each of our applicants, from Pre-K through 11th Grade, at the center of our admissions process, which informs all of the careful considerations we make when meeting and getting to know our prospective students and families. We are excited to begin this journey with you and look forward to sharing what makes ECFS such a special school and community.
Choosing a division
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School has two elementary divisions: Ethical Culture, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and Fieldston Lower, located on our campus in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Both divisions serve students in Pre-K through 5th Grade.
On our application, prospective families indicate if they are applying to Ethical Culture or Fieldston Lower. There is also an option to be considered at both elementary divisions.
Learn more about our Lower Divisions
On our application, prospective families indicate if they are applying to Ethical Culture or Fieldston Lower. There is also an option to be considered at both elementary divisions.
Learn more about our Lower Divisions
Admissions process for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade
Applicants for Pre-K must be four years old by September 1, 2026. Kindergarten applicants must be five years old by September 1, 2026. 1st Grade applicants must be six years old by September 1, 2026.
Create a parent portal account in our online application system.
Our application fee, payable online, is $75. We are happy to provide a fee waiver to qualifying families who request one by contacting us at 718-329-7575.
School report requests can be initiated using the parent portal checklist.
Note: School reports can be initiated using our online application portal. If you require a fillable PDF of a school report or teacher recommendation form, please contact our office.
We do not require or accept standardized testing for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade applicants.
Note: School reports can be initiated using our online application portal. If you require a fillable PDF of a school report or teacher recommendation form, please contact our office.
We do not require or accept standardized testing for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade applicants.
- School report requests can be initiated using your parent portal checklist.
- Note: School reports can be initiated using our online application portal. If you require a fillable PDF of a school report or teacher recommendation form, please contact our office.
- We do not require or accept standardized testing for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade applicants.
- School report requests can be initiated using your parent portal checklist.
- Note: School reports can be initiated using our online application portal. If you require a fillable PDF of a school report or teacher recommendation form, please contact our office.
- We do not require or accept standardized testing for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade applicants.
Playgroups for all prospective Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade* students will take place in-person at the Fieldston campus in Riverdale.
This is regardless of which elementary division your family is applying to. Parents/guardians will be given a site tour of the Fieldston Middle and Upper campuses during their child’s playgroup. The on campus playgroup and Fieldston campus tour together last about 1½ hours.
During the playgroup, two members of the admissions staff observe the children in a classroom setting. The children have an opportunity to interact with one another and work with age appropriate materials that are fun and familiar. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal.
Kindergarten playgroups begin in October and Pre-K playgroups begin in November. Playgroups are scheduled through January.
*Note: 1st Grade applicants applying only to our Ethical Culture division will not be scheduled for a play assessment as 1st Grade is an attrition-based entry point for that division. Families applying to 1st Grade who indicate on their application that they would like to be considered at both elementary divisions will be scheduled for a playgroup assessment.
This is regardless of which elementary division your family is applying to. Parents/guardians will be given a site tour of the Fieldston Middle and Upper campuses during their child’s playgroup. The on campus playgroup and Fieldston campus tour together last about 1½ hours.
During the playgroup, two members of the admissions staff observe the children in a classroom setting. The children have an opportunity to interact with one another and work with age appropriate materials that are fun and familiar. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal.
Kindergarten playgroups begin in October and Pre-K playgroups begin in November. Playgroups are scheduled through January.
*Note: 1st Grade applicants applying only to our Ethical Culture division will not be scheduled for a play assessment as 1st Grade is an attrition-based entry point for that division. Families applying to 1st Grade who indicate on their application that they would like to be considered at both elementary divisions will be scheduled for a playgroup assessment.
- Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to register for a tour of the division to which they are applying (either Ethical Culture or Fieldston Lower), which take place on mornings throughout the fall. These 1½ hour tours are conducted by parent volunteers and a member of the ECFS Admissions team and include a group Q&A meeting with a division administrator. Parents/guardians will use their parent portal checklist to self-schedule a date and time that is convenient for their family.
- Families applying to Pre-K, Kindergarten, or 1st Grade (Fieldston Lower only) will attend a required, online one-on-one parent/guardian interview with a member of the ECFS Admissions team. Parents/guardians will use their parent portal checklist to self-schedule a date and time that is convenient for their family.
Admissions Process for 2nd Grade–5th Grade
Openings in 2nd–5th Grade are dependent on attrition. We welcome applications to these grades; please do not hesitate to contact our office with any questions.
Create a parent portal account in our online application system.
Our application fee, payable online, is $75. We are happy to provide a fee waiver to qualifying families who request one by contacting us at 718-329-7575.
School report requests can be initiated using the parent portal checklist.
Teacher recommendation requests can be initiated using the parent portal checklist.
2nd–5th Grade school report requests can be initiated using the parent portal checklist.
If we anticipate a possible opening in the grade to which you are applying, we will schedule a parent/guardian interview and your child will be invited to schedule a one-on-one assessment on campus.
Parents and guardians of students applying to 2nd Grade through 5th Grade at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School will receive an invitation to attend an event specifically for families applying to an attrition-based grade in December. During this event, parents and guardians will learn more about the division to which they have applied, the attrition-based application process, and have the opportunity to meet with lower school administrators, teachers, and members of the Admissions team.
Sibling, alumni, and faculty/staff applicants
Sibling, alumni, faculty, and staff applicant families are given special consideration during the admissions process. However, due to the high volume of applications received, admission is not automatic or guaranteed. All applicants are evaluated according to the same criteria, and all admission decisions consider the best interest of each child. While we value our community, we are also committed to providing access to new families whose values and goals align with the School’s mission.
