2023 School & Programming Fair

​There is no school fair this year. 

Here is a list of October dates for school admissions in and around Baltimore City.

​There is information about our local public schools and non-public schools as well as a FAQ for families who are new to this process.

Admission Dates (2023-2024)

Baltimore City College Open House on Oct. 19 at 6:15pm
*Co-ed/Grades 9th-12th
Email: spgray-rice@bcps.k12.md.us

Baltimore School for the Arts Open House on Sept. 30 at 10am & 12:30pm
​All applications must be submitted  by  Nov. 20.
Auditions will take place on Jan. 16-19, 2024. 
No shadow days available.
*Co-ed/Grades 9th to 12th

The Tunbridge School Open House on Oct. 10 at 9 am
*Co-ed/Grades Pre-K to 8th

Creative City Public Charter School
Email: kendra@creativecityschool.org
*Co-ed/Grades K-5th

Bard High School  Open House on Oct. 19 at 7pm
Email Jkadota@bhsec.bard.edu
*Co-ed/Grades 9th-12th

Baltimore Design School
Submit an interest survey
Shadow Day
Portfolio Workshop in November
Email LVKlausmeyer@bcps.k12.md.us
*Co-ed/Grades 6th-12th
​
​Arts & Ideas Sudbury School
Email office@aisudbury.org
*Co-ed/Grades K-12th

​Mother Mary Lange Catholic School
Email gsaunders@mmlcs.org
*Co-ed/Grades Pre-K to 8th

​Waldorf School of Baltimore
Inquiry for Preschool to Grade 8
Virtual Admission Event: Waldorf 101 on Sept. 28 at 2 pm
New Babies on the Block on Oct. 1 in Bolton Hill
Magical Moon Stroll on Oct. 7
Parent & Child Class on Oct. 12 at 9:30am
Open House on Oct. 19 at 9am
Waldorf Weekend Workshop on Oct. 21 at 9am
Virtual Open House
Email admissions@twsb.org
*Coed/Grades Pre-K -8th

​Friends School of Baltimore
First Look @ Friends on Sept. 21 & Oct. 24 at 9am
Binoculars, Birds, & Bugs on Sept. 30 at 10am
Wednesday Campus Tours on Set. 27, Oct. 11 and 18
Visit Days, Student Shadow Days Available
Email cpappas@friendsbalt.org
*Co-ed/Grades Pre-K to 12th
Little Friends (6 weeks-4 years old)

​First English Lutheran Preschool (FELP)
Family Tours available
*Co-ed/ 2s -Kindergarten
Email: Felpkids@gmail.com

​The Bryn Mawr School
Science Rocks at Bryn Mawr on Oct 1 at 11:30am
Lower School Visiting Day on Oct. 5 at 9am
Middle School Visiting Day on Oct. 12 at 8:30am
Field Hockey 100 Years Celebration on Oct. 19
Upper School Visiting Day on Oct. 20 at 8:30am
Group Tour on Oct. 16
Open House on Nov. 4
Contact for Student Visit & Shadow days
Virtual Campus Tour
*All Girls/Pre-K - 12th Grades
*Bryn Mawr Little School is co-ed (Ages 2 -5)

​Calvert School
Discover Calvert Information Session on Oct 3 and 18 at 9:30am
Virtual tours
Kiddie Calvert
*Co-ed/Elementary and Middle School

​Maryvale
Maryvale Middle School Shadow Days -Oct. 2, 4 , 16, and 25
Maryvale Upper School Shadow Dats - Oct 3, 12, 17, 23, 24, 26 and 31
Meet Maryvale Campus Open House - Oct 19
*All Girls/Grades 6th-12th

Calvert Hall
In-person HSPT Prep Boot Camp for current 8th graders on November 18 from 9a - 3p.
Regional Night on Oct. 18 at Hunt Valley Country Club
*All Boys/Grades 9th-12th

Loyola Blakefield
Small Group Tour on Oct 4 at 8:15 am
Basketball Prospect Camp on Oct. 7 at 10am
Group Tour on Oct 11, 18 and 25
Tennis Prospect Camp on Oct 11 at 5pm
Baseball Prospect Camp on Oct 14 at 10am
Wrestling Prospect Open Mats on Oct 17 at 4pm
Open House on Oct 22
Lacrosse Prospect Camp for 5th & 6th Graders on Oct 24 at 6pm
Don for a Day throughout October
*All Boys/Grades 6th-12th

Garrison Forest School
Athletic Experience on Sept. 24th at 1pm
Neon Night on Oct 1 at 6pm for Athletes
Open House on Oct. 20 at 9:30 am
Email: admission@gfs.org
*Boarding/All Girls/ Grades Preschool-12th
Preschool is co-ed

Boys’ Latin of Maryland
Open House on Oct. 8 at 10 am
Lacrosse Clinic on Oct. 25 at 5 pm
Email: Admission@boyslatinmd.com
*Boarding/All Boys/ Grades K-12th

​The Park School of Baltimore
Rise and Shine! for families with children ages 3- 5 on Sept. 23 at 10am
Virtual “Peek into Park” with their amazing principals on Wed., Oct 18 at 7 pm
Tuition Assistance Webinar
“Experience Park” for Lower School applicants on Oct. 7 at 10 am
“Experience Park” for Middle School applicants at 11 am
“Tours with Principals” for Lower School on Oct. 24 at 8:45am
Email: Admission@ParkSchool.net
*Co-ed/Grades Pre-K to 12th

​McDonogh School
Fall Fun at Roots Farm on Oct 21 at 9am (Cedar, corn maze and honey bees!)
Lower School Campus Welcome on Sept. 21 & 28, Oct. 3, 12, 19, & 24
Middle School Campus Welcome on Oct. 5, 9, 10, 17, & 26
Upper School Campus Welcome on Sept. 27, Oct. 2, 4, 11, 18,& 23
Shadow Day Visits
Chat with parents
Email bmarkline@mcdonogh.org
*Co-ed/Pre K - 12th

Roland Park Country School
Open House on Sept. 30 at 10am
Visit Days
*All girls/Grades Pre-K to 12th
Little Reds (2-4 years old) are co-ed
Email briggsc@rcps.org

​Gilman School
Discover Gilman Athletics on Sept. 30 (Volleyball, Westling, Golf, Water Polo/Swimming, Soccer, & Basketball)
Discover Gilman Athletics on Oct. 1 (Football, Track, Baseball, Lacrosse, & Squash)
Welcome Wednesdays: Middle & Upper School on Oct. 4 at 8:30am
Lower School Prospective Parent Visiting Day on Oct. 12 at 8:45am
7th Annual Cars, Trucks, and Things that Go! on Oct. 21
Dinosaur Discoveries for Preschoolers on Nov. 2
*All Boys/Grades Pre-K - 12th

Beth Tfiloh
PJs & Pizza Party in the Sukkah on Oct. 3 at 5pm (Preschool)
Lower School Group Tour on Oct. 26 at 8:45 am
Middle School Group Tour in November
High School Group Tour on Oct 25th
*Co-ed/Grades Preschool -12th

Archbishop Curley
Open House on Oct 28 and 29 at 10am
Friar for a Day
*All Boys/Grades 9-12

Notre Dame Preparatory School
Open House on Oct 14
Middle Level Lunch & Learn w/ Sr. Patricia on Oct. 23
Paint-A-Pumpkin on Oct 26
Shadow Day
*All Girls/Grades 6-12

Saint Ursula School
Harvest Festival on Oct. 12-14
Lower and middle School Applications will open on Oct. 1
*Co-ed/Grades PreK - 8th

The School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen
Open House on Oct. 10 at 9am
Wednesday Info Sessions for Parents
Middle School on Oct. 4 at 10am
PreK4 on Oct 25 at 10am
*Co-ed/Grades PreK - 8th

St. Casimir Catholic School
Open House on Oct. 9 at 8:30am
Email: admissions@stcasimirschool.us
*Co-ed/ PreK3 - 8th Grade

Oldfields School
Blue Ribbon Jumper Day on Sept. 23 at 9am
Open House on Oct. 28 at 10am
Julie Winkel Jumping Clinic (Equestrian) on Oct. 28-29 ($500 per rider)
Email: Admission@OldfieldsSchool.org
*Boarding/All Girls/ Grades 8-12

St. Paul’s School for Girls
Middle School Visit Day on Oct. 24 and 26
Upper School Visit Day on Oct 3, 6, 17, 18, 20, & 31
Middle School Information Session on Oct 24
Upper School Information Session on Oct. 18
Email: spsgadmissions@stpaulsmd.org
*All Girls/Infant -Grade 12

St. Paul’s School for Boys
Middle School Information Session on Oct. 26 at 8:45am
Upper School Information Session on Oct. 20 at 8:45 am
Student Visit Days available
Email: spadmissions@stpaulsmd.org
*All Boys/ Infants - Grade 12

Archbishop Spalding High School
Virtual Tour
Email: Contact@spaldinghs.org
*Co-ed/Grades 9th-12th

Mother Seton Academy
Open House on Oct. 18 at 10 am
Email: Contact@MotherSetonAcademy
*Co-ed/Grade 6th-8th

Catholic High School of Baltimore
Math Olympiad on Oct. 14
Open House on Oct. 21 at 3pm
8th Grade Shadow Days
In-Person tours
Virtual Tour
*All Girls/Grades 9th-12th

St. Francis of Assisi School
Open House is on  Oct. 7
*Coed/Pre K - 8th  
Email: goodet@sfa-school.org

​Grace Preschool
Tour with Terri
Email info@gracepreschoolbaltimore.com

​Mercy High School
Open House on Oct. 21 at 10am
Magic Moments on Oct. 24 at 4:30pm
Email admissions@mercyhighschool.com
*All Girls/Grades 9th-12th

​Mount St. Joseph High School
Meet the Coaches on Oct. 4 at 5:30pm
Open House in November
Be a Gael for a day
Virtual Tour
*All boys/Grades 9th-12th
Email aborkoski@msjnet.edu

​Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust (B.E.ST)
For applicants applying to Independent Schools (Kindergarten through 9th grade)
Submit an online inquiry here
Deadline is Sept. 30th
Email apridgen@besttrust.org

FAQ

What is a Composite Score? Baltimore City Public Schools uses composite scores to rank students in 5th and 8th grade for selective City schools and programs. 

What types of testing does my child need to take for admissions? 
It depends on the school. There is informal testing, Gesell Early Screener 
Assessment, Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT), Stanford Achievement Test, ISEE Test, HSPT Test (Catholic Schools), SSAT for example.

What is the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)?
It is a standardized test for admission to independent schools usually for grades 2-12. Click Here to register.

What is the High School Placement Test?
HSPT is a standardized test for admission to parochial schools. 
High School Placement Test (HSPT) Dates 12/02 and 12/09
Click Here

What types of interview will schools utilize?
It depends! Most schools have a parent Interview (informal or formal) and student Interview. 

Can I apply for financial aid?
Depends on the school. Tuition free schools do not require a financial aid process. If you choose to apply for a tuition based school, check their financial aid deadlines now. There is usually a separate application and/or system (i.e. FACTS).

Does my child need recommendation letters?
Depends on the school and grade. Some schools may call a recommendation form a referral form. Some schools require the form to be mailed or uploaded.

Do I need to submit transcripts?
Usually you will need transcripts. Contact your principal or admissions team for information.

Which schools are a part of the Tri-School collaborative?
The Bryn Mawr School, Gilman School and Roland Park County School. They coordinate classes together. 


Why is the Public School list not more extensive? 
The Choice Fair has not been announced this year. Contact your local public school and ask for an in-person tour. Did you know that Baltimore City Public Schools has schools from the 1800s? (Baltimore City College was founded in 1839, Western in 1844, Poly was founded in 1883, and Frederick Douglass in 1885) 


What about Charter Schools?
Public and Public Charter School have later admissions deadlines (except BSA). Lottery dates will come out soon. 

Private/Independent
There are different types of associations and accreditation for independent schools in and around Baltimore City. Did you know that some Baltimore independent schools started in the 1800s? (The Bryn Mawr School in 1885)

Catholic School/Archdiocese of Baltimore
Schools connected to the Archdiocese of Baltimore (Catholic Church). Did you know that the first Catholic School for Black children was in Baltimore? (St. Frances Academy in 1829) 

Types of Tuition
Please ask about the type of tuition programs offered (i.e inclusive tuition). Some tuition programs include food/ incidentals/etc and others do not. 

Tuition Assistance 
When asking for tuition assistance, make sure you ask about tuition guarantees, refund options, aond discounts. 

Application Systems
There are different applicant systems. So, check out school application forms early! Never heard of Ravenna, FACTS or School Admin? Buckle up and head to an admissions session for help! 

Need more info? Check out Baltimore Fishbowl’s Independent Schools Guide: Check out Baltimore Fishbowl’s 2023-2024 Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools

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