Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences is an independent school on the south side of Santa Fe, New Mexico, serving students in Preschool through 8th Grade. We invite all interested applicants to learn more about our school and apply.

You are welcome to reach out to connect with us at any time at admissions@santafeschool.org, or leave a message at 505-438-8585 and your call will be returned promptly.

WAITLIST

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Currently, many of our classes are full and have a waitlist. Once your application materials have been received, your child’s name will be added to our waitlist, and we will send you an email confirmation. When there is an opening, we will call you to offer the opportunity to pursue our admissions process. We will  schedule a parent/guardian interview, and provide an opportunity for you and your child to visit our classroom(s). If there is not an opening for the school year that you have applied for, applications for the pre-K or elementary grades automatically move to the next school year.

How do I apply?

Apply online from our website, download a PDF or you can request that an application packet be sent to you by mail.

Preschool Program

Elementary Program

Middle School Program

Which classes have waitlists?

As of Fall 2024, we have a few openings in our 7th and 8th grade classes.  Contact elisa@santafeschool.org if you are interested or have questions. Our Preschool through 6th grade classes are fully enrolled for the 2024-2025 school.

Should I still apply if there’s a waitlist for my child’s grade level?

Yes! We encourage everyone to apply if you are interested in attending Arts & Sciences. When a space becomes available, it is often that some families on the waitlist do not pursue the space, due to changing needs, moving away, prior commitment to another school, etc. Even if there are a number of families ahead of you on the waitlist, there is still a good chance a space will be offered to you.

How do I get my child on the waitlist for his/her current class?

Submit an application for the grade that you are applying for, and pay the $50 application fee (this fee is waived if you indicate that you will apply for Financial Aid.) Once your completed application and fee have been received, your child’s name will be added to the waitlist, in the order that the application was received.

I’m pregnant or my child is under 3 years old – can I apply now even though the school starts at age 3?

You can! We already have lists going for preschool classes through 2027. We highly encourage families to get on our waitlist any time from pregnancy through age 3. Your child will be placed on the list for the class that starts preschool in the year that your child is 3 years old. Students need to be 3 years old as of September 1st to start. If your child turns 3 after September 1st, he/she will need to wait until the following school year (we do not start preschoolers mid-year.) Children born September 1, 2020 – August, 2021 would start in Fall 2024, children born September 1, 2021 – August, 2022 would start in Fall 2025, and so on. Just fill out the information that you have available for the Preschool Application and submit it in order to get on a list. When your child is closer to starting age you can update your application and complete the admissions process.

Is there an admissions deadline?

For preschool through 6th grade, we have rolling admissions – applications can be submitted at any time. For 7th and 8th grades, there is an Early Admissions Option deadline of November 21, 2024, and a Regular Admissions Option deadline of February 14, 2025.
There is a Financial Aid application deadline for all grades – February 14, 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year. Financial aid applications received after the deadline will be considered based on remaining financial aid funds available.

If I am applying for a class that has a waitlist, do I have to submit my child’s school records, Student Information Form, and Financial Aid Application at the time of applying?

No. When a space opens up, you will have the opportunity to submit these in order to complete your child’s application.

If a space opens up for the class that my child is on the waitlist for, do I automatically get in?

No. The waitlist is a “waitlist to apply”. If a space becomes available and we go down the list and get to your child’s name, you have the opportunity to update and complete his/her application, submit school records and a Student Information Form (filled out by the child’s current teacher). You will also have the opportunity for your child to come spend time in our classroom. In addition we will schedule a Parent Interview, which is an informal meeting with our Admissions Director for us to get to know your family, and for you to ask any questions you have about our school. Once these steps have been completed, your child’s application will be considered and an admissions decision will be made and communicated.

On what does the school base its admissions decision?

We value diversity and inclusivity, and seek to have a student body that reflects this. We take into consideration the child’s learning needs, the family’s needs and expectations, and our assessment of our ability to successfully support the child’s learning. It’s mainly about fit – we want to make sure that our learning environment is the right one for each student. We also consider the family’s interest in our school philosophy, mission, values, and the expeditionary learning approach to education.
Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national or ethnic origin, language(s) spoken, sexual orientation, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, or other school administered programs.

If a space does not open up for the year that I have applied, do I have to apply again?

No. You will automatically be kept on the waitlist for the following school year, until a space opens up, or you decide to be removed from the waitlist. You do not need to re-submit the application fee. The waitlist rolls over from year to year through 6th grade. Middle School admissions are separate, and the elementary waitlist does not roll over to middle school, though all families on the elementary waitlist are invited to apply for 7th grade through the middle school admissions process.

Is there a time that is easier to get in to the school?

We accept 8-10 new preschoolers each fall (4-5 boys and 4-5 girls), age 3. After that, openings depend on students leaving the school, since each of those classes stays the same size for pre-kindergarten through 6th grade. Our 7th grade is the time when there are the most spots available – we have a maximum of 10 rising 6th graders, yet there are 24 spots in the 7th grade, so each year we accept at least 14 new 7th graders.

Is the Middle School application process different from the elementary school application process?

Yes. The Middle School has a separate admissions process, including a student portion of the application, a day to visit our Middle School, and recommendations from the student’s current English and Math teachers.

If my child is on the waitlist for elementary school and a spot does not open up, does he/she stay on the waitlist for 7th grade?

The waitlist goes through 6th grade. 7th grade applicants will need to submit a new application and complete the admissions process, even if they have an elementary application on file. Students on our 6th grade waitlist will have priority in scheduling a Middle School visit in the fall of their 6th grade year, in starting the admissions process for 7th grade.

What if I have other questions?
Please contact our Director of Admissions Elisa Boyles at 505-438-8585 or admissions@santafeschool.org

FINANCIAL AID

We strive to make our school affordable, and financial aid is available for qualifying families. Annual fundraising efforts and our modest but growing endowment fund allow us to provide an excellent education to a diverse student population. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, staff, friends and community supporters. Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.

In order to apply for Financial Aid for the 2025-2026 school year, please submit the completed Financial Aid Application, along with a copy of your most recent complete tax return, by November 21, 2024, for early admissions applicants or by February 14, 2025 for regular admissions applicants.

Financial Aid Applications can be submitted online, downloaded as a PDF or mailed by contacting the office for a form. If you have questions at any time about the Financial Aid process, please contact Perli Cunanan, Executive Director, at 505-438-8585 or perli@santafeschool.org.

Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, language(s) spoken, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or disability in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship or loan programs, or other school administered programs. Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.