ADMISSIONS CHECKLIST
(Optional but Strongly Encouraged)
Selwyn offers multiple ways to explore the campus:
- Campus Tours: Scheduled in-person tours with the Director of Admissions.
- Open Houses: Periodic events where families can meet faculty, staff, and current students.
- Virtual Tour: An online tour option for families who are unable to visit in person.
The formal application process begins with the submission of the online application form along with a non-refundable application fee. The application and fee must be submitted before any testing can be scheduled. All supporting documents must also be submitted at this stage, including:
- Teacher recommendations: Letters from current teachers attesting to the student’s academic performance, character, and potential.
- Standardized test scores: Any previously completed standardized assessments that may be relevant.
- Transcripts: Academic records from the student’s current school (see Step 4 for transcript-specific instructions).
| Applicant Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| PK3 – Grade 12 (Domestic) | $375 |
| International Students | $1,200 |
This step has two components that may occur on the same day: a “day in the life” visit and, for eligible students, the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE).
The "Day in the Life" Visit
All prospective students are encouraged to spend a full school day at Selwyn, attending classes alongside current students. This immersive experience gives the applicant a realistic sense of the school’s academic pace, teaching style, and social environment. It also gives faculty and staff an opportunity to observe the prospective student in a natural academic setting. To arrange a visit day, families should contact the Director of Admissions.
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)
All prospective students entering second grade and above are required to take the ISEE as part of the admissions process. The ISEE is a comprehensive, standardized admission assessment accepted by more than 1,200 independent schools worldwide. It is administered by Educational Records Bureau (ERB) and provides the Admission Committee with objective data points to supplement the holistic review of each applicant.
| Level | Applicant Grade | Test Sections | Total Testing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary 2 | Entering Grade 2 | Reading, Mathematics | 53 minutes |
| Primary 3 | Entering Grade 3 | Reading, Mathematics | 54 minutes |
| Primary 4 | Entering Grade 4 | Reading, Mathematics | 60 minutes |
| Lower | Entering Grades 5–6 | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, Essay | 2 hours, 20 minutes |
| Middle | Entering Grades 7–8 | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, Essay | 2 hours, 40 minutes |
| Upper | Entering Grades 9–12 | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, Essay | 2 hours, 40 minutes |
Table 2: ISEE Levels, Sections, and Timing
Understanding the ISEE Sections:
- Verbal Reasoning: Measures a student’s ability to reason with words, including vocabulary and sentence completion.
- Quantitative Reasoning: Assesses logical and mathematical thinking skills and the capacity to learn new concepts.
- Reading Comprehension: Evaluates a student’s ability to understand and interpret written passages across a range of subjects.
- Mathematics Achievement: Tests knowledge of mathematical concepts and procedures that students have already learned.
- Essay (Writing Sample): An unscored writing prompt sent directly to the applying school(s). Admission committees use it to assess writing ability, clarity of thought, and to verify the authorship of other written application materials.
Transcripts must be requested by the family and sent directly to Selwyn School from the applicant’s current school. Transcripts may consist of progress reports, standardized test results, and letter or numeric grades.
Important Note: If the applicant's current school requires Selwyn to request official documents directly, families should contact the Director of Admissions to facilitate this process.
The transcript provides the Admission Committee with a longitudinal view of the student’s academic performance and growth over time. It is one of the most important documents in the application file and should be submitted as early as possible to avoid delays in the review process.
Once the applicant’s file is complete — meaning all required documents have been received — the Admission Committee convenes to make its decision. The committee conducts a thorough, multi-dimensional review of each applicant, evaluating:
- Academic skills: Performance on transcripts, standardized tests, and the ISEE.
- Individual talents: Artistic, athletic, or other noteworthy abilities.
- Motivation towards learning: Evidence of intellectual curiosity and engagement.
- Personal interests: Extracurricular activities, hobbies, and passions.
- Developmental readiness: Whether the student is socially, emotionally, and academically prepared for the Selwyn environment.
The committee’s goal is not simply to identify the highest-performing students, but to identify those who will thrive in and contribute to Selwyn’s unique community. The admissions process is therefore a genuine two-way fit assessment.
- Enrolling in RenWeb: RenWeb is Selwyn’s online school management platform, through which families manage enrollment, access school communications, and complete administrative tasks.
- Paying the New Family Fee: A one-time, non-refundable fee for enrollment processing and related activities. This fee applies to families whose children were not previously enrolled at Selwyn.
- Completing registration and health forms: All required registration documentation and health records must be submitted before the student can begin classes.
The Selwyn School Admissions Office welcomes the opportunity to meet and talk to you personally.
You may contact the Office of Admissions at (940) 382-6771 x135 or email admissions@selwynschool.com.
As soon as the admissions process is complete and the student has been accepted, he or she may begin classes!
STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION
Selwyn School’s mission promotes a school culture that allows students to learn without fear of intimidation or discrimination. Because of our school’s global focus and diverse student, family, and faculty body, Selwyn School is committed in policy, principle, and practice to maintaining an environment that encourages behavior affirming of the equality of all persons.  Selwyn School remains committed to providing a welcoming and respectful work and educational environment, in which all individuals within the school community may benefit from each other’s experiences and foster mutual respect and appreciation of divergent views.Â
Selwyn School will not tolerate conduct that violates rights guaranteed by the law or by other school policies. As such, Selwyn School prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, or any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the administration of its educational programs, including admission and financial aid, or in employment and application for employment. Furthermore, Selwyn School policy includes prohibitions of harassment of students and employees, including racial harassment, sexual harassment, or retaliation for filing complaints of discrimination. Above all, Selwyn School affirms the fundamental dignity of all persons.
