Apply to The Elisabeth Morrow School

Yes, the Office of Enrollment is accepting applications for the 2022–2023 academic year, however, space is very limited. Contact the admissions office to determine if there are any openings in your child’s grade.

If you are an applicant who is reapplying from a previous year, please contact our office to speak with our staff before filling out an application. Your fee will be waived.

Middle School Applicants (Grades 5–8) are required to take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). We will also consider the SSAT and, in rare cases, ERB scores.  

Children in the 2s program through third grade may enter EMS with limited English skills. In the fourth grade and above, we expect students to have the academic language to comprehend text and understand the academic language associated with social studies and science.

Candidates must be of qualifying age on or before October 1.

We will follow all of the same health and safety protocols with prospective families that we have implemented for our school community (requiring proof of vaccination for adults, completed health questionnaires, mask-wearing while indoors, and social distancing). We will offer small tours of campus during the week as well as in-person outdoor events. We will also continue to provide opportunities to connect with us virtually. Please check our events page for a list of upcoming events.

Families applying to any ISAAGNY schools can register for the Thinking & Engagement Assessment (T&E).  This assessment is recommended but not required. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the constraints that it imposed on the running of schools, a group of New York City Independent School Admission Directors enlisted the help of two experts in early childhood development — each with more than forty years of experience in working with children as they learn, grow, and transition to Kindergarten. The admission directors asked that these two psychologists develop a virtual assessment to serve the needs and interests of kindergarten applicants, their families, and schools. The goal was twofold: to put minimal pressure on young children and families during this unprecedented time and to provide our admission committees with information about children when schools would not be able to meet and observe them in person.

The T&E Assessment provides families with the ability to apply to multiple schools and forego the burden of multiple virtual assessments. Instead, applicants to participating schools engage in one common assessment, the results of which are shared with schools to which the family has applied and that accept and/or require the T&E Assessment.

What does the T&E assess?

The T&E is a non-standardized, non-normed, child-friendly set of activities designed specifically to be administered virtually to 4- and 5-year-olds applying to kindergarten. The T&E taps expressive and receptive language, verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills, traceability, problem-solving skills, and developmental areas in which schools need information to determine the fit between an applicant and the program.

The T&E Assessment is administered using Zoom technology on a desktop or laptop computer or on a tablet in the child’s home.

During the assessment, the child should be sitting in a chair at a table and be wearing comfortable headphones to block out noise and to help focus on the materials (Amazon sells an assortment of reasonably priced headphones). Laptops and tablets should be set up on a flat surface so the child’s hands are free. Please leave up to 45 minutes for the entirety of the assessment, although it may take much less time.

Upon starting the T&E, the assessor guides the child through a variety of developmentally appropriate activities. The cohort of assessors are a diverse group of early childhood professionals who have been expertly trained to administer the T&E. During the T&E session, one adult (e.g., parent, guardian, caregiver, adult family member) is required to be present; however, this person is expected to only provide technical support as needed.

The adult should wear headphones or earbuds and engage in a quiet activity once the assessment begins (e.g. reading a book or magazine; we ask that adults refrain from writing and using laptops, mobile phones, tablets, etc.). By wearing earbuds and staying busy, the adult is modeling what the child should be doing. Please note that the adult in the room should sit behind and to the side of the child so that the assessor may see that person during the entirety of the assessment.

Will I receive the results after my child has taken the T&E Assessment?

No. The results of your child’s assessment will only be sent to the participating schools and organizations to which you have requested that reports be forwarded.

How much does the T&E Assessment cost and how can I sign up?

The fee for the T&E Assessment is $250. The fee will be waived if you are applying for financial assistance and have a total household income of less than $150,000.

The T&E Assessment Project is administered by a coordinator and an assistant coordinator who will be available to answer questions and address any issues. Once you have submitted an application to any of the participating schools, you will receive a link to register your child for the T&E. Please remember to only register your child once. Upon registration, you will receive instructions from the T&E staff regarding scheduling.

Appointments for the T&E may be scheduled from September 8 through December 18 and will be available seven days a week. We recommend that you schedule your child’s assessment as early in the season as possible.