Admissions
Admissions Process
We are delighted by your interest in St. Bernard’s and look forward to getting to know you through the admissions process. It is our goal to make each family’s experience personal, informative, and meaningful so that you can confidently determine whether St. Bernard’s is the right school for your son and your family.
St. Bernard’s is devoted to providing an exceptional foundation for boys. We seek boys who are enthusiastic learners, considerate friends, and honorable sportsmen. Our vibrant community includes boys from a large variety of cultures, ethnicities, religions, family structures and socio-economic backgrounds. Please explore our website to learn more about our community and our programs. We welcome any questions you may have and can be reached at admissions@stbernards.org.
St. Bernard’s is devoted to providing an exceptional foundation for boys. We seek boys who are enthusiastic learners, considerate friends, and honorable sportsmen. Our vibrant community includes boys from a large variety of cultures, ethnicities, religions, family structures and socio-economic backgrounds. Please explore our website to learn more about our community and our programs. We welcome any questions you may have and can be reached at admissions@stbernards.org.
Admission to Kindergarten
Application
Applications for the 2025-26 school year are now available through Ravenna. There is no fee to apply.
We offer small-group parent tours. You will have the opportunity to observe classes, meet teachers, and speak with boys. Additionally, parents will meet privately with an admissions director via Zoom for their interview.
Child Interview
Each boy will have a one-on-one interview with a member of our admissions team.
School Visit
The admissions directors make every effort to visit each boy in his classroom. Observing your son in an environment in which he is comfortable is critical to our process and allows us to get a more complete picture of him as a student and classmate. Admissions directors will schedule these visits with your son’s current school.
ISAAGNY Report
If your son currently attends an ISAAGNY school, his school will complete and forward us this report. If his school is not a member of the organization please download this form and have the current school e-mail the completed form to admissions@stbernards.org. Thank you.
Admission to Grades I-IX
If you are applying for any grade above kindergarten, please call the admissions office at (212) 289-2878. While our only set entry-point is kindergarten, spots in upper grades do occasionally become available. These spots are filled on a rolling basis. Boys applying for upper grades are required to take the (ISEE) from the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). In addition, please request that written reports and records be sent to St. Bernard’s from the boy’s current school. All records are confidential.
St. Bernard’s, a member of the Independent School Admissions Association of Greater New York, follows its practices and calendar. The school also follows the Principles of Good Practice for Admissions to Independent Schools adopted by the National Association of Independent Schools.
St. Bernard’s, a member of the Independent School Admissions Association of Greater New York, follows its practices and calendar. The school also follows the Principles of Good Practice for Admissions to Independent Schools adopted by the National Association of Independent Schools.
APPLICATION LINKS
Please note, if you do not already have a Ravenna account you will be directed to create one before being able to apply.
Parents interested in applying for upper grades should call the admissions office.
Parents interested in applying for upper grades should call the admissions office.
ADMISSIONS TEAM
Co-Director of Admissions
(212) 289-2878 ext. 326
Co-Director of Admissions
(212) 289-2878 ext. 327
REQUIREMENTS
St. Bernard’s will not require nor accept any standardized test results for kindergarten applicants.
SIBLINGS AND LEGACIES
St. Bernard’s gives early notification to all siblings and legacies. We adhere to the early notification dates mandated by the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY). If you are interested in early admission, please contact the admissions office no later than December 1.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
List of 7 items.
-
Does St. Bernard’s offer a diverse community?
St. Bernard’s welcomes boys from many different racial, socio-economic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Parents of current students were born in over 50 countries as we actively seek to reflect the rich diversity of our city. Currently, approximately 30% of boys are of color. For more information please see our webpage on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. -
What is the average class size at St. Bernard’s?
St. Bernard’s believes that small groups foster optimal learning and structures the classes accordingly. Each of the two kindergarten classrooms is staffed with three teachers and has 22 boys. Classes in grades I - III have between 10 and 14 boys, and classes in grades IV through VIII have roughly 20 boys per class. Boys in grades K - IV meet daily in even smaller groups for reading and math. Grade IX varies from five to twelve boys. -
Where do St. Bernard’s families live?
Boys from 51 different zip codes throughout New York currently attend the school. -
What after-school activities are offered at St. Bernard’s?
We have a dynamic after-school program and offer a range of activities extending until 5:30 p.m. each day. Over 75% of boys in grades K - VI participate in at least one after-school activity. Please visit the After-School Programs page for more information. -
What high schools and colleges do St. Bernard’s graduates attend?
Boys attend a wide range of boarding and day schools. 85% of our graduates are admitted to their top preference. Roughly one-half of the boys go to boarding school and one-half choose to attend a city school. In the past three years boys have attended the following schools with greatest frequency (in alphabetical order):Boarding Schools
Berkshire
Choate
Deerfield
Episcopal
Groton
Hotchkiss
Kent
Lawrenceville
Middlesex
Philips Andover
Philips Exeter
St. Andrew’s
St. Paul’s
Taft
Day Schools
Bronx Science
Brooklyn Tech.
Collegiate
Fieldston
Grace Church
Hackley
Horace Mann
Packer Collegiate
Regis
Riverdale
Stuyvesant
Trinity
Colleges
Brown
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Duke
Georgetown
Harvard
Princeton
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
Williams
Yale -
Is St. Bernard’s a religious school?
No, St. Bernard’s is a non-denominational school that welcomes boys of all faiths and religions. Boys learn about all major religions through their study of history, geography, and literature, and there is no emphasis on one religion over the others. -
Can we afford St. Bernard’s?
We are committed to making a St. Bernard’s education accessible to families at all income levels. Financial Aid is available and encompasses every aspect of school life, from lunch and supplies to after-school activities and school trips. Please visit our Tuition and Financial Aid page for information.
