Admissions: How to Apply

Orinda Academy Application Information

To assist you in determining if Orinda Academy is the best independent school for your child, we welcome you to tour our school in Orinda, California, see our classrooms, meet our faculty and find out about our diverse community of students. See how we are succeeding at creating a structured and supportive environment for middle school and high school students.

Admissions Process

We welcome applications for admission to grades 6 through 12. The first step in the application for admission process is to explore our website and become familiar with our application information, academic programs and the community environment. Those seeking admission must submit all application forms. A complete application includes the following:

Application for Admission: Complete and return the 2012-13 Application Form, along with an application fee of $75.00 to Orinda Academy. International students, who wish to pay the fee by wire transfer, please contact the Admissions Office at 925-254-7553 ext. 305.
Student Application: Complete and return the 2012-2013 Student Application. Be sure to send along your Student Personal Statement. You’ll find the instructions at the bottom of the Student Application.
Required Testing: To register for the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), visit www.iseetest.org. Testing dates and locations are available at a number of East Bay schools. International students should submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). You can find out more information at www.toefl.org.

Visit Us

We offer several opportunities to visit us and see first-hand the successes achieved at Orinda Academy. We encourage families to schedule an appointment with the Admissions Office and to tour the campus. Visits are designed for you to learn more about our school to provide you with the opportunity to assess the benefits of our school as they pertain to your child’s academic and personal needs.

Schedule a Shadow Visit

Shadow visits are available throughout most of the year. You may schedule this visit before completing or submitting an application.

To schedule a visit, contact the Admissions Office at (925) 254-7553 ext 305, or email admission@orindaacademy.org. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter or go to our Facebook page to be kept up to date on the latest news and upcoming Orinda Academy events.

Open Houses

We invite you to attend one of our Open Houses, held during the fall and spring. You will learn more about the school and meet students, parents and teachers. Check our Calendar for upcoming dates.

Transcript

Complete the Applicant and Parent/Guardian portions of the Transcript Release and Confidentiality Form. Submit this form to your school's office or registrar. This form must accompany the student’s official transcript, and must be sent in a sealed envelope to Orinda Academy’s Admissions Office. Transcripts should include grades from the student's last school year, and the first semester of the current year.

Principal/Counselor and Teacher Recommendation Forms

For grades 9-12, complete the Applicant and Parent/Guardian portions of the Principal/Counselor Recommendation Form, the English Teacher Recommendation Form, and the Math Teacher Recommendation Form. Submit forms to your current Math and English teachers, and your current Principal/Counselor. For grades 6-8, fill out two of the Confidential Teacher Recommendations/Transcript Request forms and submit to your current teachers to fill out. The orms must be emailed, mailed or faxed directly to Orinda Academy's Admissions Office. (Fax: 925-254-4768). Click here for forms.

Student Interview

We often do the interview during the students shadow visit, but if you need to schedule an interview once your application has been received, you can contact the Admissions Office at:

(925) 254-7553 x305 to schedule an interview for your student.

Contact

Please send all admission materials to:

Orinda Academy
Attn: Admissions Office
19 Altarinda Road
Orinda, CA 94563

Admission Contact:

Ron Graydon
Head of School / Director of Admissions
Phone: (925) 254-7553
Fax: (925) 254-4768
admission@orindaacademy.org

Laurel Evans
Admissions Coordinator
Phone: (925) 254-7553 ext. 305
laurel@orindaacademy.org