How to Apply to Upper School

Use the guide below to help you move smoothly through the admissions process.  Online applications are now open and we ask for all components to be completed by December 1. 

Apply online for the 2025-2026 School Year

Online application forms are available beginning September 1. The deadline to submit a complete application with all of its components for first-round consideration is December 1. Applications completed after December 1 will be considered for any remaining spaces on a rolling basis. The greatest availability of spaces for new students in the Upper School is in the first round.

If you plan to apply for financial aid, we strongly recommend completing your student's application, including the financial aid application, before December 1. 

Campus Visit - Come See Us!
Penn Charter will offer tours of the campus beginning in mid-September. Register for information sessions and tours. 

Application Guide

A complete application must include all of the following elements to be considered.

Application
Online application forms will be processed and acknowledged beginning September 1.  Submit the application for admission online and look for an email acknowledging its receipt. This email will contain further instructions for completing the rest of the application. The online application form is the first step in the application process.

If you plan to apply for financial aid, we strongly recommend completing your student's application in the first round and including your financial information with that application. Instructions on submitting financial information for financial aid can be found here.

Interview
Once you have submitted the online application please contact Shelley Evans via email at sevans@penncharter.com, to arrange a virtual interview for both the student and the parent/caregiver.  This meeting will take 1 hour - 1 hour and 30 minutes.

We know that not every family can easily travel to campus during the school day and in an effort to be more equitable in our admissions process, have decided to only offer virtual interviews. When you are on campus for a tour or an admissions event, we hope that you'll enjoy your time with us without worrying about your admissions interview. 

Writing Sample
As part of the admissions process, applicants are required to submit a graded writing sample from their school. Please choose a sample of academic writing that has been completed within the last year from English/Language Arts or Social Studies. This can be of any length, preferably one page or more. The writing sample should be uploaded through your Parent Portal, where you completed the online application. 

Recommendations
When possible, we ask that teacher recommendations be completed by your student's teacher after October 15. We believe that teachers should be given time to work with your student during the current school year in order to provide us with appropriate feedback about your student’s abilities. The recommendation forms will become available in your Parent Portal, after October 15. 

Personal Recommendations (optional): Families also have the option to submit an additional recommendation from a non-family member who knows the student and can speak to their character.

Transcript Release Form
After your student's school's first marking period, the official transcript should be sent to Penn Charter. The official transcript includes grades from the past year and the first marking period of the current year, as well as any testing records. Please download and print this form and give the signed form to your current school.  Instructions for completion are found on the form and can also be found in your Parent Portal. 

Admissions Testing
As soon as possible, reserve a test date for the SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test), or the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam). Complete the ISEE or SSAT registration form, listing Penn Charter as a score recipient. Our school codes are listed below. The test may be taken at any test site. Please note testing dates fill up quickly in the fall so please register as soon as you are able.