Our Process

The Russian Hill School admissions process strives to provide prospective families with a warm welcome and thorough review of the Russian Hill School curriculum, philosophy, and community. It also provides important information needed to help families find the ideal RHS placement for your child.

The Russian Hill School is a year-round program extending September – mid August. Our individualized enrollment process enjoys rolling admissions. Children can enroll as early as 2.5 years old for our mixed age preschool (minimum 2 years old for Littles, 2.5 years old for preschool). Admissions decisions for Fall and TK enrollment are made year-round. We accept children into the program from our wait pool with rolling admissions. Ready to jump into our wait pool? Sign up now!

Step 1:  Join the RHS Wait Pool

Step 2:  Application Form

Please fill out the application form at www.russianhillschool.org/application. Submission of the completed form, with a non–refundable $100 fee, places your child in our admissions process. This fee covers an evening curriculum presentation, a family tour/play date for both you and your child, and guarantees you a space in our wait pool until your child is kindergarten age. Families with twins or siblings only need to make one payment of $150. While we encourage families to apply early in order to enter into the Russian Hill School’s wait pool, date of application is just one factor in the school’s admissions decision.

To obtain additional information or for questions, please contact our Admissions Team at (415) 202-0525 or info@russianhillschool.org.

Step 3:  Curriculum Presentation

We invite all parents and caregivers to attend a curriculum presentation at the school. This is an opportunity to tour the Russian Hill School classrooms and to hear a comprehensive overview of our program. This tour is led by our co–director, Katharine Threlfall, PHD, admissions director, RHS teachers, and current parents in our RHS community who can answer questions and offer information that you may have about their experience with our school. Please indicate your preference for an evening presentation tour on your application. We hold evening presentations from 7 – 8:30pm on Wednesdays.

Step 4:  Family Visit and Playdate

Once you have attended an evening presentation we invite each candidate to a family visit and play–date, to take place when your child is two and a half years old. These tours are typically held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings (10:30 am – 11:15 am) in our classrooms. They are to be attended by the parent(s) or caregiver(s) and the child. This morning provides us with an opportunity to meet your child when they are close to school age, for you to tour the school and view the program more extensively, and for parent(s)/caregiver(s) to discuss any further questions they may have about the school and enrollment. They are conducted by our admissions director and the teaching team, and include an opportunity for children to engage in the Russian Hill School open classroom setting. This process affords each child the chance to “experience” the RHS classroom in a fun, informal way. After the family visit we encourage you to call or write our Community and Admissions Director at info@russianhillschool.org or (415) 202-0525 giving any information you feel is important for the admissions team to know including your family’s level of interest in the school. Letters of recommendation are neither expected nor required.

Please schedule this tour with our Admissions Team at info@russianhillschool.org or (415) 202-0525. 

Step 5:  The Admissions Decision

Applicants are carefully reviewed. We consider a host of variables including age and development, entrance date into our wait pool, learning style, social skills and a concern for gender balance and student diversity. We also consider the match between prospective families and The Russian Hill School in the areas of our mission and philosophy. The Russian Hill School will notify your family by early March regarding Fall admissions decisions. Enrollment is guaranteed when the signed contract and deposit have been received.