Lakeside School in Seattle takes applications for fall 2027 entry until January 28, 2027, after a preliminary step on January 14. Upper School families hear back on February 19, 2027, and Middle School families on March 19, 2027. This guide puts every published date in the order families meet them, with what Lakeside asks for at each step.
Who can apply
Lakeside is an independent, coeducational day school for grades 5 to 12 in North Seattle. For 2027-28 it lists openings in grades 6 to 11: about 60 in grade 6, 5 in grade 7, 2 in grade 8, 70 to 75 in grade 9, 6 in grade 10 and 2 in grade 11. Lakeside says it typically receives 7 to 8 applications for every space, so the early dates matter and the later grades are very small.
What happens first
- Open the application. The 2027-28 application is in Aryval Enroll and opened September 28, 2026. The fee is $25, and a fee waiver form is available.
- Preliminary forms. These are due January 14, 2027. Lakeside asks families to finish them before the full application is due two weeks later.
- Financial aid. If you plan to ask for aid, the aid application opened September 1, 2026 and must be in by February 4, 2027. Lakeside says families apply before they learn the admission decision.
What the application includes
Lakeside lists these parts: a student essay, an interests and activities form, a parent statement, school records, two teacher evaluations, a personal reference form, an administrator form and test scores.
For the teacher evaluations, Lakeside asks for one humanities teacher and one math or science teacher, and at least one should be a current teacher. Give them notice well before January, because they are writing for many students at once. Lakeside also says it does not accept or review supplementary materials and does not schedule private meetings with families, so there is no need to add extras.
Testing
Test scores are part of the file, and Lakeside accepts only one set. Grade 9 and Middle School applicants send SSAT or ISEE scores. Applicants to grades 10 and 11 can send the SSAT, ISEE, ACT, PSAT or SAT.
Scores must come from a test taken between September 1, 2026 and January 28, 2027. Lakeside encourages families to register by December 2026, and it recommends testing once. There is no minimum score. The school codes are 4462 for the SSAT and 481120 for the ISEE.
The interview or activity
Upper School applicants in grades 9 to 11 interview with faculty, either virtually or in person, and Lakeside says there is no need to prepare ahead of time. Middle School applicants in grades 6 to 8 do something different: they attend an admissions activity after school at the Middle School campus, from early October through the end of January. Families outside Island, King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish Counties can join a virtual activity on Zoom. Both formats run over several weeks, so book early rather than at the end of the window.
Dates at a glance
| Step | Date | | --- | --- | | Application opened in Aryval Enroll | September 28, 2026 | | Testing window opens | September 1, 2026 | | Preliminary forms due | January 14, 2027 | | Application deadline | January 28, 2027 | | Financial aid application due | February 4, 2027 | | Upper School decisions (4 p.m.) | February 19, 2027 | | Upper School enrollment due (noon) | February 26, 2027 | | Middle School decisions | March 19, 2027 | | Middle School enrollment due | March 26, 2027 |
Lakeside warns that a late application cannot be guaranteed an on-time decision, so treat January 28 as firm.
What Lakeside has not published
On the pages we reviewed, Lakeside does not publish an admit rate, average SSAT or ISEE scores, the essay prompts or how long the interview lasts. The essay prompts sit inside Aryval Enroll. If a number matters to your decision, ask the admissions office at 206-368-3605 or admissions@lakesideschool.org, and do not rely on a figure from a forum.
A simple working order
1. Register for the SSAT or ISEE so that your student has a test date and a backup date before the holidays. 2. Tell teachers which evaluation you need, and when it is due. 3. Book the interview or activity. 4. Let your student draft the essay in their own voice, then let it rest for a week. 5. Write the parent statement as the parent, not as a second essay. 6. Start the financial aid application in the fall if you plan to apply, since it is due before the admission decision.
See the full timeline, the application steps and the FAQ. If you want help thinking through your own student's situation, EduAvenues has a high school admissions page.
Sources
- Lakeside admissions overview
- Lakeside application process
- Lakeside tuition and financial aid
- Lakeside admissions FAQ
LakesidePrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Lakeside School.