Admission Process

Applicants are considered as space is available. International students, please click here to see admission requirements. Priority application deadline Nov.1, decisions will be out by Dec. 1. Second round of applications due in by Feb. 15 and decisions will be out by Mar. 1.

1. Chat with Admissions

We strongly encourage parents and guardians to see campus, either in person or virtually, and attend an open house or another of our in-person and virtual admission events to see our programs in action.

2. Apply for Admission

Complete the online application, including the application fee and the school records release form (PDF). Additionally, each applicant must have completed the recommendation form(s) listed under the Required Forms section. Please download the appropriate form and forward it to your child’s current teacher.

3. Apply for Indexed Tuition

Click here to learn more about our indexed tuition model or apply for indexed tuition via FACTS.

4. Testing

Students with an application on file will be invited to take our entrance exam. Students entering grades 2-8 will be scheduled to take the entrance exam by appointment only; grades 9-12 must take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). To schedule the ISEE, visit the ERB website for resources to prepare for the exam and test registration. Morgan Park Academy is an ISEE test site. (A list of our test dates are available on the ERB website.) We also accept the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT).

Notification

We will notify you of your status once all parts of the admission process have been completed, including receipt of records and recommendations from the current school.

Testing

Morgan Park Academy is an approved Educational Records Bureau (ERB) testing site.

The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is a standard assessment of skills, ranking reasoning and achievement skills among students in the same grade. It enables students to take a single, fair, and reliable test for entrance into top-performing independent schools. The ISEE is used by consortia throughout the U.S. andinternationally, and for the City of Boston’s Exam Schools. It is the most advanced admission test available for independent schools.

The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)

  • Four levels:
    • Primary – entrance to grades 2 – 4; not available at this site
    • Lower – entrance to grades5 – 6; paper/pencil administrations
    • Middle – entrance to grades7 – 8; paper/pencil administrations
    • Upper – entrance to grades 9 – 12; paper/pencil administrations
  • Affordable for families: Fee waivers available for MPA applicants (based on availability)
  • Based on standards of leading educational organizations:
    • The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
    • The International Reading Association (IRA)
    • The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)

Students applying to grades 5-12 may sit for the Independent School Entrance Exam at Morgan Park Academy. One exam can be sent to all Chicago area independent schools. The ISEE will be administered at Morgan Park Academy on the following Saturdays, registration at 8:45 am; testing begins promptly at 9:00 am:

To register for the ISEE exam vist the ERB website

Bus Transportation

Morning and afternoon bus service is available for MPA students of all ages from the west and south suburbs, Bronzeville/Hyde Park/South Shore, Downtown and the South Loop, and Northwest Indiana. In addition to the regular bus stops, private door-to-door service can be arranged individually.

After & Before Care

ABC is an extended childcare program for MPA students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 8, operated by dedicated MPA faculty and staff, available before and after school every day when classes are in session.

Morning ABC
7:00-8:00 a.m. — Students may bring a snack and will enjoy quiet activities such as reading, studying, puzzles, and board games.

Afternoon ABC
3:00-6:00 p.m. — ABC after school includes homework time, arts and crafts, games, activities, recess, and two healthy snacks provided by MPA.

Typical Schedule
3:00-3:30 p.m. – check-in and attendance
3:30 p.m. – snack time, homework time
4:00 p.m. – homework time, indoor activities or outside play
5:00 p.m. – snack time
5:15 p.m. – recess

Lower School Viewbook (Grades PreK-5)

Middle & Upper School Viewbook (Grades 6-12)

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