Admissions Process
Burke's takes pride in its diverse and inclusive community and seeks to enroll students of many cultural, religious, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our student body comes from more than 40 zip codes and our entering kindergarten class from more than 25 preschools.
The admissions process for students begins in the fall prior to the planned year of attendance. We admit students to kindergarten through eighth grade, with kindergarten as the main entry point and other grade levels being filled as space becomes available. Please note that all applicants to kindergarten must be age five by September 1 of their kindergarten year. We work hard during the admissions process to learn a great deal about the applicant and her family and for you to get to know us. We view a student's application as a whole - while individual assessments and grades are important, school recommendations from those who know the girls best are thoroughly reviewed in the decision-making process.
Begin your exploration of Burke's by requesting a copy of our viewbook, which highlights our mission of preparing able, motivated girls for academic challenge, life in community and lifelong love of learning.
Campus Tours
We look forward to sharing our school with you during a campus tour in October through December. At least one parent/guardian must attend a tour to submit an application for admission. Please click here for tour dates.
Application Forms
All required forms for the K-8 admissions process are available online. Please download them directly by visiting our Application Materials webpage.
Application Deadline
Applications for the 2012-2013 school year must be received by December 15, 2011 for kindergarten, and for grades 1-8 by January 10, 2012, along with a non-refundable $100 application fee. Please contact Renée Thompson for a fee waiver if your family is facing financial constraints.
Parent and Guardian Interviews
All parents/guardians must complete an interview with the Director of Admissions. These 30-minute visits take place from November 2011, and must be completed by February 2012. The interview provides a time for mutual exchange of information to help us learn more about your daughter and to offer families a time to ask specific questions about a Burke's education. Please call the Admissions Office (415) 751-0177 ext. 221 to make an appointment.
Decision Notification
Burke's and all K-8 independent schools in San Francisco will mail admission decisions letters on March 15, 2012. Parents/guardians are expected to respond by 10:00 a.m. on March 22, 2012.
Step - By - Step Admissions Process: Kindergarten
Students applying to kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year must be age 5 by September 1, 2012.
1. Schedule and attend a school tour.
2. Submit an application and non-refundable $100 fee by December 15, 2011.
Please contact Renée Thompson if you need a fee waiver due to financial constraints.
3. Schedule your parent/guardian interview before January 31, 2012.
4. Each kindergarten applicant must complete two evaluation sessions for Burke's. The first
is a kindergarten group visit to Burke's in January 2012. The second is a kindergarten screening hosted at Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco in January 2012.
To schedule your child's kindergarten group visit, please submit the Kindergarten screening and
visit form with the application by December 15, 2011. To schedule your child's individual screening, please click here.
5. Please ask current teachers to complete and mail the school evaluation form by December 31, 2011.
These recommendations are confidential and must be mailed directly from the teacher to the
Admissions Office.
6. Families interested in applying for financial assistance should submit an application by
January 17, 2012. Families can apply online.
7. On March 15, 2012, Burke's and all K-8 independent schools in San Francisco mail admission
decision letters to families.
Step - By - Step Admissions Process: Grades One through Four
1. Schedule and attend a school tour.
2. Submit an application and non-refundable $100 fee by January 10, 2012.
Please contact Renée Thompson if you need a fee waiver due to financial constraints.
3. Schedule your parent/guardian interview before February 15, 2012.
4. Please ask a current teacher to complete and mail the school evaluation form. Students applying to
fourth grade must have two evaluation forms completed. These recommendations are
confidential and must be mailed directly from the teachers to the Admissions Office by
February 1, 2011.
5. Applicants to grades two through four must have official transcripts and the transcript request
form returned to Burke's by February 1, 2012. All transcripts must be official and include grades
and comments from the current and previous two school years.
Parent copies of report cards/transcripts will not be accepted.
6. In February 2012, applicants are required to complete a full day student visit at Burke's.
The Admissions Office will schedule the visit once an application has been received.
7. Families interested in applying for financial assistance should submit an application by
January 17, 2012. Families can apply online.
8. On March 15, 2012, Burke's and all K-8 independent schools in San Francisco, mail admission
decision letters to families.
Step - By - Step Admissions Process: Grades Five through Eight
1. Schedule and attend a school tour.
2. Submit an application and non-refundable $100 fee by January 10, 2012.
Please contact Renée Thompson if you need a fee waiver due to financial constraints.
3. Schedule your parent and guardian interview before February 15, 2012.
4. Please ask two current teachers to complete and mail the school evaluation form. Students applying to
grades seven and eight must have one evaluation from an English teacher, and the other from a
science or mathematics teacher. These recommendations are confidential and must be mailed
directly from the teachers to the Admissions Office by February 1, 2012.
5. Official transcripts and the transcript request form must be returned to Burke's by
February 1, 2012. All transcripts must be official and include grades and comments from the
current and previous two school years.
Parent copies of report cards/transcripts will not be accepted.
6. In February 2012, applicants are required to complete a full day student visit at Burke's.
The Admissions Office will schedule the visit once an application has been received.
7. Applicants for grades five through eight must take the Independent School Entrance Examination
(ISEE) by February 11, 2012.
Please have results sent directly to Katherine Delmar Burke School (our school code is 054064.)
To register for the ISEE, please visit their website at http://www.iseetest.org/,
or call 1-800-446-0320.
Families facing financial constraints may be eligible for a fee waiver and should contact Renée
Thompson at (415)751-0177 ext. 206.
Please note, Burke's is a test site (for Burke's applicants only) and will offer the ISEE on February 4, 2012. Our school code is 054064.
8. Families interested in applying for financial assistance should submit an application by
January 17, 2012. Families can apply online.
9. On March 15, 2012, all San Francisco K-8 independent schools, including Burke's, mail their decision
letters on this date.
Admission's Key Dates
- October - December 2011: Campus Tours
- October 15, 2011: Admissions Preview
- December 15, 2011: Kindergarten applications due
- December 31, 2011: Kindergarten school evaluations due
- January 2012: Kindergarten screenings and visits
- January 10, 2012: Grades 1-8 applications due
- January 31, 2012: Kindergarten parent/guardian interview deadline
- February 1, 2012: Transcripts and evaluations due (grades 1-8 applicants)
- February 11, 2012: ISEE deadline (grade 5-8 applicants)
- February 15, 2012: Grades 1-8 parent/guardian interview deadline
- March 15, 2012: Admission and financial assistance decisions mailed
- March 22, 2012: Admission and financial assistance decisions due by 10:00 a.m.
Further Information
Should you have questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The Katherine Delmar Burke School admits students of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin to all the rights and privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, scholarship, athletics or any other programs.
