Application Process

For the 2025-2026 application year, we are using Ravenna, a third-party web-based application service. Through Ravenna, you will be able to:

• Submit an Application
• Email recommendation forms (LMAIS Common Recommendation Forms) directly to your child's teacher/principal
• View a full list of admission documents required

To initiate the application process, you must create an account on Ravenna and register your child.

The application process will begin once we receive your child's completed application form along with the submission of the $75 application fee (if the fee is a barrier to completing your application, please contact admission@ccookschool.org for assistance). We begin accepting applications one year prior to the fall your child would enroll. The application deadline for the 2025-2026 school year is Monday, December 16, 2024. After this date, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and considered only as seats are available.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Once we receive your child's application, a member of our Admission team will contact you to schedule a student visit. Catherine Cook holds play dates for students applying to Preschool, Junior Kindergarten, and Senior Kindergarten. Students applying to Grades 1-8 will have a classroom shadow day. 

Once we receive your child's application, the Office of Admission will be able to schedule a parent meeting, in addition to your child's visit. We require that all parents or guardians attend the interview, which will last approximately 45 minutes.

1. Submit copies of transcripts/report cards from your child's current school. Copies of transcripts/report cards from the last year and the current year are required for applicants of Grades SK-8. We would also like to receive copies of any standardized test scores, for 5th-8th Grade applicants. These items can be submitted separately from the application form, however, we require that all transcripts and test scores be submitted no later than January 27, 2025.

2. Complete the required information in Ravenna to send the LMAIS Common Recommendation Form (CRF) to your child's current teacher(s) and principal. Ravenna refers to these people as "Delegates." You will need to enter their names and email addresses.

   For the Early Childhood students that do not currently attend school, this form can be completed by a non-relative adult that knows your child well such as a nanny, coach, or single class instructor. These forms are not required at the time you submit your application. We must receive this form no later than January 27, 2025, for all applicants. For applicants to each grade listed, we require the following forms:

   • Preschool - Senior Kindergarten: CRF Teacher Form
   • Grades 1-5: CRF Teacher Form, Head of School/Division Form
   • Grades 6-8: CRF Math Teacher Form, English Teacher Form, Head of School/Division Form
      
3. We are required to collect “Certified Copies of Birth Certificates” for every enrolled student, as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education, no later than January 27, 2025. These Certified Birth Certificate Copies can be mailed or delivered in person during a planned visit.

Catherine Cook School is committed to socioeconomic diversity in our community. Our financial support program is designed to make a Catherine Cook education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. Catherine Cook uses a trusted financial aid application, Clarity, to determine a family’s level of financial need. The deadline for completing the financial aid application is January 7, 2025. The deadline to submit all supporting documents is January 31, 2025.

To begin, create an account on Clarity and complete the application, which typically takes less than 30 minutes. Upon completing the application, please return to the Clarity dashboard to upload additional tax documentation including your family’s 2024 W2s. Please note, Clarity charges a $60 fee to submit your application. The $60 fee will automatically be waived for applications that indicate significant financial need. For more information about financial support, visit our Tuition and Financial Support page.

APPLY FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Admission decision notification dates for the 2025-2026 school year will be sent by email on the dates below. Admission decisions are made by committee, and are confidential and final.

• Sibling/current family and faculty applicants: Friday, December 20, 2024
• Preschool: Friday, February 7, 2025
• Junior Kindergarten through 8th Grade: Friday, February 28, 2025
• Rolling admission applicants and mid-year transfer students will be notified as soon as possible

The deadline for families to respond with their enrollment agreement is Monday, March 10, 2025.

The contract binding date is Friday, March 14, 2025.