Application Process

List of 6 items.

• Prekindergarten & Kindergarten

  Age Requirements:
  Prekindergarten: Four years old by September 1, 2026
  Kindergarten: Five years old by September 1, 2026
  
  Testing: All prekindergarten and kindergarten applicants are required to complete individual cognitive abilities testing. The John Cooper School contracts with Collaborative Academic Testing Service (C.A.T.S.) to administer the WPPSI-IV or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Please note that we require all local applicants to test with C.A.T.S. Testing from other evaluators, unless you are an out-of-town applicant, will not be considered when evaluating the student’s file. If you are an out-of-town applicant, you can complete the WPPSI-IV or WISC with an evaluator in your area, however, your child will need to be present at Cooper for an on-campus student observation. Therefore, we recommend coordinating with C.A.T.S. to have your child take their WPPSI-IV or WISC while they are in town for that student observation.

   

  An additional testing fee of $325 is due to C.A.T.S. at the time of registration. A candidate may not test more than once during the admission season (August-January) and may not test at more than one location.

   

  Parents often ask how they should best prepare their child for the WPPSI-IV or WISC test. Please approach the test in a relaxed manner and make sure your child is well-rested and well-fed prior to the test. Parents, please be advised that evaluators will report to the schools any indication that the child has been tutored or coached. Since this is an important and valuable metric, any test preparation may jeopardize the accuracy of the results and can lead to the disqualification of the school admission application for your child. Please visit the C.A.T.S. website for more information on how best to prepare your child for the test.
  
  Student Observation: Prekindergarten and kindergarten applicants are required to attend an on-campus student observation. Please register to participate through your Finalsite Enroll application checklist. Available dates for the Student Observation at Cooper are December 6, 2025, January 10, 2026, and January 31, 2026.
  
  Teacher Recommendation Forms: Teacher Recommendations are not required for prekindergarten and kindergarten applicants unless your child is enrolled in a preschool or educational setting. You are welcome to send their current, primary teacher the recommendation form through your Finalsite Enroll  application checklist; we recommend waiting until late November or early December to submit that form to the teacher. When you are prepared to do this, you will see an area on your Finalsite Enroll application checklist to input that teacher’s email address and send them a secure link with the recommendation form. Teacher Recommendation forms are confidential and will not be shared with parents. 

• Grade 1

  Age Requirements: 
  Grade 1: Six years by September 1, 2026
  
  Testing: Grade 1 applicants are required to complete individual cognitive abilities testing. The John Cooper School contracts with Collaborative Academic Testing Service (C.A.T.S.) to administer the WPPSI-IV or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Please note that we require all local applicants to test with C.A.T.S. Testing from other evaluators, unless you are an out-of-town applicant, will not be considered when evaluating the student’s file. If you are an out-of-town applicant, you can complete the WPPSI-IV or WISC with an evaluator in your area, however, your child will need to be present at Cooper for an on-campus student observation. Therefore, we recommend coordinating with C.A.T.S. to have your child take their WPPSI-IV or WISC while they are in town for that student observation.

   

  An additional testing fee of $325 is due to C.A.T.S. at the time of registration. A candidate may not test more than once during the admission season (August-January) and may not test at more than one location.

   

  Parents often ask how they should best prepare their child for the WPPSI-IV or WISC test. Please approach the test in a relaxed manner and make sure your child is well-rested and well-fed prior to the test. Parents, please be advised that evaluators will report to the schools any indication that the child has been tutored or coached. Since this is an important and valuable metric, any test preparation may jeopardize the accuracy of the results and can lead to the disqualification of the school admission application for your child. Please visit the C.A.T.S. website for more information on how best to prepare your child for the test.
  
  Student Observation: Grade 1 applicants are required to attend an on-campus student observation. Please register to participate through your Ravenna application checklist. Available dates for the Student Observation at Cooper are December 6, 2025, January 10, 2026, and January 31, 2026.
  
  Teacher Recommendation Forms: A Teacher Recommendation from your applicants’ current, primary teacher is required for grade 1 applicants. We recommend waiting until late November or early December to send the form, but when you are prepared to do this, you will see an area on your Ravenna application checklist to input that teacher’s email address and send them a secure link with the recommendation form. Teacher Recommendation forms are confidential and will not be shared with parents.

• Grades 2-4

  Testing: Grade 2-4 applicants are required to complete individual cognitive abilities testing. The John Cooper School contracts with Collaborative Academic Testing Service (C.A.T.S.) to administer the WPPSI-IV or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Please note that we require all local applicants to test with C.A.T.S. Testing from other evaluators, unless you are an out-of-town applicant, will not be considered when evaluating the student’s file. If you are an out-of-town applicant, you can complete the WPPSI-IV or WISC with an evaluator in your area, however, your child will need to be present at Cooper for an on-campus student observation. Therefore, we recommend coordinating with C.A.T.S. to have your child take their WPPSI-IV or WISC while they are in town for that student observation.

   

  An additional testing fee of $325 is due to C.A.T.S. at the time of registration. A candidate may not test more than once during the admission season (August to January) and may not test at more than one location.

   

  Parents often ask how they should best prepare their child for the WPPSI-IV or WISC test. Please approach the test in a relaxed manner and make sure your child is well-rested and well-fed prior to the test. Parents, please be advised that evaluators will report to the schools any indication that the child has been tutored or coached. Since this is an important and valuable metric, any test preparation may jeopardize the accuracy of the results and can lead to the disqualification of the school admission application for your child. Please visit the C.A.T.S. website for more information on how best to prepare your child for the test.
  
  Student Observation: Grade 2-4 applicants are required to attend an on-campus student observation. Please register to participate through your Finalsite Enroll application checklist. Available dates for the Student Observation at Cooper are December 6, 2025, January 10, 2026, and January 31, 2026. 
  
  Teacher Recommendation Forms: A Teacher Recommendation from your applicants’ current, primary teacher is required for grade 2-4 applicants. We recommend waiting until late November or early December to send the form, but when you are prepared to do this, you will see an area on your Finalsite Enroll application checklist to input that teacher’s email address and send them a secure link with the recommendation form. Teacher Recommendation forms are confidential and will not be shared with parents. 
  
  Report Cards/Transcripts: Report cards/transcripts from the entirety of the 2024-25 school year, as well as the first semester/trimester of the 2025-26 school year, are required for grade 2-4 applicants. Please scan and upload these reports through your Finalsite Enroll application checklist when they become available.

• Grade 5

  Testing: Grade 5 applicants are required to submit an Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) result. You can register to take the ISEE on Cooper’s campus, on another school’s campus, or remotely at www.iseetest.org. Available dates for the Grade 5 ISEE at Cooper are November 8, 2025, December 6, 2025, and January 10, 2026. If taken outside of Cooper, please ensure that we are selected as a recipient of your applicant child’s ISEE result by using our School Code: 447515.
  
  Student Observation: Grade 5 applicants are required to attend an on-campus student observation. Please register to participate through your Finalsite Enroll application checklist. Available dates for the Student Observation at Cooper are December 6, 2025, January 10, 2026, and January 31, 2026.
  
  Teacher Recommendation Forms: A Teacher Recommendation from your applicants’ current, primary teacher is required for grade 5 applicants. We recommend waiting until late November or early December to send the form, but when you are prepared to do this, you will see an area on your Finalsite Enroll application checklist to input that teacher’s email address and send them a secure link with the recommendation form. Teacher Recommendation forms are confidential and will not be shared with parents. 
  
  Report Cards/Transcripts: Report cards or transcripts from the entirety of the 2024-25 school year, as well as the first semester/trimester of the 2025-26 school year, are required for grade 5 applicants.

• Grades 6-8

  Testing: Grade 6-8 applicants are required to submit an Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) result. You can register to take the ISEE on Cooper’s campus, on another school’s campus, or remotely at www.iseetest.org. Available dates for the Grade 6-8 ISEE at Cooper are November 8, 2025, December 6, 2025, and January 10, 2026. If taken outside of Cooper, please ensure that we are selected as a recipient of your applicant child’s ISEE result by using our School Code: 447515.
  
  Applicant Questionnaire: Grade 6-8 applicants are required to complete an Applicant Questionnaire, which includes a series of queries on their interests, as well as a prompt for a typed essay. On your Finalsite Enroll application checklist, you will see an area to input your child's email address (or your email address) to send them a secure link with the Applicant Questionnaire. 
  
  Teacher Recommendation Forms: Teacher Recommendations from your applicant child's current English and math teachers are required for grade 6-8 applicants. We recommend waiting until late November or early December to send the form, but when you are prepared to do this, you will see an area on your Finalsite Enroll application checklist to input that teacher’s email address and send them a secure link with the recommendation form. Teacher Recommendation forms are confidential and will not be shared with parents. 
  
  Report Cards/Transcripts: Report cards/transcripts from the entirety of the 2024-25 school year, as well as the first semester/trimester of the 2025-26 school year, are required for grade 6-8 applicants.
  
  Student Interview: Grade 6-8 applicants are required to complete a student interview with a Cooper admission representative or a Cooper teaching faculty from the division to which the applicant is applying. Once your initial application is received and processed our office will reach out to your family through email to schedule the interview. The student interview will take approximately 30 minutes and will be followed by a 10-minute parent meeting.

• Grades 9-12

  Testing: Grade 9-12 applicants are required to submit an Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) result. You can register to take the ISEE on Cooper’s campus, on another school’s campus, or remotely at www.iseetest.org. Available dates for the Grade 9-12 ISEE at Cooper are November 8, 2025, December 6, 2025, and January 10, 2026. If taken outside of Cooper, please ensure that we are selected as a recipient of your applicant child’s ISEE result by using our School Code: 447515.
  
  Applicant Questionnaire: Grade 9-12 applicants are required to complete an Applicant Questionnaire, which includes a series of queries on their interests, as well as a prompt for a typed essay. On your Finalsite Enroll application checklist, you will see an area to input your child's email address (or your email address) to send them a secure link with the Applicant Questionnaire. 
  
  Teacher Recommendation Forms: Teacher Recommendations from your applicant child's current English and math teachers are required for grade 9-12 applicants. We recommend waiting until late November or early December to send the form, but when you are prepared to do this, you will see an area on your Finalsite Enroll application checklist to input that teacher’s email address and send them a secure link with the recommendation form. Teacher Recommendation forms are confidential and will not be shared with parents. 
  
  Report Cards/Transcripts: Report cards/transcripts from the entirety of the 2024-25 school year, as well as the first semester/trimester of the 2025-26 school year, are required for grade 9-12 applicants.
  
  Student Interview: Grade 9-12 applicants are required to complete a student interview with a Cooper Admission team member or a Cooper teaching faculty from the division to which the applicant is applying. Once your initial application is received and processed, our office will reach out to your family through email to schedule the interview. The student interview will take approximately 30-minutes and will be followed by a 10-minute parent meeting.