West End School Admissions

More than an opportunity.
A way to change your student’s life

Sending your student to the West End School is a big commitment that will yield bigger results. This safe, secure learning environment focuses on one-on-one instruction that will change how students learn and grow.

Admissions for all scholars are now closed for the current 2025–2026 school year.

Admissions Timeline for 2026-2027 School Year

August 1, 2025

Admissions process opens for boys entering pre-k to 7th and girls entering pre-k to 3rd

January 31, 2026

Applications window closes

February 7, 2026

Assessment date for ALL 1st through 3rd Girls and all Boys from 1st to 7th Grade.

March 7, 2026

Assessment date for:
All Pre-K, K Students both Boys and Girls

July 1, 2026

Open for Applications for 2027-2028 School Year

August 6th, 2026

First Day of School

ELEMENTARY PROGRAM (GRADES Pre-K-5th)

At West End School (WES), we strive for academic excellency that prepares our racially, culturally, and socio-economically diverse students with the skills and confidence to chase the paths they choose – college, career, and beyond. Historically, WES has served boys in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. In August 2025, West End School expanded our program to girls in grades Pre-K, Kindergarten 1st and 2nd. WES will add a new class of girls each year until we have girls in grades Pre-K to 8th grade. We offer an academically rigorous program in a safe, structured environment where students become life-long learners and are challenged to excel. Classes are small—fifteen students or fewer—allowing for more individualized learning.

MIDDLE SCHOOL BOARDING PROGRAM ( BOYS GRADES 6th-8th)

In grades six through eight, the academic experience for WES students is enriched by our mandatory boarding school program. By boarding, our young men learn leadership, independence, responsibility, and decision-making skills that will serve them well in life. We have an outstanding team of caring, attentive dorm faculty who live on campus to support the academic and character development of our young men.

Please Note: WES is a college preparatory school. Therefore, we do not have the resources to educate students with significant learning, emotional and/or behavioral challenges such as those who have an IEP/504 plan. WES is not a residential treatment facility.

CRITERIA

All Pre-K applicants must be four years old by August 1st, 2026.

  • West End School accepts male students entering grades Pre-K through 7th and female students entering grades Pre-K through 3rd
  • Applicants must demonstrate potential to meet high academic expectations.
  • Applicants must demonstrate capacity to contribute positively to our school community.

Process

Due to the opening of our Girls School in 2025, the application process has been amended and is now specific to each student’s age and gender. 

Ready to take the first step for your student to join WES? Applications for all students opened August 1, 2025. There are multiple steps that must be completed before the Admissions Team determines if your child is eligible for a scholarship. After the student application has been submitted, we will help guide each family through the remaining process. WES will contact you with any additional information needed. This may include transcripts, teacher recommendations, student response (5th-7th grade applicants), proof of income, proof of residency, and birth certificate.

Please note the process differs slightly by age.

All Pre-K and Kindergarten: All Pre-K and Kindergarten applicants will be asked to register for an assessment. These assessments will be held on Saturday March 7, 2026, and will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. During this time, Families will have the opportunity to learn more about the school and specific class routines. All scholarship decisions will be communicated by March 30th, 2026.

All students in 1st through 7th grades: We are changing our application process for elementary and middle school students to include assessment testing first for all applicants. Accordingly, all applicants for grades 1st through 7th will be asked to register for an assessment held on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Families will have the opportunity to learn more about the school and specific class routines during the assessment. Initial scholarship decisions based on the assessment testing will be communicated by February 27, 2026, and these scholarship finalists will then be scheduled for shadow days with their respective classes in March 2026. Pending the shadow day results, final scholarship results will be communicated by March 30, 2026.

As the  application process has multiple steps, you may have more questions.  Please see the Q&A section as it has a great deal of information that may answer some of your questions.  Just a reminder that we are NOT accepting applications for girls for 4th through 8th grade. 

 

Start Application

If you have questions about the admissions process or paperwork,
please email Adrianne Dubins at admissions@westendschool.org or call 502-776-5236 and ask for Adrianne.

What is the application deadline?
  • Applications for the 2026-2027 School Year should be submitted by January 31st, 2026.

West End School selects students with varying academic abilities. Some are gifted students to those who have not yet reached their academic potential. If a child has identified disabilities under a current IEP/504 plan, he/she is not eligible for admission, based on the school’s available resources. West End School is not staffed to support these needs.

Yes, boarding is mandatory for boys in grades 6th through 8th grade on Monday through Thursday night. Sunday night is an optional return at 7:00 PM. Each Friday at 3:30, Middle School students are picked up by their families to spend a weekend at home.

West End will certainly prepare students for college but we also recognize the value of trade schools and active employment within the community. Our school focus is for students to be both/either “College or Career Ready.” Our main goal is for each scholar to lead a purposeful life that leverages their unique talents and capabilities.

The admissions committee selects students who they feel will benefit most from the style of educational program we offer. We strive to have learners form various academic levels and backgrounds.

In order to maintain an optimal learning environment, we limit our class size to about 15 students per boys and girls in each respective classroom.

A waiting list will be in place for the 2026–2027 school year, based on the order in which applications are received during the current cycle.

The application period for the 2027–2028 school year will open on July 1, 2026. If your child is not admitted for the 2025–2026 school year, we warmly encourage you to submit a new application after that date. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome your family to our school community.

Each student is assessed and evaluated by using an admissions rubric. Siblings and other children defined by tax law as a dependent, are given 5 additional points on the grading rubric. While this doesn’t guarantee admission, it provides a significantly increased opportunity for admission.

8:00 AM: Doors open 

8:15 AM: Start of the school day begins with attendance at Morning Meeting

3:15 PM: Dismissal for Pre-K Students

3:30 PM: Dismissal for grades K through 5th Grade (Middle School students remain on site.)

Yes, we do not have a bus system for our school. All scholars must have transportation to and from school for grades Pre-K through 5th grade. Our Middle School students remain on site.

Please see detail below  for your students respective grade in the 2025-2026 school year.
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten

All Pre-K and Kindergarten applicants who have successfully submitted their required documents will be asked to register for an assessment held on Saturday, March 7, 2026. This assessment will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. During this time, families will have the opportunity to learn more about the school and specific class routines.

  • All scholarship decisions will be communicated by March 30, 2026.

Grades 1 through 7

Our application process for elementary and middle school students begins with assessment testing for all applicants who have successfully submitted their required documents. These applicants for Grades 1 through 7 will be asked to register for an assessment held on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

  1. Initial scholarship decisions based on the assessment testing will be communicated by February 27, 2026.

  2. Scholarship finalists will then be scheduled for shadow days in March 2026.

  3. Pending the shadow day results, final scholarship results will be communicated by March 30, 2026.

We would love to show you around! Tour spaces are limited. To reserve your spot, please email admissions@westendschool.org with your preferred date.

 All tours begin promptly at 8:10 AM on the following dates:

  • November: 14, 21

  • December: 5, 12

  • January: 9, 16, 23

  • Grades 1-7 Applicants: Saturday, February 7, 2026

  • PreK and Kindergarten Applicants: Saturday, March 7, 2026

To receive an invitation for assessment testing, every applicant (PreK-7) must have the following documents on file with the Admissions office. We encourage you to provide these as soon as possible:

  • Official Birth Certificate

  • Up-to-Date Immunization Certificate

Applicants for Grades 1-7 must also provide school records. The Admissions office will send you a Request for Information form to authorize us to obtain those records.

Invitations to register for the assessment testing will be sent by email by the end of January 2026, provided the required documents (birth certificate and immunization certificate) are on file.