How to Apply for the 2024–25 Wait Pool
Our Application Process
Although the application deadline for the 2024-25 year has passed, we invite you to apply for a place in our wait pool. The Kent Denver wait pool is not a ranked list, meaning all applications are considered should space become available.
Start Here: Family Application >>
Your First Step: Complete the Family Application
When you are ready to start your application to Kent Denver, your first step is to submit the Family Application Form, via our Online Application Portal. There is no application fee.
The Family Application Form collects basic information about your student, and you may also schedule your family interview and student visit day on this form if you know when you would like to come to campus. Once you submit, please allow 24 hours for processing, then log back in to see your student's Application Checklist.
You do not need to submit an application to attend any of our admission or community events ! See the Visit Us page for many opportunities to visit campus and get to know Kent Denver.
Next: Interview and Student Visit Day
Interview and Student Visit Day >>
The family interview is a required element of your application.
Because the application deadline has passed for the 2024-25 school year, the process for scheduling, and the timing of family interviews may vary.
How to schedule your family interview:
You may schedule your interview on your Family Application Form, or via the Online Application Portal once you have submitted your form and logged back in to the portal. You are also welcome to call the Admission Office at (303) 770-7660, ext. 433.
Family interview appointments are available daily. During your appointment, you and your student will tour campus, and meet individually with an admission officer; student, and parents and guardians separately.
Rising 6th, 7th and 8th Graders: During your family interview appointment, we will introduce you to a current student, and together you will attend classes and community time (assembly, recess, etc.), go to lunch, and meet the people who make Kent Denver so special—our teachers, advisors, and most importantly, our students.
Rising 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Graders: Students considering Kent Denver's upper school are invited to campus on a day other than their Family Interview to experience our school in action. While the Visit Day is optional, we encourage you to return to campus to be a Sun Devil for a day! We’ll introduce you to your host and together you’ll immerse yourself in a fun morning in the life of Kent Denver: lively classes, engaging teachers, and friendly classmates.
Next: Application Checklist
Application Checklist >>
Kent Denver application process includes multiple elements to help us get to know your student, while allowing your family to learn about our school and community.
Once you have submitted your Family Application Form, return to the Online Application Portal to access the required elements of our application. Learn more about each element below.
The deadline to fully complete your application is January 31, 2024 (Deadline for siblings of current students is January 15, 2024) and Admission decisions are shared on February 23, 2024.
- Family Application
- Campus Tour & Family Interviews
- Student Essays
- Parent/Guardian Essay
- Letters of Recommendation
- Student Transcript
- Standardized Tests
- Optional Elements
Family Application
The Family Application Form is available via the Online Application Portal. This application form gathers biographical information about your family, and you may schedule your required family interview via this form.
Campus Tour & Family Interviews
Your family interview starts with a campus tour and appointments are available daily. You and your student will tour campus, and meet individually with an Admission team member; first your student, followed by parents and guardians.
How to schedule your family interview:
You may schedule via the Online Application Portal once you have submitted your family application form. You are also welcome to call the Admission Office at (303) 770-7660, ext. 433.
Rising 6th, 7th and 8th Graders: During your family interview appointment, we will introduce you to a current student, and together you will attend classes and community time (assembly, recess, etc.), go to lunch, and meet the people who make Kent Denver so special—our teachers, advisors, and students.
Rising 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Graders: Students considering Kent Denver's upper school are invited to campus on a day other than their Family Interview to experience our school in action. While the Visit Day is optional, we encourage you to return to campus to be a Sun Devil for a day! We’ll introduce you to your host and together you’ll immerse yourself in a fun morning in the life of Kent Denver: lively classes, engaging teachers, and friendly classmates.
Student Essays
The student essay portion of the application process will become available on the Online Application Portal once the family application form has been submitted and processed.
Student essays help the Admission committee learn more about the applicant and their passions, strengths and challenges. Applicants should complete this section without input from anyone else.
Parent/Guardian Essay
The parent/guardian essay portion of the application process will become available on the Online Application Portal once the family application form has been submitted and processed.
This essay portion allows parents and guardians to share with the Admission committee their unique perspective on their child.
Letters of Recommendation
Four recommendation forms are required for each applicant, and are available after November 15 on the Online Application Portal once the family application form has been submitted and processed. Recommendation forms are available and must be completed by January 31.
Kent Denver requires the following common* recommendations:
- School principal or counselor
- Current English or social studies/history teacher
- Current math teacher
- One additional current academic teacher of the student's choosing
- What Is the "Additional Teacher Recommendation Form"?
- May teachers from previous years complete the required recommendation forms?
What Is the "Additional Teacher Recommendation Form"?
The required Additional Teacher Recommendation Form should be completed by a current teacher in a subject other than English or math who has worked with your child at their school in a subject such as science, history/social studies, world languages, art, music, technology, etc.
Can I use a coach or tutor for an additional recommendation?
If you would like to include a recommendation from an adult from a non-school setting who has coached, tutored, or mentored your child, they may submit a personal letter to include with your student's application. Personal letters should be sent directly from the recommender to kdsadmission@kentdenver.org or Kent Denver Admission Office, 4000 E. Quincy Ave., Englewood, CO 80113
May teachers from previous years complete the required recommendation forms?
Student Transcript
The transcript request form will become available after December 1 on the Online Application Portal.
Via the transcript request form, your student's school will be asked to provide:
- Current grade report
- Final transcript from the previous school year
- Standardized testing results from the previous school years (if available)
- Attendance Records from both the previous school year and current school year
- Discipline Records from both the previous school year and current school year
- Individual educational program results (if applicable)
Standardized Tests
All admission candidates are required to take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) or the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT). Each test lasts approximately three hours and is administered on Saturday or Sunday mornings in the fall and winter. Information and test registration forms are available at https://www.erblearn.org/parents/isee-registration and www.ssat.org. Most students choose to take the ISEE unless they are considering boarding schools.
Why does Kent Denver require standardized assessments? Standardized assessments provide one aspect of an applicant’s academic strengths. Results are by no means the most important element of our admission process, which is designed to get to know each student individually.
How should my student prepare? There are a host of resources to increase familiarity, confidence and performance on the ISEE or SSAT, and we suggest applicants spend one to three hours with the practice materials. For the ISEE, you can access free sample tests and What to Expect Guides. For the SSAT, access a free mini-practice test.
More information on this requirement: When registering for the ISEE or SSAT, please have your results sent directly to Kent Denver School. We normally receive them 48 hours after the testing date, and will ‘check off’ this requirement on the application portal.
Kent Denver will offer the ISEE on the following mornings: Saturday, Nov 11, Saturday, Dec 2, Saturday, Jan 20, and Sunday, Jan 28. We do not require applicants to take the test at Kent Denver School; you will find additional test dates at https://www.erblearn.org/parents/isee-registration.
Students with Accommodations: Both testing organizations support students with documented learning differences. We recommend requesting accommodations from your preferred test option at least six weeks before your preferred testing date.
Financial Assistance with Testing Fees: Completing your application to Kent Denver should not create a financial hardship for your family. Please contact us at kdsadmission@kentdenver.org or (303)770-7660 ext. 433 for a fee waiver for either test.
Optional Elements
Student Photo: A photograph of your student is optional but appreciated.
Additional Information: Upload videos, photographs, drawings, writing pieces, etc. to help us get to know your student and their interests!
Additional Transcript Release Request: If your student changed schools between the 2022/23 and 2023/24 school years, you may send the Additional Transcript Release Request to the school attended during their previous school year.
Optional elements can be uploaded to the Application Checklist under 'Optional Steps.'
Why Kent Denver?
"If you are looking for a well-rounded education with rigor, provided by the best teachers and the most supportive staff in Colorado, Kent Denver is the place. They truly do foster love of learning and create an environment that encourages curiosity and critical thinking. Moreover, your kids will be ready for college, not only academically but also socially and emotionally. It was hard to find one school that was perfect for my two very different kids but this place was near perfect for both of them."
- Kent Denver Parent