Apply to Boarding Program

All applicants must create a Ravenna account in order to navigate through the application season. This requirement includes applicants who apply to our boarding program through the SAO. To get started, visit Ravenna Hub and add Woodside Priory School to your Dashboard.

Applicants can apply to Priory's boarding program in two ways by either completing and submitting the boarding application through Ravenna or submitting the SAO. 

For applicants applying through the SAO, please remember that all applicants are required to set up a Ravenna account and add Woodside Priory School to their Ravenna Dashboards. Admissions decisions are only released through Ravenna.

At Priory, we require two types of testing. 

The first requirement is Proof of English Proficiency. Applicants from outside the United States must submit proof of English proficiency in order to complete their application process. Priory accepts the exam results from any of the following agencies: Duolingo English Test, IELTS (Academic), or TOEFL. 

The second requirement is STAR Testing, which is used to better assess each applicant's academic skills in a fair and standardized manner. For boarding applicants, these tests will be offered virtually. We do not accept ISEE or SSAT test results. 

Given the intimate size of our boarding program, boarding applicants will be given an opportunity to meet with a member of the residential faculty and/or admissions team and speak about why Priory's boarding program may be a good fit.

*Applicants from Mainland China should plan to submit a Vericant Interview, which will fulfill their interview requirement.

Standard boarding admissions decisions for Priory will be published in Ravenna on March 14, 2025. Initial offers of admission must be accepted (or declined) by families by March 28, 2025.  During this period, admitted students should contact the Admissions Office should they have any questions about the Priory.

Priory is excited to offer an early boarding decision timeline for those students wishing to receive an early decision. The application deadline for those wishing to receive an early decision is December 20, 2024. We will release enrollment decisions for early applications on February 5, 2025.

Students offered a place in the Wait Pool may be considered for admission throughout the spring and summer months. Information for applicants in the wait pool will be provided on March 14.

Priory sits in the very heart of the world's technology industry. Our campus is less than 30 minutes from the headquarters of companies like Apple, Facebook, Google, and Oracle. Many families of our day students work in the tech industry.

Stanford University is a short 10-minute drive away from the Priory and 40 miles (64 kilometers) away from the beautiful city of San Francisco. Our boarding program includes activities for students every weekend away from campus which allows our students to visit world-class museums, attend shows and sports events, try new restaurants, and experience the many regions of the Bay Area.

Our 50-acre (20-hectare) campus is located an equidistant short 30 minutes away from both San Francisco International Airport and Mineta San José International Airport, connecting the Bay Area to many parts of the world with non-stop flights.

At Woodside Priory, our residential faculty are unique as their primary responsibility is to our boarding students. For most faculty, this understanding means they begin their workday at 3:00 pm and end by midnight after ensuring all students are in their rooms. With a focus on wellness and health, we require all 9th and 10th-grade boarders to be in bed by 11:00 pm. Upper-level students are strongly encouraged to follow similar schedules.

Some residential faculty may also serve as coaches and teach a class or two during the school day. However, these additional responsibilities are allowed only after years of service to our boarding program and are only granted when the other duties do not interfere with their residential responsibilities.

Surrounded by many nature preserves, our campus is nestled among mountains where there are plentiful horse farms, trails, and nearby beaches. Not surprisingly, there are many opportunities to participate in outdoor activities all around including hiking, climbing, surfing, and riding.

Our boarding program organizes regular outings for its students, taking full advantage of the opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California region.

Yes. Local guardians serve as an essential link between the residential faculty and the student's family. Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek out family contacts in the San Francisco Bay Area early. 

International students sometimes have a network of relatives and close friends across the United States, and these individuals can be helpful. However, all guardians for Priory international boarding students must reside in the State of California, specifically within the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Solano, or Sonoma counties).

Students will be asked to disclose the name and contact information of their local guardian once they enroll at Priory.

For those without a local guardian identified, please reach out to the admissions office for a