Applying for Admission to Bement

Step 1: Inquire
We are thrilled you are interested in The Bement School. To learn more about our program and to receive information on open house events, information sessions, and financial aid, please complete an inquiry. This will provide access to the Admissions Portal where you will track your application progress. Below you will find information about the required steps necessary to apply to Bement.

Step 2: Start your Application
Our online application is provided by the Standard Application Online (SAO) and you can create an account here to begin an application.  

The Student Biographic Profile is the first part of the SAO application. Your Student Biographic Profile should be submitted prior to scheduling the interview/screening and well in advance of the application deadline with the appropriate application fee:

For students living in the United States, the fee is $50.

For students living outside the United States, the fee is $100.

Step 3: Interview/Screening
We invite you to visit for a campus tour and interview/screening with an admission officer. Applicants who have completed the Student Biographic Profile (Step 2)  are invited to schedule an interview/screening. The interview/screening is an opportunity to learn more about Bement, and for us to learn more about your student, through a one-on-one conversation with an Admission Officer. Interviews/screenings are a required component of the application. We schedule visits Monday through Friday when school is in session. If distance or other circumstances make it a hardship for a family to visit campus, a Zoom interview (with video) can be substituted for the campus interview. However, we highly recommend interviews be completed in person. Screenings for applicants to kindergarten through grade 2 are offered in-person only. 

Step 4: Take the Standardized Test
*Testing is only required for students applying to grades 6-9.
Testing is only one part of the application and gives the Admission Committee additional information to understand the student. Applicants should take the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT).  The Bement School's school code is 1570. We suggest scheduling a standardized test for November or December. If you take the January exams, your application may still be considered during the regular admission cycle, but only after we receive your test scores. It’s best to fulfill this requirement as early as possible, as registration deadlines are well before the test dates. 

We will also accept the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) or the WISC-IV.
Students, for whom English is not their first language, must also take and submit results of the TOEFL Junior. For students who have been studying in an international school for several years or attending a school where English is the primary language used in instruction may have this requirement waived.  Please contact the Admission Office if you have questions about this requirement.

Step 5: Complete Your Application
Return to your SAO profile (created in step 2), and complete all sections, as listed below. All application materials should be submitted directly through the SAO site. You should track your application progress through Bement’s Admissions Portal. For consideration in the first round of decisions, international students should complete their applications by December 15. Domestic boarding student applications are due January 15. Day student applications are due February 1. Applications after these dates are considered on a rolling basis, as space allows. Please refer to Bement’s Admissions Portal to track the progress and status of your application. 

Section 1 - Parent Statement and Student Essays: All applicants must submit either the Parent Questionnaire (grades K-4) or the Parent Statement (grades 5-9). Students applying to grades 6-9 will also be required to submit original Student Essays which consist of three short writing prompts and one longer essay. Artificial Intelligence (AI) should not be used to generate student work.

Section 2 - Recommendations: We suggest sending recommendation links to your teacher(s) via SAO in the fall. These forms should be submitted online through the SAO application.

Kindergarten - Grade 5: Bement requires a recommendation from the applicant's current school year classroom teacher.

Grades 6 - 9: Bement requires two recommendations; the current English teacher, the current mathematics teacher. The current Principal/Guidance Counselor is optional.

Section 3 - Reports and transcripts: Bement requires official transcripts to be submitted directly by your current and previous schools. Transcripts must include both the current school year and the most recent grades, as well as grades from the prior academic year, e.g. applicants to grade 6 should submit transcripts from grade 5 (current) and grades 3 and 4 (prior years). We suggest sending transcript request links to your school via SAO in the fall.

Section 4 - Additional Materials: Some candidates wish to share additional information with us regarding areas of special interest or talent. Applicants can provide or update their extra-curricular information within their Bement Admissions Portal Account. 

If you are applying for financial aid, there is a separate application process. You must complete the online financial aid application through Clarity by February 1. Please see the tuition and financial aid tab in the Admissions section of our website for more information.

The Admission Committee looks for students who will benefit from and who will contribute to the life of the school. The Bement School admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, ancestry, religious affiliation, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to accepted students. The school does not discriminate in the administration of any institutional programs. We are happy to help you with the application process. Call the admission office at 413-774-4209 or email admit@bement.org with any questions.

If complete and accurate information has not been provided, The Bement School may decline to consider an application, be unable to provide services or accommodations, or withdraw its offer of admission or enrollment.