Admissions Checklist

Please take the time to complete our online Inquiry Form. The form will allow you to provide our admissions team with your accurate contact information and help us learn a little bit more about you and your child as you begin the admissions process. The form will only take a few minutes to complete and should be submitted prior to scheduling a Parent Tour. Following your completing of the inquiry form, you will be asked to create login to our web site which will allow you to track your progress throughout the admissions process.

A tour is the best way to witness our dynamic community; camaraderie amongst faculty, students and parents; and the academic vitality that make Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day school a special place. Tours are typically conducted in small groups on weekday mornings, beginning in September and continuing through February. Please click here to see tour dates and reserve a spot. We also request that you either fill out our online inquiry form or have completed the application prior to touring.
 

Don't miss our new Family Open House on Sunday, October 27 which will offer interactive opportunities for prospective students and families to experience the best of Bernard Zell firsthand.

If you can't make our Open House, or are looking for another opportunity to learn more about Bernard Zell, don't miss our Neighborhood Receptions! You'll have a chance to meet our faculty, have some delicious treats and learn what makes Bernard Zell so special. Join us in the West Loop or in North Center! Click here to RSVP.

In addition to the application and student and parent visits, Bernard Zell required additional recommendations from your student's teachers. These forms offer the insight of an educator who has observed the applicant's intellectual, social and emotional development, and offers a unique perspective to the admissions committee.
 
After you have submitted your application, please share the appropriate forms below with your child’s current teacher(s) and/or principal. Once completed, these forms can be sent via email to admissions@bernardzell.org or by mail to ATTN: Admissions 3751 N. Broadway St. Chicago, IL 60613. Forms are due by January 10, 2020.

•    Nursery, Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten Recommendation Form
•    Grades 1-5 Teacher Recommendation Form
•    Grades 1-5 Principal Recommendation Form
•    Grades 6-8 English Recommendation Form
•    Grades 6-8 Math Recommendation Form
•    Grades 6-8 Principal Recommendation Form
 

• Birth certificates - please upload online via your admissions checklist or send a hard copy to ATTN: Admissions 3751 N. Broadway St. Chicago, IL 60613. We ask that you please not send any birth certificates via email.
• Math and reading comprehension scores from the most recent set of standard testing or assessments (1st-7th grade applicants only)
• End-of-year report cards (1st-7th grade applicants only)

 
There are two ways to submit these supplemental materials; either as part of the our online application, or emailed as attachments to admissions@bernardzell.org
 

If your family is new to Bernard Zell, please click here to apply.

For families who already have a child who attends the school please access the application here. Please note that you should use your existing parent login when asked to sign-in -- you do not need to create a separate account. You will login, go to resources and then select "Apply".

A $75 application fee is required in order to submit your application.

Applicants for Nursery, JK and SK will be observed at their current schools. These visits enable our staff to observe how each child interacts in a group setting, and can provide insights about a young child’s readiness for school and potential for success at Bernard Zell. Please note that if your child is not yet enrolled in an early childhood program, we will be in touch with you to schedule an alternative option. 

Applicants for grades one through seven are required to spend a full day at the school participating in regularly scheduled activities. Achievement testing also is required and may include (but is not limited to) a math assessment and a writing sample.
 

In addition to a student visit, parents or guardians are required to participate in a one-on-one meeting with our Director of Admissions. Parents are welcome to reach out to Sarah Chorne, Advancement Assistant, to schedule a meeting. Otherwise, a member of the admissions team will reach out to applicants in December to help schedule a time.

At any point during the admissions process, you are invited to contact a member of the admissions team at admissions@bernardzell.org. Additionally, we are also happy to connect applicant families with one of our Parent Ambassadors.