Application Process

Ready to find your place at Tandem Friends School? TFS is where students in grades 5-12:

Become active partners in their education
Develop critical creative and intellectual skills
Explore their unique potential in the creative arts, athletics, and student leadership
Enjoy an intentional balance between learning and living
Improve our community through service learning and social justice initiatives

Our Admissions Team is happy to introduce you to the benefits of a Friends education and to welcome you for a visit to our lovely and lively campus. If you have questions about the application process, contact Admissions at Admissions@tandemfs.org.

Tandem Friends School Application Process

CREATE A CANDIDATE ACCOUNT. Click "Inquire Now" on our website to set up your account in our enrollment system and gain access to the candidate portal where you can track your progress.
VISIT US. Join an Admissions Information Session for a campus tour, Q&A, and panel with current students, parents, and faculty members. Prospective students are welcome but not required! RSVP Here. Can't make a scheduled session? Email us to set up a tour.
APPLY. Complete and submit your application and $50 application fee directly through the candidate portal.
REQUEST SCHOOL RECORDS. We require academic records from the past 3 years. Submit a Records Release Form to your child’s schools. Schools will send official records directly to us.

For candidates from Charlottesville City schools, please email your form to admissions@tandemfs.org, and we will request records directly through CCS’s system.

For homeschooled candidates, please see our Required Statements and Records for Homeschool Candidates guide.

We may request current year grades as they are available.
REQUEST RECOMMENDATIONS. Send recommendation requests through the candidate portal. Requirements vary by grade.
- Grades 5–6: Current lead teacher + 1 other teacher, coach, tutor, or extracurricular activity leader.
- Grades 7–8: Current English/History teacher + current Math teacher.
- Grades 9–12: Current English/History teacher + current Math teacher + 1 other teacher, coach, tutor, or extracurricular activity leader.
- Note: We may request an administrator reference for private school applicants.
SCHEDULE A VISIT. Once we have received your completed application and materials, we’ll contact you to schedule a student visit day hosted by current TFS students (includes free snack and lunch from our Cafe!). During the visit, students take short math, reading, and writing assessments—these are not tests; they just provide helpful insights.
SCHEDULE A PARENT INTERVIEW. Parents meet for a 45 minute to 1-hour conversation with the appropriate division director. Middle School interviews are typically scheduled for the same day as the Student Visit. Upper School interviews are scheduled for a date after the Student Visit.

The Admissions Team reviews applications when all steps are completed. Additional materials may be requested.

The Admissions and Financial Aid processes are separate, each requiring their own application and documentation. It is important to apply for Financial Aid concurrently with the Admissions process. To learn more about Financial Aid, please click here.

We look forward to helping your child grow in Tandem.

The priority deadline for admission to the 2027-2028 school year is December 15.

The regular deadline for admission to the 2027-2028 school year is January 15.

After January 15, applications are still accepted in grades where there are spaces.