Admissions

How to Apply

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Welcome!

We’re delighted that you’re interested in Lacordaire Academy!


The application for the 2026-2027 school year is now open.

If you have questions, please call 973-744-1156, ext. 12 or email us at admissions@lacordaire.net. We will be with you every step of the way.

Understanding the Admission Process

At Lacordaire, the admission process is as much about you getting to know us as it is about us getting to know you. As a smaller school, it’s important for both your family and our community to ensure that Lacordaire is the right fit for your child’s personality, needs, and growth.

Our admission process includes:
  • Application: A completed online application and payment of $75 application fee
  • Academic Records: Submission of transcripts and standardized test scores
  • Parent Interview: A conversation with a member of our Admissions team (offered in-person or virtually)
  • Student Assessment: For younger learners, this assessment is a 90-minute classroom immersion
  • Teacher Recommendations: Request for your child’s teacher to submit detailed recommendations using Lacordaire’s online teacher recommendation form. You may send the teacher recommendation form (online) to your child's teacher through your Blackbaud admissions application portal. 

Quicklinks

Application Steps By Division:

List of 3 items.

  • Upper School Application Steps

    Upper School Admissions (Grades 9–12)
    Deadline: Tuesday, December 9, 2025

    Application Requirements:
    • Completed Online Application: [APPLY HERE]
    • $75 non-refundable application fee (paid online)
    • Standardized Test Submission: Terra Nova, NJ ASK, PARCC, SSAT, ISEE, or HSPT-COOP (preferred: COOP/HSPT, SSAT, ISEE)
    • Three years of academic transcripts
    • Two teacher recommendations using our teacher recommendation form. This form is conveniently located in your Blackbaud admissions application. Responses will automatically be sent to the Lacordaire admissions committee.
    • Meeting /Interview with the Director of Admissions: by appointment or at official Admissions Events
    Financial Aid & Scholarships:
    • Financial Aid Deadline: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
    • The financial aid application can be accessed HERE.
    • Applicants must also apply for The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children (available Feb 1, 2026, at SFICNJ website)
    • Academic Scholarship eligibility notifications sent after receiving a complete application.
    Contact Admissions for assessment or interview:

  • Middle School Application Steps

    Application Requirements for grades 6-8:
    • Completed Online Application: [APPLY HERE]
    • $75 non-refundable application fee
    • Standardized Test Submission: Terra Nova, NJ ASK, PARCC, SSAT, ISEE
    • Three years of academic transcripts
    • Two teacher recommendations using our teacher recommendation form. This form is conveniently located in your Blackbaud admissions application. Responses will automatically be sent to the Lacordaire admissions committee.
    • Academic Assessment & Placement Test: evaluates reading, writing, math
    • Parent/Guardian Interview: virtual or in-person. Private/small group tours fulfill this requirement
    Contact Admissions for assessment or interview:

  • Lower School Application Steps

    Application Requirements for grades Pre-K to 4:
    • Completed Online Application: [APPLY HERE]
    • $75 non-refundable application fee
    • Academic Transcripts:
      • Grades 2–4: two years
      • PK–1: one year (any report card with teacher feedback)
    • Standardized Tests: most recent for Grades 2–4
    • Teacher Recommendations:
      • Grades 2–4: two recommendations required
      • PK–1: one recommendation required
      • The teacher recommendation form is conveniently located in your Blackbaud admissions application. 
    • Copy of Birth Certificate
    • Academic Assessment: required for all PK–4 applicants
    • Parent/Guardian Interview: virtual or in-person. Private/small group tours fulfill this requirement
    Contact Admissions for assessment or interview:
    Call: 973-744-1156 x12

Admissions FAQs

List of 8 frequently asked questions.

  • I have multiple children who are applying to Lacordaire. Should separate applications be completed for each child?

    Yes. Each child’s application will be looked at individually and, depending on the grade applied to, will consist of different materials and steps for committee review. An application fee of $75 is also required for each individual applicant.

  • What are the test scores or grade averages that you look for?

    While we maintain high academic standards, we do not make admissions decisions based solely on test scores and grade averages. We want to select students who will make positive contributions to our community. Therefore, we look at all parts of the application in order to understand each applicant as a student and a person.

  • May I see the results from my child’s assessment?

    The Academy does not release the specific results of your child’s assessment. Our admissions process takes a holistic approach, considering not just academic readiness but also emotional intelligence, social development, and, in some cases, whether a child would be a good fit within the existing dynamics of the class. Families whose children are not offered admission may contact the admissions office for additional feedback and guidance.

  • Is there a wait list?

    Yes. Because we have limited spots available, some qualified applicants will be placed on our wait list. If a student is placed on the wait list and is not accepted by the start of school in September, they may reapply for admission the following school year.

  • Why was my child waitlisted?

    Admission to Lacordaire is highly selective, and we thoughtfully consider each applicant to ensure the best fit for both the student and the class community. Sometimes, even when a child is fully qualified, we simply do not have more room in the class. Applying by the priority deadline and, if accepted, submitting your enrollment contract promptly is the best way to avoid being placed on the waitlist. Please know that being waitlisted does not mean your child will not be admitted—openings do occur, and we notify families as soon as a spot becomes available.

  • My child was not offered admission to Lacordaire. May we reapply?

    Yes. If a student was not offered a placement, they may reapply for admission the following school year. Families who opt to reapply must submit a new application, new teacher recommendations, and must complete the parent and student interview(s) a second time.

  • What is Lacordaire's enrollment capacity?

    Our enrollment maximum ranges from 270 to an absolute maximum of 290 students. The slightly flexible capacity allows us to create new classes when a particular waitlist gets long enough, though in some cases the distribution of waitlisted students across grades may not allow us to open a full new class. Due to our campus size, the enrollment capacity will always remain at around 290 students. 

  • Do you offer fee waivers for the application?

    No, Lacordaire does not offer fee waivers for the non-refundable $75 application fee.

Scholarships and Financial Aid FAQ

This section applies to Upper School applicants ONLY.
Scholarships and financial aid are limited in availability and are offered to a select number of qualified incoming 9th grade students only. Families applying for financial aid must submit their aid application by the priority application deadline in order to be considered. More information about scholarships and financial aid can be found on our tuition and fees webpage. 

  • Q. Who qualifies for a merit-based academic scholarship?

    Incoming 9th-grade applicants who submit middle school transcripts showing mostly As, and/or who have an HSPT score placing them in the 80th percentile or above, will be considered for academic scholarships.

  • Q. How is need-based financial aid determined?

    The Finance Office at Lacordaire uses a need-based financial aid application to determine what a family can reasonably afford, taking into account important factors such as income, assets, family size, and siblings in tuition-based schools. As a small independent school, Lacordaire’s tuition is intentionally structured to remain as accessible as possible—it covers only teacher salaries and benefits. As a result, our financial aid budget is limited. Families who are awarded financial aid are required to contribute a minimum of 15% of their child’s Upper School tuition per academic year.

  • Q. Are there any academic performance requirements for students who receive financial aid?

    Every student who is accepted into Lacordaire is expected to maintain the same strong academic and personal qualities that warranted their admission. However, there are no formal GPA requirements in order to continue receiving financial aid.

Contact

155 Lorraine Ave. Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
(973)-744-1156
info@lacordaire.net

Our Mission

Empowering students to become confident decision makers and responsible leaders in a community of belonging, rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition
© Lacordaire Academy. All Rights Reserved