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Admission

New Students

YOU'RE AN ADMIRAL NOW!

WELCOME
We are thrilled to welcome your family to the Severn School community! As you prepare for the start of your student's Severn story in the fall of 2026, we will be sharing a lot of information with you. Much of that will come later in the spring and summer, but we also understand that you have questions now and we are as anxious as you are to get you introduced to the community and begin to make connections.

This page serves as an initial introduction to Severn School and what you can expect as we get closer to the start of the 2026-27 school year. Be sure to check here often for updates and keep an eye on your email.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact us in the Admission Office - we will be glad to assist you!

Again, welcome to Severn School, we can't wait for you to get started.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR NEW FAMILIES

As a new family, you're likely wondering, what next?!

At right, you will find a detailed listing of events for new students and families. Below is a general overview of the timeline by month for new families preparing for the start of the 2026-27 school year in the fall.

List of 6 items.

  • March

    • All enrollment contracts and finalized payment plans are due March 6.
    • Severn School will be closed for Spring Break from March 16 - 27.

    Shop the Admiral Collection and stock up on Severn gear!

    The collection will be open from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the following dates:

    March 31

  • April

    • All new families will receive full access to mySevern and begin to receive weekly reminders to review The Binnacle, our source for all-school and divisional information. (Mid-April)
    • TBA: Middle School Course Descriptions Available to Students
    • 4/9 - US: New Ninth and Transfer Parent Meeting on Course Requests/Placement Exams (see email for Zoom link)
    • 4/13 - New Ninth-Grade Family Welcome Event - Teel Campus
    • Placement Testing for Middle School Math - Bauer Dining Hall:
      • 4/25 - 8:30 - 10 a.m.
    • Placement Testing for Upper School Students:
      • 4/27 - 3:30 - 6 p.m. - Roche (located in Creeden Hall)
      • 4/28 - 3:30 - 6 p.m. - Roche (located in Creeden Hall)
    Shop the Admiral Collection and stock up on Severn gear! The collection is located on the lower level of the Edward St. John Athletic Center (ESJAC).

    The collection will be open from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the following dates:

    April 9, 15, 23 & 27

  • May

    • 5/2 - Upper School Placement Testing (8:30 - 11 a.m.) - Roche - located in Creeden Hall
    • 5/2 - Middle School Math Placement Testing (8:30 - 10 a.m.)
    • 5/6 - New Middle School Family Welcome Event (6-8 p.m.)
    • 5/11 - 26-27 Required School and Health Forms are available to parents
    • 5/15: Middle School Course Selection Forms Due
    • 5/21 - Lower School New Parent Orientation (9 - 10:30 a.m.)
    • MAY: New Upper School Family Get-to-Know-You Meetings (all month long, parents will receive a link to schedule this meeting)
    • SPRING PRACTICES FOR FALL SPORTS: Incoming Upper School students interested in trying out for a fall sport are welcome to attend these spring practices:
      • Cross Country - May 18 & 19 - 3:30 - 5 p.m.
      • Football - May 18 & 19 - 3:30 - 5 p.m.
      • Boys Soccer - May 18 & 19 - 3:30 - 5 p.m.
      • Girls Soccer - May 13 & 19 - 3:30 - 5 p.m.
      • Field Hockey - May 13 & 18 - 3:30 - 5 p.m.
      • Girls Volleyball - May 12 & 14 - 3:30 - 5 p.m.
      • Sailing - May 13 & 15 - 3:30 - 6 p.m. (@ Magothy Marina)

    Shop the Admiral Collection and stock up on Severn gear! The collection is located on the lower level of the Edward St. John Athletic Center (ESJAC).

    The collection will be open from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the following dates:

    May 8, 12, 21 & 26

  • June

    6/1 - 2026-27 Student Forms are due 
    6/1 - Summer Work is posted for students

    STUDENT PROFILE PHOTOS
    For any student who needs a profile photo taken, please feel free to stop by our Teel Campus at any of the below dates/times. No appointment is needed!

    6/3 - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
    6/4 - 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
    6/16 - 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
    6/17 - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

    (More times will be added as we get closer to June.)

  • July

    • 7/1 - 2026-27 Student Health Forms are due
    • 7/6 - US/MS Student Course Enrollments Posted (these are course enrollments ONLY, not daily schedules or teacher assignments)
    • TBA: US/MS Book Lists Available in mySevern
    • 7/22 - New Lower School Student photos due. These can either be scheduled with the Office of Communications or submitted to Kelley Wallace, Director of Communications.

    STUDENT PROFILE PHOTOS
    For any student who needs a profile photo taken, please feel free to stop by our Teel Campus on any of the below dates/times. No appointment is needed!

    Dates TBA

  • August

    • AUG (varies) - Fall Sports Practices Begin (see below for sport-specific start dates)
    • 8/26 - US/MS Schedules Posted in mySevern
    • 8/30 & 8/31 - Ninth-Grade Retreat and Orientation*
    • 8/31 - New Tenth and Eleventh-Grade Student Orientation & Tech Training*
    • 8/31 - New Middle School Student and Family Orientation
    *mySevern accounts and Severn email accounts for all new students will be turned on at Orientation.

    FALL SPORTS TRYOUTS/PRACTICES ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AS FOLLOWS:
    August 10 - Football 
    August 17 - Cross Country / Boys' Soccer / Girls' Soccer / Volleyball / Field Hockey 
    August 24 - Girls Tennis
    September 2 - Sailing

SEVERN UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS

Below you will find the 2025-26 uniform requirements for each division. 2026-27 guidelines will be posted in early May, though no changes are planned for the upcoming school year.

Severn will host a Used Uniform Exchange in the summer for all Middle and Upper School families. Uniforms are available at no cost through this exchange. Clothing may be also purchased from Flynn O'Hara School Uniforms (www.flynnohara.com) and Lands’ End (www.landsend.com).

INFORMATION ON UPCOMING EVENTS AND PLACEMENT TESTS

List of 3 items.

  • LOWER SCHOOL

    Lower School New Parent Orientation
    Thursday, May 21 at 9 a.m.

  • MIDDLE SCHOOL

    New Middle School Family Welcome Event (6:00 - 8:30 p.m.)
    Wednesday, May 6

    Welcome Session Begins at 6:30 p.m. in Price Auditorium
    • All new student photos will be taken from 6-6:30 p.m.
      • If you are unable to attend this event, we offer alternate dates for student photos. See monthly listings at left for details.

    PLACEMENT TEST INFORMATION:

    MATH -- All New to Severn Students will take Math placement tests
    In order to determine appropriate courses and levels for new to Severn students in grades six, seven, and eight, we will offer in-person Math placement tests at Severn (Bauer Dining Hall in the McCleary Student Center).

    Math placement tests will be administered on the following dates:
    Sat, April 25 - 8:30 - 10 a.m.
    Sat, May 2 - 8:30 - 10 a.m.

    Questions about MS math placement tests? Please contact Rachel McMahon at r.mcmahon@severnschool.com

    MS FOREIGN LANGUAGE - Not all students need to take a placement test.

    Please review this information to determine if your student should take one or not.

    If testing is required, the student should sign up here. Testing will be administered on June 8 at 3:30 p.m.

  • UPPER SCHOOL

    New Ninth Grade Families Welcome Event (6 - 8:30 p.m.)
    Monday, April 13
    Teel Campus
    • Welcome Session Begins in Price Auditorium at 6:30 p.m.
    • All new student photos will be taken from 6-6:30 p.m.
      • Dress for the event is casual - no need to be in uniform! (The photo is a head shot.) 
      • If you are unable to attend this event, alternate dates are offered for student photos. See monthly listings at left for dates and times offered.
    Placement Tests
    There is no need to make an appointment for placement tests. Students can take one, two, or three placement tests in any one session and in any order. We will have pens and pencils available for use. Calculators are not allowed.
    • All students new to Severn should plan to take two placement tests, one which will be used for math and physics and another for English and history.
      • A practice math placement test can be found here.
    • In addition, students who wish to continue the study of Spanish, French, or Latin are required to take a language placement test. Please note: there is an oral component to the Spanish and French placement tests.
    • The lengths of the placement tests are as follows:
      • English/history - 60 minutes
      • Math - 60 minutes
      • Foreign Language - 30 minutes
      • Students who receive extended time accommodations should contact Kim Coughlin in advance at k.coughlin@severnschool.com to make arrangements for extended time testing.
    Placement recommendations for students will be made by the head of each academic department based on placement tests, standardized test scores, and middle school performance. Families can expect to receive placement recommendations by early June.

    Severn will offer in-person placement tests at Severn on the following days:

    Dates and Times:
    April 27 & 28 - 3:30 - 6 p.m.
    May 2 - 8:30 - 11:00 a.m.

    Testing will be administered in Roche, which is located in Creeden Hall.

    Get-to-Know-You-Family Meetings - MAY 2026
    During the month of May, families new to Severn will have individual meetings with either Steve Soden, Upper School Head; Marc Buckley, Asst. Upper School Head; or Kim Coughlin, Director of Studies.

    During this meeting, we will discuss your academic and extra-curricular interests, preliminary class schedule options, share further orientation materials, and talk through important dates. More information about choosing a date for this meeting will be provided to you in April.
Shop the Admiral Collection to stock up on all your Severn gear!

The Collection is open from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the following dates for Spring 2026:
  • March 31
  • April 9

The Admiral Collection is located in the Edward St. John Athletic Center.

SEVERN RESOURCE LINKS:

SEVERN STORIES

SNAPSHOTS OF SEVERN UPPER SCHOOL

Snapshots of Upper School 25-26

A DAY IN THE LIFE - SEVERN UPPER SCHOOL

SNAPSHOTS OF SEVERN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Snapshots of Severn Middle School 2024-25

A DAY IN THE LIFE - SEVERN MIDDLE SCHOOL

SNAPSHOTS OF SEVERN LOWER SCHOOL

Snapshots of Severn Lower School

Lower School

Chesapeake Campus—PS-Grade 5
1185 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd
Arnold, MD  21012
410-647-7700

Upper School

Teel Campus—Grade 6-12
201 Water Street
Severna Park, MD  21146
410-647-7700