Apply to Gilman's Lower School

Families interested in:

Pre-Kindergarten

Applicants must turn three by September 1, 2026, to apply to pre-kindergarten. The appropriate birthday range for pre-kindergarten applicants is late summer/fall of 2022 to August 31, 2023.

Please note that tuition assistance is not available for pre-kindergarten.

Kindergarten

Applicants must turn four by September 1, 2026, to apply to kindergarten. The appropriate birthday range for kindergarten applicants is late summer/fall of 2021 to August 31, 2022.

First Grade

Applicants must be five by September 1, 2026, to apply to first grade. The appropriate birthday range for first grade applicants is late summer/fall of 2020 to August 31, 2021.

Parents are encouraged to attend one of our Lower School Prospective Parent Visiting Days listed below:

• Thursday, October 15 (Grades Pre-K–1)
• Monday, November 2 (Grades Pre-K–1)
• Wednesday, November 11 (Grades Pre-K–1)
• Wednesday, November 18 (Grades Pre-K–1)
• Wednesday, December 2 (Grades Pre-K–4)

All Lower School Parent Visiting Days will take place from 8:45–10:30 a.m.

Learn More and Register Today!

Creating an account in our Admissions Portal is the first step in the admissions process. You will complete your son's online application through the Admissions Portal, and a non-refundable $50 application fee is paid when his application is submitted.

Applications become available in late August and are due by Monday, December 14, 2026. We encourage you to begin the application process early so you have ample time to complete the necessary steps.

Once you create your Admissions Portal account, you will want to use this login page to gain access to a dynamic checklist. The portal checklist is an excellent tool to keep track of where you are in the admissions process. You will also receive emails from our office with reminders as the application deadline approaches.

Application fee waivers are available for siblings of currently enrolled students and sons of alumni. Please contact Jen Shelley to obtain your code.

Please note: All Gilman students are required to have age-appropriate state-mandated vaccinations. Only medical exemptions will be considered.

The Record Release Form should be downloaded and given directly to your son's current school. It authorizes his current school to send us his records, which are necessary to complete the application process.

The Common Referral Form can be given to your son's current school along with the Release Form. Your son's school will give this form to his teacher(s) to fill out and return to Gilman. Generally, this form will be returned with your son's records, and we will add it to your son's application file. Please note, if you choose to do so, you will have the opportunity to electronically send the Common Referral Form directly to your son's teacher through the Application Portal. When his teacher returns the form, it will automatically attach to his application file.

Gilman retains an applicant's information in the strictest confidence, as defined in the Association of Independent Maryland and D.C. Schools (AIMS) Policy Statement on Confidentiality of Student Recommendations.

You will meet with a member of the Admissions team via Zoom or in person. Once you have submitted your son's application, someone from our office will reach out to schedule your family's 30-minute conversation.

The parent meeting is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn more about your child and family. You should come prepared to talk about your interest in Gilman and to ask any questions you may have about our School. We love this opportunity to get to know our prospective families better and for you to have time with someone on our team one-on-one.

Beginning in mid-November, applicants for grades pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, prep-one, and first grade will come to Gilman for a morning assessment (part individual/part group), and meet with members of the Admissions Office. Assessment dates will be available after October 1, and a member of our team will be in touch with you to schedule your date and time. We will also offer a separate date in January 2027 for pre-kindergarten through first grade applicants to visit campus and participate in a fun activity.

Applicants for grades two through four will visit Gilman on Saturday, January 9, 2027. You will be prompted to register for this testing date when you complete the online application in the Admissions Portal. The boys are given standardized achievement and ability tests, are evaluated informally by teachers, and asked to complete a writing sample.

Gilman offers tuition assistance to families based on need. To determine the level of assistance for which a family qualifies (if applicable), a separate application must be submitted through Clarity. Please note that Tuition Assistance is not available for pre-kindergarten.

Families can access Clarity's online application beginning Thursday, October 1, 2026. To get started, please create an account here. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes and must be completed by Monday, December 14, 2026, which is also the admissions application deadline. There is a non-refundable fee of $65 to submit an application.

If you are unable to access this form online or have any questions, please email Kip Digges in the Tuition Assistance Office at kdigges@gilman.edu.

Reminder: Business owners are required to upload their most recent business tax returns separately. Please remember to return to the online dashboard in Clarity to add that information.

*Please note that Tuition Assistance is not available for pre-kindergarten.
**Fees are estimated. There may be additional charges for certain athletic teams, field trips, or other activities.

The Admissions Committee will review all applications and make decisions during the month of February. You will learn our decision on Thursday, February 18, 2027.

Accepted Lower School parents are invited to an evening celebration on Tuesday, February 23, 2027, from 6:30–8:00 p.m., hosted by Head of School Henry Smyth. More information will come closer to the date of the event.

Families who accept our offer of admission will need to complete an enrollment contract in the Admissions Portal for each accepted student. Enrollment contracts and deposits are due on Friday, March 5, 2027. The enrollment deposit is ten percent of your son's yearly tuition.