Public schools take in new children all year round. But not independent schools. Most schools’ admissions and financial aid timelines are like colleges’; applicants start the process almost a year before they plan to attend.
Take-away message: Learn the deadlines — for both admission and financial aid — by checking websites. Call individual schools if you have questions. The entire process will be easier on your family if you know the deadlines, keep track of them carefully, and give yourself plenty of time to meet them.