Secondary School Placement - Logistics, Tips, and Managing the Process

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Asher

Secondary school placement guidance covering the full application workflow: where to find resources on the RCS website, how to use placement calendars and checklists, and how to prepare for appointments and required reflections. The material details interview and open-house expectations, SSAT testing choices and scheduling, and instructions for online application platforms (SAO, Ravenna, Gateway, Veracross). It also explains recommendation letter steps, financial support planning, and next actions after completing applications.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Communication and Resources

Interviews, Visits, Open Houses

SSATs

Online Application Platforms (SAO, Gateway, Ravenna, Veracross)

Financial Support / Tuition Assistance

Letters of Recommendation

What Now?

Secondary School Placement: Logistics,Tips, and Managing the Process Today’s Agenda 1. Communication and Resources 2. Interviews, Visits, Open Houses 3. SSATs 4. Online Application Platforms (SAO, Gateway, Ravenna, Veracross) 5. Financial Support / Tuition Assistance 6. Letters of Recommendation 7. What Now? Communication and Resources Placement Resource Tile or Placement Page on the RCS website ➢ Monthly Placement Newsletter ➢ Placement Calendar ➢ Placement Checklist ➢ Forms: ○ Appointments → intro letters and “official” entry into the application process ○ First Impressions → great way to jog your memory ○ Student Self-Reflection → by 11/1 ○ Parent Reflection → by 11/1 ➢ Secondary School Fair – Tuesday, September 16, 6:00-8:00 pm ○ 75+ schools coming to RCS Visits and Interviews ➢ Preparation, clothing, body position, be present, no distractions, no technology ➢ Interview practice and feedback at RCS ➢ Explore websites first; know the school you’re looking at and why you’re interested ➢ Optional: Contact relevant people (coaches, drama directors, department chairs, etc.)➢ Consider why this school might be a good fit ➢ Be prepared to ask a question or two ➢ Upbeat, engaged, positive, future community member ➢ Thank-you email to interviewer ➢ Open Houses→ great for information gathering, but not a requirement SSATs ➢ Why SSAT and not ISEE? ➢ [SSAT.org](SSAT.org) and 609-683-4440 (general support) ➢ Test Innovators ➢ November “Flex” Test ○ 11/11, in school ○ Registration info and payment ○ Testing Accommodations / Not testing ➢ Designate RCS as score recipient (Code: 6046) ➢ Test Optional? ➢ Two additional testing options: SSAT at home or at a Prometric site ➢ Character Skills Snapshot ➢ RCS hosts the SSAT on two national test dates ○ Saturday, December 13, 2025 ○ Saturday, January 3, 2026 Online Application Platforms ➢ SAO (Standard Application Online) ○ [SSAT.org](SSAT.org)[ ](SSAT.org)➢ Ravenna ○ [Ravenna-hub.com](Ravenna-hub.com) ➢ Gateway to Prep Schools ○ [gatewaytoprepschools.com](gatewaytoprepschools.com) ➢ Veracross ➢ Online Applications: Who Accepts What? ➢ Streamlining your applications ➢ Preference? ➢ Waivers Standard Application Online (SAO) ➢ Click Apply to Schools ➢ Add Rippowam Cisqua School as Advisor ➢ Designate Ridley Sperling for Principal/Guidance Counselor recommendations AND Official School Reports/Transcript Form Release ➢ Designate Ridley Sperling for English Recommendation ➢ Designate your child’s current math teacher for Math Recommendation ➢ Personal/supplemental recommendations: case-by-case basis ➢ [SSAT.org](SSAT.org) Ravenna ➢ Click on “Show Me What’s Left” button to begin to request information on behalf of your child-for each form, you should see: “Add Delegate” ➢ Delegate is Ridley Sperling ➢ Designate Ridley Sperling for Principal/Guidance Counselor recommendations AND Official School Reports/Transcript Form Release ➢ Designate Ridley Sperling for English Recommendation ➢ Designate your child’s current math teacher for Math Recommendation ➢ Personal/supplemental recommendations: case-by-case basis ➢ Ravenna Hub Gateway to Prep Schools ➢ Designate Ridley Sperling as Adviser using [SecondarySchoolPlacementOffice@rcsny.org](SecondarySchoolPlacementOffice@rcsny.org) (this is the only time you will use this email address in the recommendation request process) ➢ Designate Ridley Sperling for Principal/Guidance Counselor recommendations AND [Official School Reports/Transcript Form Release and use ](Official School Reports/Transcript Form Release and use sperling@rcsny.org)[sperling@rcsny.org](Official School Reports/Transcript Form Release and use sperling@rcsny.org)[ ](Official School Reports/Transcript Form Release and use sperling@rcsny.org)➢ Designate Ridley Sperling for English Recommendation and [use sperling@rcsny.org](use sperling@rcsny.org)[ ](use sper

FAQs

Where can families find placement resources and key forms?

Families can use the Placement Resource Tile/Placement Page on the RCS website, including the monthly newsletter, placement calendar, placement checklist, and forms such as appointments, reflections, and the required self/parent reflection by 11/1.

What should students and parents do before interviews and open houses?

Prepare by planning clothing and presentation, being present without distractions or technology, and practicing questions with upbeat engagement. Open houses support information gathering but are not required.

How do families choose SSAT testing options and submit scores?

The guidance explains SSAT vs. ISEE, notes Flex Test options (including an in-school November “Flex” test), and offers alternatives such as SSAT at home or at a Prometric site. It also instructs designating RCS as the score recipient using code 6046.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Asher