How to Apply

JCHS uses the online web service Ravenna to help us communicate with families. Our online application will be available in August. Please call us or use Ravenna to schedule your campus visit. 

Request Information

To receive information about JCHS, please create an account on Ravenna by clicking on the button to the right. If you have questions about this system, please feel free to contact Ravenna solutions (ravenna-help@communitybrands.com) or the JCHS admissions office (admissions@jchsofthebay.org).

Attend Admissions Events

Families can “Explore” JCHS on Ravenna at any time.

We are excited to offer a variety of events during Fall 2025. 

JCHS PARENT/GUARDIAN TOURS
Parents and Guardians are encouraged to visit JCHS to tour our campus. Small group tours are scheduled throughout 2025. Please register for a Parent/Guardian campus tour on Ravenna.

STUDENT VISIT EXPERIENCE
Prospective students are invited to spend time with JCHS students and teachers, preview classes, tour the campus, and enjoy our award-winning lunch. Please register for a Student Visit on Ravenna.

OPEN HOUSES
Sunday afternoon, October 19 and Thursday evening, October 23.

Open Houses are for applicants and their families to learn more about the JCHS experience. You will have the opportunity to ask questions about our academic programs and meet our community. To register for an Open House, please create an account on Ravenna.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Test-Free Program

For the 2025-26 Admissions season, JCHS will be test-free for all applicants. JCHS will not accept SSAT, ISEE, or any other standardized test scores as part of the admissions process. 

To read more about our test-free policy, please click here.

Complete and Submit Your Online Application and Forms

You can submit the JCHS application online through Ravenna by Thursday, January 8, 2026. 

Admission decisions will be posted on Ravenna on Friday, March 20, 2026.

JCHS requires the following for a complete application. A detailed description of each application step can be viewed on Ravenna: 

  • Part 1: Parent/Guardian Application
  • Part 2: Student Application, Student Essay, and Student Activity Form
  • Principal/Counselor Recommendation
  • Current English Teacher Recommendation
  • Current Math Teacher Recommendation
  • Current and previous year’s transcripts (sent directly from school)
  • Portfolio of work (optional)
  • Student Interview
  • $90 Application Fee (JCHS also offers fee waivers for families for whom this application fee would be a barrier to applying. Please contact the Admissions Office.)

Student Interview (Required)

We want to get to know you better! After you have submitted Part I (Parent/Guardian application) and your application fee, you will be able to schedule a student interview. 

Complete the Tuition Assistance Application (Optional)

JCHS offers a tuition assistance program designed to help keep a JCHS education accessible to families from a variety of economic backgrounds. Please contact Mary Ellen Hunt, Director of Enrollment Management, with any tuition assistance questions at mehunt@jchsofthebay.org or 415-345-9777 x104.

Ravenna Checklist

We encourage applicants and their families to learn more about JCHS. The first step is to create an account with Ravenna, a web-based application system used by many Bay Area independent schools. 

For more information on how to create an account, read “Getting Started With Ravenna.”

Once your account has been created, you can find our profile page by searching “Community” in the school directory on the left-hand side of the screen – click to expand our page. Next, click the “explore” button.

To help you get to know JCHS and make sure that your questions are answered, we are hosting Open Houses and campus tours. Register for any of our events on Ravenna.

When you are ready to complete the Parent/Guardian form:
1. Please click the “apply” button at the top of your application timeline.
2. Scroll down slightly on the JCHS application timeline until you come to a section titled “Parent/Guardian Application Form and Pay Application Fee.” Click on the blue link in the step to begin the application.
3. You will have two options: “show me what’s left” and “view my application.” To continue and submit your application, please click “view my application.” A green button should appear at the top right­-hand corner of the JCHS timeline that says, “Go to Pay & Submit”­ – please click there. The system will prompt you to pay and then will send your application to JCHS. 

Once you have submitted The Parent/Guardian Application Form, you will be able to schedule a one-on-one student interview with a member of our Admissions team.

The student’s portion of the application consists of the Student Application, Student Essay, and Student Activity Form. These steps are located right below the Parent/Guardian form. 

To send recommendation forms to teachers, click the blue link in each teacher recommendation step and then click “add delegate.” The system will prompt you to type in the email address for the teacher. The form will be sent straight to the teacher and they will send it back to JCHS. The personal recommendation form is optional.