How to Get Into Riverdale Country School: 2027-28 Admissions, Deadlines and Tuition
By Rona Aydin
What is Riverdale Country School?
Riverdale Country School is a coeducational PreK-12 independent day school in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, NY, with its Hill Campus at 5250 Fieldston Road and its River Campus at 1 Spaulding Lane. The school enrolls about 1,300 students and reports a 5:1 student to faculty ratio (Riverdale admission page). Its two campuses total 27.5 acres, and Riverdale says that no school in the five boroughs has as much space. Riverdale is divided into two campuses: the 19.5-acre Hill Campus serving Grades 6-12 (Middle and Upper Schools), and the 8-acre River Campus serving PreK-Grade 5 (Lower School).
| Riverdale Country School at a Glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Coed PreK-12 independent day school |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Location | Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx (5250 Fieldston Road) |
| Enrollment | About 1,300 students; 5:1 student to faculty ratio |
| Campus | 27.5 acres on two campuses; Riverdale says no school in the five boroughs has as much space |
| Divisions | Hill Campus (Grades 6-12, 19.5 acres); River Campus (PreK-Grade 5, 8 acres) |
| Acceptance rate | Not published by Riverdale |
| Primary entry points | PreK (18 anticipated openings), Kindergarten (42), Grade 6 (20 to 25), Grade 7 (5 to 10) and Grade 9 (40 to 45); other grades based on attrition |
| Tuition (2026-27) | $71,350, including lunch, books and required activities (2027-28 tuition not yet posted) |
| Athletics & activities | More than 80 junior varsity and varsity teams in the Upper School; more than 80 percent of Upper Schoolers on at least one team; Ivy Preparatory League member |
| Facilities | Three full-size playing fields, a 9,600-square-foot gymnasium and an aquatic center with a six-lane indoor pool |
Riverdale’s mission emphasizes cultivating the unique talents of its students and nurturing their intellectual, creative, physical, moral, emotional, and social development. The school is a nonprofit, nondenominational institution governed by a Board of Trustees. Athletic facilities include three full-size playing fields, tennis courts, a 9,600-square-foot gymnasium and an aquatic center with a six-lane USA Swimming-certified indoor pool, and the Upper School fields more than 80 junior varsity and varsity teams (Riverdale campus and athletics pages).
What is Riverdale’s acceptance rate?
Riverdale Country School does not publish an acceptance rate or applicant counts. It does publish anticipated openings by grade: 18 in PreK, 42 in Kindergarten, 20 to 25 in Grade 6, 5 to 10 in Grade 7 and 40 to 45 in Grade 9, against total grade enrollments of 65 to 70 in Kindergarten, 85 to 90 in Grade 6 and 135 to 140 in Grade 9 (Riverdale admissions process page). Selectivity varies by grade and by year.
Riverdale considers applications to Grades 1 to 5, 8 and 10 to 12 based on attrition and says financial aid for these grades is limited (Riverdale admissions process page). In our experience, openings in these grades are few in most years, so families should keep realistic expectations and apply to peer NYC schools in parallel.
How does Riverdale’s admissions process work?
Riverdale follows the ISAAGNY coordinated calendar. The application for the 2027-2028 school year is open on the Ravenna platform, and the preliminary application deadline is Monday, November 16, 2026 (Riverdale admissions process page). Riverdale lists five steps: an optional virtual open house, the online application, a required interview for each applicant (families tour the campus as part of the interview process), recommendation forms and transcripts generated in Ravenna, and testing. Kindergarten applicants take the FLI assessment, applicants to Grades 5 to 12 take the ISEE or SSAT, and there is no required testing for PreK or Grades 1 to 4.
Riverdale says its admission committee gets to know students in multiple contexts, including an interactive group activity, and looks for students who demonstrate kindness, honesty, self-discipline, resilience and independence (Riverdale admission page). Decisions are sent on ISAAGNY dates: Kindergarten on Thursday, February 4, 2027; Grades 1 to 8 on Wednesday, February 10, 2027; Grades 9 to 12 on Friday, February 19, 2027; and PreK on Thursday, February 25, 2027. Enrollment contracts are due by noon on February 11, 2027 (Kindergarten), February 26, 2027 (Grades 1 to 8), March 4, 2027 (PreK) and March 11, 2027 (Grades 9 to 12).
What does Riverdale cost and what financial aid is available?
Tuition for the 2026-27 school year is $71,350, and lunch, books and required activities are included in the total educational costs (Riverdale tuition and financial aid page). Riverdale says families should also budget for after-school care for Lower School students and for transportation. Tuition for 2027-28 had not been posted when we checked in November 2026.
Riverdale offers need-based grants from a $13 million financial aid budget, and 20% of students receive financial aid (Riverdale admission page). The school says there is no income cutoff, that it aims to meet 100% of demonstrated need after families use the resources available to them, and that families apply through the Clarity platform (school code 5250). The financial aid deadline is December 15, 2026, for prospective families and December 1, 2026, for current Riverdale families, including those applying for a sibling (Riverdale tuition and financial aid page).
What ISEE or SSAT scores does Riverdale expect?
Riverdale Country School accepts both the ISEE and SSAT for Grade 5-12 applicants. The school does not publish a required cutoff score; admissions officers review scores in context with the broader application. Riverdale publishes no score ranges;, solid results across all four ISEE sections help more than one standout score.
Riverdale describes its process as holistic: the committee builds an understanding of each applicant that includes character strengths, the potential for community engagement and academic preparation (Riverdale admission page). In our experience, strong scores alone do not secure admission, and the strongest files also show how a student would use the athletic, arts and extracurricular programs Riverdale offers.
How does Riverdale compare to Horace Mann?
Riverdale Country School and Horace Mann School are both coeducational independent day schools in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, and Riverdale lists Horace Mann among its Ivy Preparatory League opponents (Riverdale athletics page). Riverdale enrolls about 1,300 students on 27.5 acres (Riverdale admission page). In our view, Riverdale offers the more balanced experience, with broad athletic and outdoor programs supported by its campus.
Families choosing between Horace Mann and Riverdale weigh academic intensity against whole-student balance: Horace Mann is known for rigor and breadth of advanced coursework, while Riverdale emphasizes balanced development with athletic, arts and outdoor programs on its 27.5-acre campus. Both send graduates to highly selective colleges, and the right choice depends on your child’s learning style and interests.
What athletic and extracurricular programs does Riverdale offer?
Riverdale offers a broad athletic program. At the Upper School level, it fields more than 80 junior varsity and varsity teams for boys and girls, and more than 80 percent of Upper Schoolers participate on at least one team (Riverdale athletics page). As a member of the Ivy Preparatory League, Riverdale plays Collegiate, Dalton, Fieldston, Hackley, Horace Mann, Poly Prep and Trinity. Middle School teams include cross country, volleyball, field hockey, soccer, basketball, fencing, swimming, softball, baseball, lacrosse, and track and field.
The campus includes three full-size playing fields, tennis courts, a 9,600-square-foot gymnasium, a second training gymnasium, a fitness center, a fencing room and an aquatic center with a six-lane USA Swimming-certified indoor pool (Riverdale campus page). The Hill Campus also has two dedicated science buildings and a freestanding arts center. This campus and program breadth distinguish Riverdale from smaller Manhattan peers and suit academically strong children with significant athletic or artistic interests.
What college outcomes do Riverdale graduates achieve?
Riverdale says, “Our graduates attend the most selective liberal arts colleges and universities as well as engineering schools, professional art and theater institutes, and music conservatories” (Riverdale College Office page). The College Office posts its Higher Ed Enrollment list for 2021 to 2026 as an image rather than as text, so families should ask the school for recent matriculation by college.
Riverdale’s well-rounded approach to education supports students applying to a broad range of universities, including STEM-focused programs and liberal arts colleges. Top-25 college acceptance rates have continued to decline, and Riverdale families benefit from strong school-based counseling but must still build distinctive individual applications.
How should families maximize their Riverdale chances?
For Kindergarten and Lower School applicants the interview and campus visit, the school forms from the current program and family fit carry the most weight. Riverdale holds virtual open houses, which it says are not required, and families who apply tour the campus as part of the interview process. Parent responses in the Ravenna application should explain why Riverdale fits your child.
For Grade 6 (Middle School entry) and Grade 9 (Upper School entry) applicants, the interview, the school forms and recommendations, and ISEE or SSAT results carry the most weight. Highlight athletic, outdoor, and creative interests that align with Riverdale’s broad offerings. At Oriel Admissions we advise most families to apply to peer schools (Horace Mann, Trinity, Dalton, Fieldston) as a parallel strategy. Grade 6 decisions arrive on Wednesday, February 10, 2027, and Grade 9 decisions on Friday, February 19, 2027 (Riverdale admissions process page).
Frequently Asked Questions About Riverdale Country School Admissions
Riverdale Country School is in the Riverdale section of the northwest Bronx, on two campuses totaling 27.5 acres: the Hill Campus at 5250 Fieldston Road for Grades 6 to 12 and the River Campus at 1 Spaulding Lane for PreK to Grade 5. Riverdale says no school in the five boroughs has as much space. In our view, the green setting distinguishes it from the townhouse campuses common among Manhattan private schools.
Riverdale is a coeducational school serving Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, organized into a Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School across its two campuses. The main entry points are PreK (18 anticipated openings), Kindergarten (42), Grade 6 (20 to 25), Grade 7 (5 to 10) and Grade 9 (40 to 45); other grades are considered based on attrition (Riverdale admissions process page). Because many students enter early and continue through, openings in other grades are limited.
Yes; Riverdale is fully coeducational, enrolling boys and girls together from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. This sets it apart from several historic NYC independent schools that are single-sex. The coed structure is part of its identity as a large, comprehensive school offering a broad academic, arts, and athletic program to a sizable student body rather than the smaller enrollment typical of single-sex institutions.
Riverdale does not publish an acceptance rate, but in the view of Oriel Admissions it is among the more selective independent schools in New York City, with limited seats for a deep applicant pool. Admission is most feasible at the main entry points (PreK, Kindergarten, Grade 6 and Grade 9), while openings in other grades depend on attrition. Riverdale says its committee considers character strengths, the potential for community engagement and academic preparation.
For the 2027-2028 school year, the preliminary application deadline is Monday, November 16, 2026, and the financial aid deadline for new families is December 15, 2026. Decisions are released on ISAAGNY dates in February 2027: February 4 for Kindergarten, February 10 for Grades 1 to 8, February 19 for Grades 9 to 12 and February 25 for PreK. Interviews and testing are scheduled through each family account in Ravenna, so families should confirm the remaining steps there.
Riverdale is known for combining rigorous academics with an unusually spacious campus, strong athletics, and a broad arts program, supported by its size and resources. It has a long history (founded in 1907) and a strong record of college placement. Among NYC independent schools it stands out for offering green space, extensive facilities, and a comprehensive program more often associated with suburban schools, while remaining within New York City.
Yes; Riverdale offers need-based grants from a $13 million financial aid budget, and 20% of students receive aid. There is no income cutoff, and the school aims to meet 100% of demonstrated need through the Clarity application, due December 15, 2026, for prospective families. Admission and aid decisions are made separately, but aid information accompanies the acceptance letter, so families seeking support should apply for aid at the same time as the admission application.
Both are large, prestigious coed independent schools located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, which causes frequent confusion, but they are separate institutions with distinct cultures, campuses, and histories. In our experience, Horace Mann is often seen as more academically intense, while Riverdale is known for a comparably strong program on a more expansive campus. Families weighing the two should visit both, since the difference is largely one of culture and fit.
Sources: Riverdale Country School: Admissions Process, Tuition and Financial Aid, Admission, Campus, Athletics and College Office.
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