Private school admissions in Silicon Valley moves faster than most families expect. Open houses fill up in October. Application deadlines at competitive schools arrive in December — months before most families have started their research. Financial aid applications need to be submitted before you even know if your child got in.

This timeline covers the full private school admissions cycle for San Jose and Cupertino families applying for Fall 2027 enrollment. Every key milestone from August 2026 through May 2027 is included, with notes on which schools are most competitive and where the critical deadlines fall.

Your first-week admissions checklist

Once you decide to apply, the first week sets the pace. Every step below needs a date attached — a school that only says "apply now" without specific deadlines for each stage is not giving you enough information to plan.

First-week checklist — with dates Create account on school's application portal · Submit inquiry form · Pay application fee · Request transcripts from current school · Request teacher recommendations · Note essay requirements and drafting deadline · Schedule entrance testing if required (ISEE/SSAT) · Schedule campus visit or shadow day · Submit financial aid application via FACTS or SSS — do not wait until after admissions decision · Confirm: application deadline, financial aid deadline, testing deadline, recommendation deadline, interview date, decision date, and enrollment deposit deadline are all different dates.

NAIS specifically warns that admission and financial aid deadlines are often different. A school website that lists only one deadline is not giving you the complete picture. For San Jose and Cupertino private schools, always confirm all six deadlines separately before submitting anything.

The complete admissions calendar — Fall 2027 enrollment

Aug–Sept 2026
Research and school list building
Begin your school list now. Visit school websites, read independent review platforms like The School Navigator's San Jose rankings, and ask your current school for referrals. This is also when most private schools publish their open house schedules for the fall. Register for open houses early — popular sessions at Harker, BASIS, and Presentation fill within days of posting.
Sept–Oct 2026
Open houses begin — attend 2 to 3
Most San Jose private schools hold fall open houses September through October. Open houses are typically 90 minutes, include a tour, and allow families to meet admissions staff and current parents. Bring your student — many schools use open house attendance to gauge genuine interest. Harker School, BASIS Independent SV, and Cambrian Academy all hold open houses in this window. Register directly through each school's website.
Oct–Nov 2026
Shadow days and campus visits
A shadow day is when your student attends actual classes alongside current students for a half-day. Most San Jose private schools offer shadow days October through November. Schedule early — slots fill by mid-October. Shadow days are often required as part of the application process, not just optional. After attending open houses, shadow days are where most families make their final decisions about which schools to apply to.
Oct–Nov 2026
Financial aid applications open — submit now
Most San Jose private schools use FACTS or SSS (School and Student Services) as their financial aid platform. Applications typically open October–November for the following school year. Do not wait until after you apply for admissions. Many schools review financial need alongside admissions decisions, and late financial aid applications may reduce your award. Gather your most recent tax returns and W-2s before you start.
Nov–Dec 2026
Applications open and first deadlines arrive
Applications open for most San Jose and Cupertino private schools in October–November. The first deadlines arrive in December — typically at the most competitive schools. The Harker School and BASIS Independent Silicon Valley have historically closed in December or early January. Submit applications to your top-choice schools by December 15 to avoid rolling admission pressure. Less competitive schools have January–February deadlines.
Jan 2027
Financial aid deadline — submit by January 31
Submit all financial aid materials through FACTS or SSS by January 31, 2027 at the latest. If you have already submitted your application and are waiting on a decision, your financial aid application should already be in. Missing the financial aid deadline is not recoverable at most schools — they cannot retroactively award aid after the deadline has passed.
Jan–Feb 2027
ISEE or SSAT testing (if required)
Some San Jose private schools require ISEE or SSAT scores as part of their application. The Harker School requires ISEE for most grade levels. BASIS Independent SV has its own entrance assessment. Cambrian Academy and Fusion Academy Cupertino do not require standardized test scores. If your target schools require testing, register for January or February test dates and allow 2–3 weeks for scores to be processed and submitted. AJ Tutoring (Los Altos, 4.9 stars) specializes in ISEE and SSAT prep for Silicon Valley families.
Mar–Apr 2027
Admissions decisions arrive
Most San Jose private schools send admissions decisions in March or April 2027. Some schools notify on a rolling basis — especially those with later application deadlines. Enrollment contracts are typically due within two to three weeks of an offer. Families usually have until late April or early May to accept or decline. If your first-choice school offers a spot, communicate your intent quickly — waitlist movement depends on families accepting or declining offers.
Apr–May 2027
Enroll and prepare for Fall 2027
Submit your enrollment contract and deposit. Most San Jose private schools require a non-refundable deposit of $1,000–$3,000 to hold your student's place. Summer orientation and onboarding information typically arrives June–August. For schools with uniform requirements or specific supply lists, check the school's parent portal after enrollment is confirmed.

How to calculate your real net cost

Tuition is not the number that matters. Net cost is. To calculate it you need every mandatory charge from the school, not just the headline tuition figure. A school with $28,000 tuition and $4,000 in mandatory fees costs more than a school with $30,000 tuition and no required extras.

For every San Jose and Cupertino private school you are comparing, build this table:

Net cost formula per school Published tuition + application fee + enrollment/registration fee + deposit + technology fee + activity fees + books and supplies + other required charges = total mandatory cost — confirmed financial aid award = estimated net cost. If the school website does not provide enough information to complete this calculation, mark it "insufficient financial transparency" and call the admissions office directly.

For financial aid specifically: schools evaluate income, assets, household size, housing costs, medical expenses, and the number of children simultaneously enrolled in tuition-paying schools. According to NAIS, there is no universal income cutoff — two families with identical household income can receive very different awards based on their full financial picture. Submit financial aid applications at the same time as your admissions application, not after.

What makes Silicon Valley admissions more competitive than most cities

San Jose and Cupertino sit in the middle of one of the highest-concentration tech-professional demographics in the country. The parents applying to private schools here include engineers, executives, and academics who are used to competitive processes and often start earlier than the stated deadlines suggest.

At schools like The Harker School — which is ranked #46 in California and accepts a limited number of students per grade — competition for spots is real. Families who show up to open houses in December, submit applications in January, and ask about shadow days in November are disadvantaging themselves relative to families who started in September.

The one thing most families miss Financial aid and admissions are reviewed at the same time at most San Jose private schools. Submitting your financial aid application after your admissions application — or worse, after the deadline — is one of the most common and preventable mistakes. Submit both at the same time.

Schools with non-standard admissions processes

Fusion Academy Cupertino does not have a traditional application deadline — enrollment is rolling year-round. Because every student has an individualized schedule, Fusion can accommodate new students at any point in the academic year. This makes Fusion a viable option for families who missed traditional application windows at other schools, or who need to transfer mid-year.

Cambrian Academy has a relatively accessible application process given its small size. With only 84 total students, the school reviews applications individually and families often have direct conversations with the head of school during the admissions process. Visit their website or call directly to understand current enrollment availability by grade level.

For a full comparison of all ranked private schools in the area — including tuition, ratings, and grade ranges — see The School Navigator's complete San Jose private school rankings.