Parkway School seeks students of average to above-average ability that can contribute to and benefit from its college-preparatory program. Students are selected for admission to the school on the basis of academic potential, developmental maturity, scholastic achievement, and readiness for the school’s program. Where appropriate, testing is used as a tool to provide information to assist in the assessment of each candidate. Potential students for grades 1-8 are given a comprehensive entrance exam at cost of $35 per child. Students may be provisionally accepted pending the results of the diagnostic exam and a parent/teacher conference to discuss the results. In all cases, the school retains the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether or not to select a student for admission or to re-enroll a student.

The admissions department makes recommendations to the head of school, which has ultimate authority and sole discretion in the decisions whether or not to admit or re-enroll a student. Typically, those decisions are based upon multiple criteria: academic readiness or qualification; maturity; affiliation with the school; diversity and gender balance; appropriateness of the match between the family and the school. When there are more qualified candidates than openings available, the school establishes an unranked waiting list: if any openings occur, the admissions department decides which candidate(s) to offer a position based on the overall profile of class and the match between the needs and qualifications of the student with the needs of the school.
It is the policy of the school not to discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, or disability which is unrelated to the ability to enjoy the benefits of the school's programs, facilities, or services. All persons are encouraged to apply.