ADMISSIONS >
Admissions Criteria
At Pittsburgh Urban Christian School, we believe every child is created with purpose, giftedness, and dignity. Our mission is to educate students in a community shaped by God’s truth, grace, and love.
Pittsburgh Urban Christian School welcomes students from all backgrounds. Through a biblically-integrated curriculum and small class sizes, we offer students space to grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Our teachers build meaningful relationships with students, providing personalized instruction and guidance. This whole-child approach is at the heart of our mission to prepare students to serve and flourish in their communities.
Class Size
To support our mission, our admissions maintain small class sizes:
- PreK (PreK 4): Maximum 15 students
- Kindergarten–8th Grade: Maximum 18 students
Small class sizes allow our teachers to build strong relationships with students and families, provide personalized instruction, and foster a supportive classroom community—key components of the nurturing, holistic education we aim to provide.
Admission Eligibility
To be considered for enrollment at PUCS, students must:
- Meet age eligibility requirements (see below).
- Complete the application and assessment process.
- Demonstrate readiness to engage in PUCS’s academic and behavioral expectations.
- Be in good standing at their current school (for transfer students).
- Apply to a class with available space.
Age Requirements
Children must reach the following ages by August 31 of the school year they are applying for:
- PreK (PreK 4): 4 years old
- Kindergarten: 5 years old
- First Grade: 6 years old
Assessment Overview
All K-8th applicants complete an in-person educational assessment. These are designed to help us understand how best to support each child’s learning.
Kindergarten assessments evaluate:
- One-to-one correspondence
- Pattern recognition
- Story comprehension
- Letter and number recognition
- General maturity through games and conversation
- Children are not expected to know all letters or numbers.
Grades 1–5 Assessments include:
- Reading fluency and comprehension
- Math placement (using Everyday Math 4 benchmarks)
- Vocabulary and word recognition
- Writing sample
- Informal conversation
- Review of academic records (required)
Grades 6–8 Assessments include:
- Reading fluency and comprehension
- Math placement
- Vocabulary and word recognition
- Writing sample
- Informal conversation
- Review of academic records (required)
Probationary Period
All new students begin on a nine-week probationary period. During this time, we evaluate whether PUCS is the right academic and social fit for your child. If concerns arise, our Education Director will meet with your family to determine next steps.
Questions?
Call us at 412-244-1779 ext. 201 or schedule a visit online.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The Pittsburgh Urban Christian School admits persons of any race, color, nationality and ethnic origin to all the rights and privileges, programs and activities generally accorded to school personnel and students. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs or other school-administered programs.