🔥 Coming Fall 2026: Forge Prep’s first campus in Short Hills, NJ. (Become one of 30 Founding Families)
Admissions

We Look for Capability and Curiosity

Forge Prep isn’t like most private schools.

We don’t select students based on family income or connections. In 5th to 8th grade, test scores and grades rarely predict much.

Our admissions process is need-blind and built to identify curiosity, capability, and drive. If your child is accepted, we’ll make sure they can attend.

What We Look For in Students

1. A Productive Obsession

The best sign of potential is sustained curiosity. It can take many forms:
  • Designing and selling custom items in Roblox
  • Landing a perfect kickflip after hundreds of tries
  • Flipping Pokémon cards or sneakers for profit
  • Starting a YouTube channel to share something they love
  • Using AI tools to build games or code apps

Every student has at least one productive obsession - it might be visible or still emerging. What matters is that spark of focus and curiosity. Most schools see it as a distraction. We see it as distinction.

2. A Willingness to Try and Try Again

Forge students learn through real challenges. Persistence and iteration are how mastery is built.

3. Compete Outside, Collaborate Inside

We compete hard in the real world - to build, launch, and win.

Inside Forge, students collaborate and push each other to get better. They share ideas, trade feedback, and raise the bar together.

What We Look For in Families

Forge families give their children room to explore, stumble, and grow stronger. They know confidence comes from doing, improving, and earning competence - not from being protected from difficulty.

We’re building a parent community that’s active, thoughtful, and outward-looking. The kinds of things our families do together might include:

  • Hosting small talks on parenting, innovation, or leadership
  • Organizing outdoor adventures, maker nights, or student showcases
  • Partnering on projects that improve the broader community - helping local nonprofits operate smarter, mentoring young builders, or designing solutions with civic impact
  • Sharing meals, ideas, and experiences that build lasting relationships

Forge is well-funded. We don’t ask families to raise or donate money for school supplies or new school buildings. We invite them to help raise the standard for what a school community can be.

If that sounds like your family, we’d love to meet you.

Admissions Timeline

Forge Prep will welcome its Founding Class of 30 students (grades 6–8) in Fall 2026.

We review applications as they are received and admit qualified students on a rolling basis until all seats are filled.

  • Early Decision Applications: January 15, 2026
  • Rolling Admissions: February – April 2026 (until 30 spots are filled)

How to Apply

Forge Prep will welcome its Founding Class of 30 students (grades 6–8) in Fall 2026.

We review applications as they are received and admit qualified students on a rolling basis until all seats are filled.

  1. Submit an Application – Tell us about your child’s interests, projects, and curiosities and .
  2. Schedule a Conversation – We’ll meet with your family to learn more about your child’s mindset, drive, and potential fit.
  3. Student Challenge – Applicants complete a short creative or problem-solving challenge designed to highlight how they think and learn.
  4. Decision – Admission offers are made on a rolling basis.

Given current application volume, we expect all 30 Founding Family seats to be filled by March 2026.

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