Beginning in June 2024, independent schools using the Standard Application Online (SAO)—the most widely used common application for K–12 independent school admissions—now have the option to hide student race, ethnicity, and financial aid information on submitted applications. 

This SAO enhancement is a proactive step by the Enrollment Management Association (EMA) to support unbiased decision-making in independent school admissions, particularly in light of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against race-conscious admissions in higher education. The ruling does not apply to K–12 admissions* or specify financial aid information; however, EMA developed this enhancement to support schools wanting to consider applications without these data points. 

This enhancement allows schools to conceal race, ethnicity, and financial aid data fields before receiving submitted SAO applications. Schools can also reveal, when needed, any data they initially chose to conceal. This will aid in overall process evaluation after completing admissions decisions.

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*While the Supreme Court ruling was specific to higher education, EMA recommends that K–12 independent schools consult legal counsel for any potential implications it may have for your organization.