Case Study: Menlo School achieves more authentic, equitable admissions with Kira Talent

Menlo School replaces prepared writing submissions with a dynamic new assessment

Menlo School, a longtime independent school in Silicon Valley, needed a better way to evaluate applicants as volume increased after the pandemic. Its admissions team had relied on in-person interviews and prepared writing submissions, but found the writing increasingly time-consuming, less authentic, and more vulnerable to AI-driven sameness. Menlo School turned to Kira Talent and its Asynchronous Assessment to better assess student and family fit.

Kira Talent helped Menlo School replace prepared writing with a more dynamic, video-based assessment for students and parents, supported by custom questions and scoring rubrics. The change gave the admissions team richer, more authentic insights, improved efficiency and equity, and helped reduce bias in review. Menlo School also reported its highest yield in a long time, especially for ninth grade, showing measurable impact from Kira Talent’s solution.

Menlo School

Brooke Wilson

Director of Admissions & Financial Aid