Fall 2027 Boarding School Admissions
Boarding School Application Deadlines 2026-2027: 49 Schools, One Table
Most top boarding schools require applications for fall 2027 by January 15, 2027 and release decisions on March 10, 2027, with replies due April 10. But roughly a quarter break the pattern with February 1 or January 31 deadlines, December early decision rounds, or later financial aid dates. This table lists the application deadline, financial aid deadline, decision date, testing policy and application platform for 49 boarding schools, each checked against the school’s own admissions page.
Key dates for fall 2027 entry
Verified October 5, 2026.
Dec 1, 2026
Early decision
Pomfret, Portsmouth Abbey, Kimball Union and Holderness. Suffield Dec 12.
Jan 15, 2027
Most applications due
Exeter, Deerfield, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, Choate, Groton, Milton and more.
Feb 1, 2027
Later deadlines
Andover, Kimball Union, Holderness, Proctor, Foxcroft and Emma Willard.
Mar 10, 2027
Decisions released
Most schools. Family reply date April 10, 2027.
Boarding School Deadlines by School
Tap a school name for its official admissions page. “Confirmed 2027” means the school’s page prints the 2026-2027 cycle. “Recurring, confirm” means the school lists a standing date without a year.
| School | Application deadline | Financial aid | Decision | Testing | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips Exeter AcademyNH Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Required. Gr 9: SSAT/ISEE. Gr 10-11: SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT, PreACT or ACT | Gateway |
| Phillips Academy AndoverMA Confirmed 2027 | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 1, 2027 | Mar 10 | Required: SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT or ACT | Gateway |
| Deerfield AcademyMA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Required. Gr 9-10: SSAT/ISEE taken Jan 2026 to Jan 2027 | Gateway |
| Choate Rosemary HallCT Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Test optional. SSAT/ISEE for Gr 9-10 | Gateway |
| The Hotchkiss SchoolCT Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | Required. Gr 9-10: SSAT/ISEE | Gateway |
| The Lawrenceville SchoolNJ Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Required. Gr 9: SSAT/ISEE | Gateway |
| St. Paul’s SchoolNH Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Required: SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, PreACT, ACT or SAT within 1 year | Gateway |
| Groton SchoolMA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | See school | Required. SSAT for II and III Form | Gateway |
| Milton AcademyMA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | Optional: SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT or ACT | Gateway or SAO |
| Middlesex SchoolMA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Required. Gr 9-10: SSAT/ISEE | Gateway or SAO |
| The Taft SchoolCT Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Feb 1 | Mar 10 | Required. Gr 9-10: SSAT/ISEE | SAO or Gateway |
| Loomis ChaffeeCT Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | Optional. SSAT/ISEE preferred for Gr 9-10 | Gateway or SAO |
| The Peddie SchoolNJ Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Required: SSAT/ISEE | SAO or Gateway |
| The Hill SchoolPA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | Required. Gr 9-10: SSAT, ISEE or PSAT | Gateway or SAO |
| Mercersburg AcademyPA Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Preferred; optional for Gr 9-10 | SAO or Gateway |
| Northfield Mount HermonMA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | See school | Optional. Interview required | SAO or Gateway |
| Concord AcademyMA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15 | Mar 10, 2027 | Required: SSAT/ISEE taken June 2026 to Jan 15, 2027 | Gateway, SAO or own |
| Noble and Greenough (5-day boarding)MA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Required. Upper school: SSAT | Own application |
| The Thacher SchoolCA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Feb 15 | Mar 10 | Required: SSAT/ISEE (Gr 10-11 may use PSAT) | SAO, Gateway or own |
| Cate SchoolCA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Feb 1 | Mar 10 | Required. Gr 9-10: SSAT/ISEE | Gateway or SAO |
| The Webb SchoolsCA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | Test blind | Gateway |
| Episcopal High SchoolVA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Mar 10 | Required. Gr 9-10: SSAT, ISEE or PSAT | SAO or Gateway |
| Woodberry Forest SchoolVA Not posted | Not yet posted for 2027 | Same as application | Not yet posted | Test optional | Own or SAO |
| St. Andrew’s SchoolDE Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Required: SSAT or ISEE | SAO or Gateway |
| Kent SchoolCT Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Optional: SSAT | SAO or Gateway |
| Westminster SchoolCT Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Test scores or a graded writing sample | SAO or Gateway |
| Pomfret SchoolCT Confirmed 2027 | ED Dec 1, 2026; RD Jan 15, 2027 | ED Dec 15, 2026; RD Feb 1, 2027 | ED Dec 18, 2026; RD Mar 10, 2027 | No test requirement stated; graded writing sample | SAO |
| Suffield AcademyCT Confirmed 2027 | ED Dec 12, 2026; RD Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | ED Dec 21, 2026; RD Mar 10, 2027 | Optional | SAO or Gateway |
| Avon Old FarmsCT Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Mar 10 | Optional. SSAT for Gr 9-10 | SAO |
| Miss Porter’s SchoolCT Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Optional: SSAT/ISEE | SAO |
| Emma Willard SchoolNY Recurring, confirm | Feb 1 (international Jan 15) | Feb 1 | Mar 10 | Optional | Own, SAO or Gateway |
| The Ethel Walker SchoolCT Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Encouraged, not required | SAO |
| Berkshire SchoolMA Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Optional | SAO or Gateway |
| Brooks SchoolMA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Mar 10 | Required: SSAT/ISEE | Gateway or SAO |
| The Governor’s AcademyMA Recurring, confirm | Boarding Jan 31; day Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Mar 10 | Required: SSAT or ISEE | Gateway or SAO |
| St. George’s SchoolRI Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 10 | Optional | SAO |
| Portsmouth Abbey SchoolRI Confirmed 2027 | ED Dec 1, 2026; boarding RD Jan 31, 2027 | See school | ED Dec 18, 2026; RD Mar 10, 2027 | Optional. SSAT for Gr 9-10 | Own, SAO or Gateway |
| Blair AcademyNJ Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Feb 1 | Mar 10 | Preferred, not required. Interview required | SAO or Gateway |
| Hackley School (5-day boarding)NY Confirmed 2027 | Preliminary Dec 1, 2026; documents Jan 8, 2027 | See school | Feb 19, 2027 | Required: ISEE or SSAT by Jan 4, 2027 | Own application |
| Cranbrook SchoolsMI Confirmed 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | Jan 31 | Rolling from Feb; boarders by Mar 10 | Required: SSAT | Own; SAO accepted |
| Culver AcademiesIN Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15 | By Mar 1 | Required. Gr 9: SSAT/ISEE | SAO or Gateway |
| Lake Forest AcademyIL Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | See school | Required. Gr 9-10: SSAT, ISEE, PSAT or PreACT | Own or SAO |
| Stevenson SchoolCA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Feb 1 | Boarding Mar 10; day Mar 1 | Newly required for fall 2027: SSAT or ISEE | SAO |
| The Madeira SchoolVA Confirmed 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Jan 15 | Boarding early March | Required. Gr 9-10: SSAT, ISEE or state tests | Ravenna, SAO or Gateway |
| Foxcroft SchoolVA Confirmed 2027 | EA Nov 20, 2026; RD Feb 1, 2027 | EA Nov 20, 2026; RD Feb 1, 2027 | EA Jan 11; RD Mar 10 | Required. Gr 9-10: SSAT | SAO |
| Kimball Union AcademyNH Confirmed 2027 | ED Dec 1, 2026; RD Feb 1, 2027 | Same as application | ED Dec 18, 2026; RD Mar 10, 2027 | Required: SSAT, or PSAT, SAT or ACT | SAO or Gateway |
| Tabor AcademyMA Recurring, confirm | Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Mar 10 | Optional | SAO or Gateway |
| Holderness SchoolNH Confirmed 2027 | ED Dec 1, 2026; RD Feb 1, 2027 | Same as application | ED Dec 18, 2026; RD Mar 10, 2027 | Optional | SAO |
| Proctor AcademyNH Confirmed 2027 | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 1, 2027 | Mar 10 | Optional: SSAT for Gr 9-10 | SAO |
Showing all 49 schools. Dates can change; always confirm on the school’s site before you submit.
Patterns Worth Knowing
January 15 is the default
Nearly three quarters of the schools in this table (36 of 49) use January 15, 2027 as the main deadline. If a school does not list a year, assume January 15 and confirm.
Late deadlines
Andover moved to February 1, 2027. The Hill School and Cranbrook use January 31, and Governor’s and Portsmouth Abbey give boarders until January 31.
Financial aid can lag
Thacher accepts aid forms until February 15. Milton and Loomis Chaffee take them until January 31, and several schools until February 1.
Testing Policies for Fall 2027
Most of the most selective boarding schools still require a test. Exeter, Andover, Deerfield, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, St. Paul’s, Groton, Middlesex, Taft, Cate and Thacher all require the SSAT, ISEE or, for older applicants, the PSAT, SAT or ACT. Choate, Milton, Loomis Chaffee, Northfield Mount Hermon, Kent and Berkshire are test optional, Webb is test blind, and Stevenson newly requires the SSAT or ISEE for fall 2027.
Not sure which test to take? Compare the formats in SSAT vs ISEE 2026-2027, then try our free Middle Level or Upper Level SSAT vs ISEE diagnostic.
Application Timeline for Fall 2027
- October to November 2026Visit and interview. Several schools cap interviews before winter, and Lawrenceville’s day applicant interview cutoff is November 13, 2026.
- October 2026 to January 2027Take the SSAT or ISEE. SSAT paper dates include October 10, November 14 and December 12, 2026 and January 9, 2027.
- December 1 to 12, 2026Early decision deadlines at Pomfret, Portsmouth Abbey, Kimball Union, Holderness and Suffield.
- January 15, 2027Most applications, recommendations and financial aid forms due.
- February 1, 2027Later deadlines at Andover, Kimball Union, Holderness, Proctor, Foxcroft and Emma Willard.
- March 10, 2027Most decisions released. Families reply by April 10, 2027.
Get a free boarding school plan
Free, no pressure, and built around your child’s school list.
Free
We map deadlines, testing and interviews for every school on your list.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are boarding school applications due for fall 2027?
Most top boarding schools set January 15, 2027 as the application deadline, including Exeter, Deerfield, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, Choate, Groton, Milton and Middlesex. Andover, Kimball Union, Holderness, Proctor and Foxcroft use February 1, 2027. The Hill School and Cranbrook use January 31, 2027.
When do boarding schools release admission decisions?
Most release decisions on March 10, 2027, the common notification date, with a family reply date of April 10, 2027. Exceptions include Culver (by March 1), Hackley (February 19, 2027) and schools with early decision rounds in December.
Which boarding schools have early decision?
Pomfret, Portsmouth Abbey, Kimball Union and Holderness have December 1, 2026 early decision deadlines with decisions around December 18. Suffield’s early decision deadline is December 12, 2026, and Foxcroft offers early action by November 20, 2026.
Do boarding schools require the SSAT or ISEE?
Many still do, including Exeter, Andover, Deerfield, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, St. Paul’s, Groton, Middlesex, Taft, Cate and Thacher. A growing group is test optional, including Choate, Milton, Loomis Chaffee, Northfield Mount Hermon, Kent and Berkshire. Webb is test blind, and Stevenson newly requires the SSAT or ISEE for fall 2027.
What is the difference between Gateway and SAO?
Gateway to Prep Schools and the Standard Application Online are the two shared application platforms. Many schools accept either, but some accept only one, such as St. George’s (SAO only) or Webb (Gateway only), and a few use their own application. Check the platform column before you start.
When are financial aid applications due?
Usually the same day as the application, most often January 15. Some schools give more time: Thacher February 15, Milton and Loomis Chaffee January 31, and Taft, Cate, Blair, Tabor and Avon Old Farms February 1.
About This Data
Compiled by Jeremy Fine, who founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and has more than 20 years in education, from each school’s official admissions and financial aid pages on October 5, 2026. We recheck the table through the cycle. You may cite or reuse it with a link to this page. Related: SSAT vs ISEE · Private and boarding school advising · Private school admissions requirements by region · SSAT and ISEE tutoring