Fall 2027 Admissions Cycle
Fairfield County, CT Private School Admissions Guide: Tests, Deadlines and Decision Dates
Every major independent and Catholic school in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with entry grades, required tests (ISEE, SSAT or HSPT), application deadlines and decision dates for fall 2027 entry, checked against each school's own admissions pages. Compiled by ConnectPrep, the Westport-based private school admissions and test prep firm.
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In short: Fairfield County independent day schools (Greenwich Academy, Brunswick, Greenwich Country Day, King, Greens Farms Academy, St. Luke's, New Canaan Country School and others) generally require the ISEE or SSAT for middle and upper school applicants, set application deadlines between mid December and mid January, and release decisions in mid to late February, with enrollment contracts due in early March. The county's Catholic high schools (Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame Prep, St. Joseph, Kolbe Cathedral and Immaculate) use a shared entrance exam on Saturday, October 24 or Saturday, November 7, 2026, with early decision and priority deadlines in November and December.
The Fall 2027 Calendar
Key Dates for Fairfield County Private School Admissions, 2026 to 2027
| When | What happens | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| September to November 2026 | Open houses, tours and student visits; applications open (Sacred Heart Greenwich opened Sept 15, 2026) | All schools |
| Sat, October 24, 2026 | Catholic high school entrance exam (HSPT), first date | Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame Prep, St. Joseph, Kolbe Cathedral, Immaculate; Lauralton Hall lists the same dates |
| Sat, November 7, 2026 | Catholic high school entrance exam, second date | Same schools as above |
| November 7 and December 12, 2026 | ISEE testing hosted at Greenwich Academy | Greenwich Academy applicants (any ISEE date is accepted) |
| November 11 to 13, 2026 | Catholic school priority and early decision deadlines | St. Joseph (Nov 11), Notre Dame Prep (Nov 13) |
| December 1, 2026 | Early decision deadline | Fairfield Prep; Lauralton Hall priority deadline |
| December 15, 2026 | Part I or initial application due | Greenwich Academy, Brunswick, Greenwich Country Day |
| December 20, 2026 | Regular application deadline | Fairfield Prep |
| January 15, 2027 | Complete file due (testing, recommendations, interview) | Greenwich Academy, Brunswick, GCDS, Sacred Heart Greenwich, New Canaan Country School, King (Round 1) |
| January 20, 2027 | Regular decisions released | Fairfield Prep |
| February 12 to 19, 2027 | Decisions released | King (Round 1 by Feb 12), NCCS (Feb 18), Greenwich Academy, Brunswick, GCDS, Sacred Heart and Fairfield Country Day (Feb 19) |
| Early March 2027 | Enrollment contracts due | Sacred Heart, NCCS, Fairfield Country Day and Fairfield Prep (Mar 5); St. Luke's (Mar 8); GCDS (Mar 10) |
There is no official common notification date for Fairfield County. The mid February cluster above is simply what each school publishes. Always confirm on the school's own site before you plan around a date.
School by School
Fairfield County Independent Day Schools: Tests and Deadlines
Entry grades, testing and dates below come from each school's admissions pages, checked October 2026. Where a school has not yet posted fall 2027 dates, we say so rather than guess.
| School (town) | Type and grades | Admissions test | Deadline (fall 2027) | Decision date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwich Academy (Greenwich) | Girls day, PreK to 12 (new students enter through grade 11) | ISEE Primary for grades 3 and 4; ISEE or SSAT for grades 5 to 11 | Part I Dec 15, 2026; Part II and scores Jan 15, 2027 | Feb 19, 2027 |
| Brunswick School (Greenwich) | Boys day, PreK to 12; main entries PreK, K, 1, 5, 6 and 9 | ISEE for grades 2 to 6; ISEE or SSAT for 7 and 8; ISEE, SSAT or PSAT for Upper School | Dec 15 (family information and fee); Jan 15 (complete file) | Feb 19 |
| Greenwich Country Day School (Greenwich) | Co-ed day, nursery to 12 | Confirm with the school | Dec 15 (initial); Jan 15 (complete) | Feb 19; enrollment by Mar 10 |
| Sacred Heart Greenwich | Catholic girls school (co-ed early childhood), early childhood to 12; entries at K, 5 and 9 | Confirm with the school | Complete by Jan 15, 2027 | Feb 19, 2027; contracts due Mar 5, 2027 |
| King School (Stamford) | Co-ed day, PreK to 12 | ISEE or SSAT for grades 3 to 11; in-house screening for PreK to 2 | Round 1: application complete by Dec 15, 2026, with interview and testing by Jan 15, 2027; rolling after | Round 1 by Feb 12, 2027 |
| Greens Farms Academy (Westport) | Co-ed day, PreK to 12 | ISEE or SSAT for Upper School | Confirm with the school | Confirm with the school |
| St. Luke's School (New Canaan) | Co-ed day, grades 5 to 12 | Grades 5 to 8: not required (scores encouraged; performance task for 5 and 6). Grades 9 to 12: ISEE or SSAT required | Dec 7 (initial); Jan 11 (complete) | Mid February; enrollment by Mar 8 |
| New Canaan Country School (New Canaan) | Co-ed day, PreK to 9 | Grade 6: school testing, ISEE or SSAT; grades 7 and 8: ISEE or SSAT | Jan 15, 2027 (rolling after) | Feb 18, 2027; contracts due Mar 5, 2027 |
| Fairfield Country Day School (Fairfield) | Boys day, K to 9 | Readiness screening for K; standardized testing for grades 6 to 9 | Feb 12 (applies through Ravenna) | Feb 19; enrollment by Mar 5 |
| Unquowa School (Fairfield) | Co-ed day, PreK to 8 | Not listed | Mid February for most grades (PreK earlier); confirm 2027 dates | From mid to late February |
| Whitby School (Greenwich) | Co-ed Montessori and IB World School, 18 months to grade 8 | Confirm with the school | Confirm with the school | Confirm with the school |
| The Mead School (Stamford) | Co-ed progressive day, infants to grade 8 | Not listed | No fixed deadline; financial aid applicants by Feb 1 | Rolling |
| Mater Salvatoris College Prep (Stamford) | Independent Catholic; girls grades 1 to 12, co-ed PreK3 and K | In-house entrance exam (ELA and math) for grades 6 to 10 | Confirm with the school | Confirm with the school |
| Wooster School (Danbury) | Co-ed day, grades 5 to 12 | Not listed | Apply by Feb 1 recommended (no hard deadline) | February; contract within two weeks |
Looking beyond Fairfield County? See our New England private school requirements and boarding school deadlines.
Catholic High Schools
Fairfield County Catholic High School Admissions and the HSPT
The Catholic high schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport test together. Students sit for the entrance exam once, on Saturday, October 24 or Saturday, November 7, 2026, and can send scores to additional cooperative schools. Fairfield Prep notes that a student may take the test only once among cooperative schools, so the first sitting counts. That makes preparation before the October date unusually important.
| School (town) | Type | Entrance exam | Deadlines | Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield College Preparatory School (Fairfield) | Jesuit boys, grades 9 to 12 | HSPT Oct 24 or Nov 7, 2026; SSAT also accepted | Early Decision Dec 1, 2026; Regular Dec 20, 2026 | ED Dec 15, 2026; Regular Jan 20, 2027; enroll by Mar 5, 2027 |
| Notre Dame Prep, of Sacred Heart University (Fairfield) | Catholic, grades 9 to 12 | Entrance exam Oct 24 or Nov 7, 2026 | Early Decision and Priority Nov 13, 2026; rolling from Jan 15, 2027 | ED letters Dec 13, 2026; Priority letters Jan 15, 2027 |
| St. Joseph High School (Trumbull) | Co-ed Catholic, grades 9 to 12 | HSPT Oct 24 and Nov 7, 2026 | Priority Nov 11, 2026; rolling after | On acceptance |
| Kolbe Cathedral High School (Bridgeport) | Co-ed Catholic, grades 9 to 12 | Entrance exam Oct 24 and Nov 7, 2026 | Confirm with the school | Confirm with the school |
| Immaculate High School (Danbury) | Catholic, grades 9 to 12 | HSPT Oct 24 and Nov 7, 2026 | Early Decision deposit by Dec 18; regular deposit by Feb 10, 2027 | Confirm with the school |
| Lauralton Hall (Milford, just outside the county) | Catholic girls, grades 9 to 12 | HSPT Oct 24 and Nov 7; SSAT also accepted | Apply by Dec 1 (rolling after); scholarship deadline Nov 15 | Confirm with the school |
New to the HSPT? Our HSPT vs TACHS guide explains the format and scoring.
Learning Differences
Fairfield County Schools for Students With Learning Differences
Eagle Hill School (Greenwich)
Language-based learning differences. Rolling admissions; requires a neuropsychological or district evaluation from the past two years. Financial aid applicants are urged to apply before January 15.
The Southport School (Southport)
Co-ed day school for students with dyslexia and ADHD, grades 2 to 8. Requires a psychoeducational evaluation from the past three years; decisions typically within two weeks.
For a national list, see our schools for learning differences directory.
Testing
ISEE vs SSAT vs HSPT: Which Test Does Your Fairfield County School Want?
- ISEE only at younger grades: Greenwich Academy (ISEE Primary for grades 3 and 4) and Brunswick (grades 2 to 6).
- ISEE or SSAT: King (grades 3 to 11), Greenwich Academy (grades 5 to 11), Brunswick (grades 7 and 8), New Canaan Country School (grades 7 and 8), and the Upper Schools at Greens Farms Academy and St. Luke's.
- PSAT also accepted: Brunswick Upper School.
- No test for middle school: St. Luke's grades 5 to 8 (scores encouraged).
- HSPT: the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic high schools; Fairfield Prep and Lauralton Hall also accept the SSAT.
Most families applying to several day schools take one test and send it everywhere. Our SSAT vs ISEE comparison walks through how to choose, and our ISEE, SSAT and HSPT prep is built around the specific schools on your list.
How ConnectPrep Helps
Private School Admissions Help in Fairfield County
Admissions Advising
School list strategy across Greenwich, New Canaan, Westport, Stamford and Fairfield, plus application essays, parent statements, recommendations planning and interview practice.
ISEE, SSAT and HSPT Prep
1:1 test prep in your home or online, with a free diagnostic first. For the October 24 HSPT, the time to start is now.
Free Assessments
Take a free practice test to see where your child stands before you choose a test date.
Common Questions
Fairfield County Private School Admissions FAQs
When are private school applications due in Fairfield County?
For fall 2027 entry, most independent day schools want an initial application by mid December (December 15 at Greenwich Academy, Brunswick and Greenwich Country Day) and a complete file, including test scores, by January 15, 2027. St. Luke's uses December 7 and January 11. Catholic high schools run earlier: priority and early decision deadlines fall between November 11 and December 1, 2026.
When do Fairfield County private schools release admissions decisions?
Most day schools release decisions in mid to late February. For 2027, Greenwich Academy, Brunswick, Greenwich Country Day, Sacred Heart Greenwich and Fairfield Country Day list February 19; New Canaan Country School lists February 18; King guarantees Round 1 decisions by February 12. Enrollment contracts are typically due in early March.
What are the 2026 HSPT dates for Fairfield County Catholic high schools?
Saturday, October 24 and Saturday, November 7, 2026. Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame Prep, St. Joseph, Kolbe Cathedral and Immaculate all list these dates, and Lauralton Hall in Milford lists the same dates. A student takes the exam once and can share scores with other cooperative schools.
Do Fairfield County private schools accept the ISEE or the SSAT?
Most accept either. King, Greens Farms Academy's Upper School, St. Luke's Upper School, Greenwich Academy (grades 5 and up) and New Canaan Country School (grades 7 and 8) take the ISEE or SSAT. Younger applicants at Greenwich Academy and Brunswick take the ISEE.
Is there a common notification date for Fairfield County private schools?
Not officially. Several Greenwich schools happen to share February 19, and early March contract deadlines are common, but each school sets its own dates. Check each school's admissions page before you plan.
When should we start preparing for the ISEE, SSAT or HSPT?
Ideally three to four months before the first test date. For the October 24, 2026 HSPT that means summer; if you are starting now, a focused plan can still help, and the November 7 date gives a second option. For day schools with January 15 score deadlines, fall prep with a November or December test date leaves room for a retake.
Which grades are the main entry points?
Kindergarten, the start of middle school (grade 5 or 6) and grade 9 are the largest entry points. Brunswick, for example, lists PreK, K, 1, 5, 6 and 9, and Sacred Heart Greenwich lists K, 5 and 9. Other grades open only as space allows.
Does ConnectPrep help with Fairfield County private school admissions?
Yes. ConnectPrep is based in Westport and advises families on school lists, applications, interviews and ISEE, SSAT and HSPT preparation, in person across Fairfield County and online. Every engagement starts with a free consultation.
A ConnectPrep reference page. Dates and requirements were compiled from each school's official admissions pages in October 2026 and can change. Always confirm with the school before applying.
Applying to Fairfield County Private Schools This Year?
Talk with ConnectPrep founder Jeremy Fine about your child's school list, testing plan and timeline.
Related: Fairfield County tutoring · Darien SAT and ACT tutoring · Private school admissions requirements by region · Boarding school deadlines
Last updated October 2026