East Coast boarding schools are private high schools where students live on campus, concentrated in New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. For Irvine families, the boarding school calendar runs earlier than the Orange County private school calendar, and it requires out-of-state campus visits or online interviews. This guide explains application platforms, testing, interviews and financial aid, and compares the ten schools covered on this site.
Where to submit the application
Main platform
Gateway to Prep Schools
One account is used to apply to several member schools. The application has four parts: the candidate profile, payment, each school's supplemental materials, and the recommendation and school report forms. All ten schools covered on this site are member schools.
Alternative platform
SAO (Standard Application Online)
A common application offered by the organization that administers the SSAT. Milton Academy and Middlesex School accept both Gateway and the SAO.
The school's own system
A separate school portal after submission
In addition to Gateway, Phillips Academy Andover, Phillips Exeter Academy and Middlesex School have their own application portals for supplemental materials and status updates.
The application year
- 1
Summer and fall, grades 7 to 8
Set the school list and begin interviews
Interview season at most schools begins in September. Families can plan an East Coast campus visit in the summer or fall, or schedule online interviews.
- 2
Grade 8, October to January
Take the SSAT or the ISEE
The SSAT paper test dates for the 2026-27 school year are October 10, November 14, December 12, January 9, 2027, and January 30, 2027.
- 3
January 15
Application and financial aid deadline
Most schools set a January 15 deadline, and the Clarity financial aid deadline falls on the same day. The Phillips Academy Andover deadline is February 1.
- 4
March 10
Decisions released
All ten schools state that decisions are released on March 10. Groton School states that admission and financial aid decisions arrive on the same day.
- 5
By April 10
Reply to the school
Deerfield Academy, Milton Academy, The Lawrenceville School and The Hotchkiss School state a reply deadline of April 10, 2027.
Testing, English scores and interviews
Testing and English scores
- Grade 9 applicants: most schools accept the SSAT or the ISEE
- Choate Rosemary Hall and Milton Academy do not require standardized testing
- The SSAT Upper Level is for students currently in grades 8 to 11 applying to grade 9 through PG
- For international students whose first language is not English, most schools require or recommend TOEFL, Duolingo or IELTS scores
Interviews
- Deerfield Academy, Groton School, Milton Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy and The Lawrenceville School require an interview
- The Hotchkiss School recommends but does not require an interview; Choate Rosemary Hall strongly recommends one
- Most schools offer online interviews; all Choate Rosemary Hall interviews take place online
- Middlesex School requires international applicants whose first language is not English to complete a pre-interview first
For interview preparation, see the Guide to Private School Interviews and Visit Days; for SSAT preparation, see the SSAT course.
Application requirements at ten schools (entry in 2027-28)
Choate Rosemary Hall
Test optional- Deadline
- January 15
- Interview
- Strongly recommended, all online
- Tuition
- Boarding $74,530 (2026-27, includes technology fee)
- Application fee
- $75; $125 for international students
Accepts applications to repeat a grade (reclassify).
Deerfield Academy
SSAT / ISEE- Deadline
- January 15 (priority deadline)
- Interview
- Required, on campus or online
- Decision
- Released March 10; enroll by April 10
- Tuition
- Boarding $79,940 (2026-27)
Accepts applications to repeat a grade and recommends raising this during the interview.
Groton School
SSAT / ISEE- Deadline
- January 15, 2027
- Interview
- Required, on campus or by video
- Decision
- March 10; admission and financial aid decisions arrive together
- Tuition
- Boarding $62,740 (2026-27)
Enrolls grades 8 to 11.
Milton Academy
Test optional- Deadline
- January 15, 2027; the interview must be completed before then
- Financial aid
- Clarity, January 31, 2027
- Decision
- Released March 10, 2027; reply by April 10
- Tuition
- Boarding $79,900 (2026-27)
Middlesex School
SSAT / ISEE- Deadline
- January 15, 2027
- Interview
- Not required; online available
- Decision
- March 10
- Tuition
- Boarding $82,575 (2026-27)
Phillips Academy Andover
SSAT / ISEE and others- Deadline
- February 1, 2027
- Interview
- Complete by the end of January; on campus, online or recorded
- Decision
- March 10
- Tuition
- Boarding $79,800 (2026-27)
Phillips Exeter Academy
SSAT / ISEE- Deadline
- January 15
- Interview
- Required; on campus, online or recorded video
- Testing
- Scores must be from within one year before the deadline
- Tuition
- Boarding $71,797 (2026-27)
St. Paul's School
SSAT / ISEE and others- Deadline
- January 15
- Interview
- On campus June to January; online September to January
- Decision
- March 10
- Tuition
- $75,400 (2026-27, includes room and board)
All students board; enrolls grades 9 to 11.
The Lawrenceville School
SSAT / ISEE- Deadline
- January 15
- Interview
- Required; boarding applicants complete it by January 15
- Decision
- Released March 10; reply by April 10
- Tuition
- Boarding $82,710 (2026-27)
The Hotchkiss School
SSAT / ISEE- Deadline
- January 15, 2027
- Interview
- Recommended, mid-September to mid-January
- Decision
- Released March 10, 2027; reply by April 10
- Tuition
- Boarding $79,350 (2026-27)
These requirements come from the admission and tuition pages of each school website, checked on September 27, 2026. All ten schools accept financial aid applications through Clarity. Schools update their requirements every year; follow each school's announcements for the current year before applying.
Costs and financial aid
Boarding tuition at the ten schools for the 2026-27 school year ranges from $62,740 to $82,710, with additional costs for books, travel and other expenses. All of these schools offer need-based financial aid through the Clarity platform, and the aid deadline usually matches the application deadline. For guidance on preparing a financial aid application, see the Private School Financial Aid Guide.
The EDUBUS White Paper on U.S. Private Schools includes school-by-school profiles of boarding schools, and a printed copy is available at the EDUBUS Irvine office.
