You’ve heard of the crazy private school admission process in New York City. What about applying to private schools in the New York suburbs? Many of the schools are as selective as their New York City counterparts. However, there is a way to boost your chances of getting into private schools- apply during one of the school’s entry years.
Most private schools keep the number of students in each grade level small. The years when they add a new class to the grade level are the entry years. Applying during the entry years will increase your child’s chances of getting in and is the optimal time to start because there will be many new kids in class and your child will not be the only new kid. If you apply during a non-entry year, the chances of getting in are not as high. Depending on the school, some schools will have a few spots open in non-entry years or some schools will have no opening at all (ie: someone has to leave the school for there to be an open spot). So when are the private school entry years? We did the research for you and here are the entry years of the top schools in the New York suburbs.
Top Private Schools in Westchester County
Rye Country Day School, Rye, NY- Co-Ed PK-12, Entry Years: PK, K, 4th, 6th and 9th grades
Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY- Co-Ed K-12, Entry Years: K, 2nd, 6th and 9th grades
Masters School, Dobbs Ferry, NY- Co-Ed 5-12, Entry Years: 5th, 6th and 9th grades
Top Private Schools in Southern Fairfield County
Greenwich Academy, Greenwich, CT- Girls PK-12, Entry Years: PK, K, 5th, 6th, 9th and 10th grades
Brunswick School, Greenwich, CT- Boys PK-12, Entry Years: PK, 1st, 5th and 9th grades
King School, Stamford, CT- Co-Ed PK-12, Entry Years: PK, K, 5th, 6th and 9th grades
Sacred Heart Greenwich, Greenwich, CT- Girls K-12 and Co-Ed Barat Center for Early Childhood, Entry Years: Barat Center, K, 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th and 9th grades
Greenwich Country Day School, Greenwich, CT- Co-Ed Nursery-12, Entry Years: Nursery, PK and 9th grades (the school is merging with Stanwich School and are undergoing transition so have yet to release their other entry years)
Greens Farms Academy, Greens Farms, CT- Co-Ed PK-12, Entry Years: PK, K, 5th, 6th, 9th and 10th grades
Top Private Schools in Northern New Jersey
The Pingry School, Short Hills, NJ (Lower School) and Basking Ridge, NJ (Middle and Upper Schools)- Co-Ed K-12, Entry years: K, 2nd, 4th, 6th and 9th grades
Dwight Englewood School, Englewood, NJ- Co-ed PK-12, Entry years: PK, K, 6th and 9th grades
Kent Place School, Summit, NJ- All Girls K-12, Entry years: JPK, PK, K, 6th and 9th grades
Newark Academy, Livingston, NJ- Co-Ed 6-12, Entry years: 6th and 9th grades
Morristown Beard School, Morristown, NJ- Co-Ed 6-12, Entry Years: 6th and 9th grades
Delbarton School, Morristown, NJ- Boys 7-12, Entry Years: 7th and 9th grades
The Elisabeth Morrow School, Englewood, NJ- Co-Ed 3’s- 8th grade, Entry Years: 3’s and 5th grades
Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ- Co-Ed PK-12, Entry Years: PK, 6th and 9th grades
You may also be interested in:
Insider’s Guide to Private Beach Clubs in Westchester County, New York
Insider’s Guide to Country Clubs in Greenwich, CT
Private School versus Public School
Which Westchester School Districts Provide School Bus Transportation?
Where to live? Westchester County, NY versus Fairfield County, CT?
Westchester and Fairfield County Private School Open House
Northern New Jersey Private School Open House
Follow along for more Guide to Private School admissions. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter.
*All information were accurate when we were putting this guide together, however, please check with the school’s admissions director to verify that nothing has changed.
