What families applying for Grades 1–4, 5–7, 10, and 11 need to know for 2027–2028
Quick Answer for Busy Parents
Trinity School admits most new students in Kindergarten and Grade 9. It also accepts applications for Grades 1–4, 5–7, 10, and 11, but those seats exist only when a current student leaves. Families should complete the full file by January 8, 2027. If a seat opens, usually in late winter or spring, Trinity reaches out to schedule a visit. There is no fixed decision date, and Trinity does not accept applications for Grades 8 or 12.
Which Trinity Grades Are Open, and How
Trinity is unusually clear about how its admissions works by grade. Families relocating to New York or transferring mid-journey should start here, because the grade your child enters changes nearly everything about the process.
| Grade | Status | What It Means |
| Kindergarten | Primary entry point | A full new class each year with a fixed calendar |
| Grades 1–4 | Attrition only | Visits scheduled only if Trinity expects space |
| Grades 5–7 | Attrition only | Complete the file; Trinity calls if a seat opens |
| Grade 8 | Closed | No applications accepted |
| Grade 9 | Primary entry point | About 60 new students with a fixed calendar |
| Grades 10–11 | Attrition only | Complete the file; visit only if a seat opens |
| Grade 12 | Closed | No applications accepted |
Trinity is also a day school only. Every student must live full-time with a parent or legal guardian within commuting distance, the school does not sponsor student visas, and applicants need to be fully proficient in English.
What a Complete File Looks Like by Grade
For non-entry grades, Trinity’s stated focus is simple: finish the file. Only complete files are considered when a seat opens, so a missing recommendation can quietly take your child out of the running. Everything except the campus visit is due January 8, 2027.
| Grades 5–7 | Grades 10–11 |
| Parent or guardian statement and student essay | Parent or guardian statement and student essay |
| One teacher recommendation | Math, English, and counselor or principal recommendations |
| Fall 2026 semester grades | Fall 2026 semester grades |
| Final transcripts for 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 | Final transcripts for 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 |
| ISEE scores | ISEE or SSAT scores |
Testing deserves early attention. Trinity accepts tests taken between August and December, and a strong score keeps a file competitive whenever a seat appears. Our ISEE test prep team works with students across these grades.
How Rolling Decisions Actually Work
Trinity says it usually doesn’t know whether non-entry seats will exist until later in the school year. That’s why there’s no decision date for these grades. If a seat opens in late winter or early spring, the admissions office contacts families personally to schedule a campus visit, and files are considered on a rolling basis from there.
In practice, that means waiting with a plan rather than waiting by the phone. Families who’ve been through a high school waitlist will recognize the rhythm: stay organized, keep your child’s grades strong through the spring, and keep other options fully alive.
Grade 10 and 11 applicants can watch the first hour of Trinity’s fall Open Houses via livestream. For this cycle, those ran on October 5 and October 27, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM.
Applying to Trinity in a Non-Entry Year?
We’ll help you build a complete file and a parallel plan that protects your child’s options.
The Lower School Exception: Grades 1–4
Lower School non-entry applications work a little differently. Trinity welcomes the application but doesn’t automatically set up campus visits. If the school believes it may have space, it reaches out, typically in January or February, sometimes later in the spring. Trinity is candid that it can’t meet every family that applies, and because space can open after the standard deadlines, some visits happen later in the spring or summer.
If Trinity moves forward with your application
- A parent or guardian tour led by a current Trinity parent, through classrooms and facilities
- A parent or guardian interview with the admissions team
- A student interview with grade-appropriate literacy, math, and writing activities
- Possibly a day spent in a Trinity classroom
What the file includes
Applicants to Grades 2–4 take the ISEE Primary, scheduled directly with ERB. All Lower School applicants need a school report. Grade 2 and 3 applicants need one teacher recommendation, Grade 4 applicants need two, and Grades 2–4 submit a recent writing sample, ideally a school assignment with teacher comments. Trinity holds a virtual information session for Grades 1–4 families on December 2, 2026, from 9:00 to 9:45 AM.
A note on age and grade
Trinity’s Kindergarteners turn five by September 1. Families coming from schools with later birthday cutoffs are encouraged to apply for the grade that keeps their child with same-age peers, even if that means repeating a grade. Trinity says it doesn’t view this as a negative, since its program often differs from what a child has already done.
Planning a Smart Parallel Strategy
Because a Trinity seat may never open, the strongest non-entry applicants treat Trinity as one meaningful option inside a broader plan. That means applying to schools with genuine openings in your child’s grade and staying engaged at your current school. If a move to New York is driving the search, school relocation consulting can help you coordinate timing across schools.
Patience Is Part of the Process
Applying to Trinity outside Kindergarten and Grade 9 asks for organization up front and patience after. Families who complete every piece by January 8 and keep strong alternatives in play are ready whichever way the spring goes. Our New York advisors can help you plan for both outcomes.
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