Brooks School Admissions Consulting
Personalized guidance for Brooks School applicants, from the SSAT through decision day.
Cardinal Education is an independent educational consulting company. We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any private or public school, including Brooks School.
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About the School
About Brooks School
Brooks School is a close-knit boarding and day school for all genders in grades 9 through 12, founded in 1926 on the shores of Lake Cochichewick in North Andover, Massachusetts. All-gender education began in 1979, and today Brooks seeks to provide what it calls “the most meaningful educational experience” its students will have in their lives. With an average class size of 11 and a 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio, Brooks pairs a genuinely small, residential community with a serious academic and athletic program, 19 AP courses, 15 varsity sports across 45 teams, and a signature three-week Winter Term unlike almost anything offered at a comparable school.
Fast Facts
Location
1160 Great Pond Road, North Andover, MA 01845
Type
Private, Coeducational (all genders), Boarding and Day School
Grades
9-12
Total Enrollment
370 students
Application Deadline
January 15, 2027
Decisions Posted
March 10, 2027 (via Veracross Admission Portal)
Beyond the Numbers
Average Class Size
11 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
5:1
Advanced Coursework
19 AP courses (161 total credit courses; 65 elective options)
Faculty with Advanced Degrees
80%
Students of Color (U.S.)
30%
Sports Offered
15 sports, 45 teams
Brooks School’s Admissions Calendar and Events
Brooks also runs an extensive calendar of admissions events each fall, most held online.
Application Deadline
January 15, 2027
Vericant Interview Deadline (Mainland China Applicants)
December 1, 2026
Decisions Posted
March 10, 2027, via the Veracross Admission Portal
Enrollment Contracts Due
April 10, 2027
Preparing for Private School Admission
September 10, 2026, 6:30-7:30 PM (Joint presentation with The Governor’s Academy, Pingree School, and St. John’s Prep, at Pingree School)
Fall Visit Day
September 26, 2026, 9:15-11:15 AM (In-person and online options; on Brooks’ campus)
Independent School League Admission Fair
October 1, 2026, 6:30-8:00 PM (16 ISL schools; The Westin Waltham Boston)
Chat with Parents
October 15, 2026, 7:00-7:45 PM (Online drop-in with current Brooks parents)
Admission Fall Reception
October 22, 2026, 6:30-8:00 PM (Concord, Massachusetts; RSVP via the Admission Office)
Athletics Info Session
October 27, 2026, 7:00-7:45 PM (Online, with the Director of Athletics)
Drop-In Chat with the Head of School
October 30, 2026, 8:00-8:45 AM; November 5, 2026, 7:00-7:45 PM (Two sessions offered)
All About Student Life at Brooks
November 10, 2026, 7:00-7:45 PM (Online, with student leaders and the Dean of Student Life)
Academic Information Session
November 16, 2026, 7:00-7:45 PM (Online, with academic leaders)
All About Arts at Brooks
December 9, 2026, 7:00-7:45 PM (Online, with arts faculty and student leaders)
What Makes Brooks’s Admissions Process Unique?
Brooks runs two parallel application tracks rather than one: domestic and returning-family applicants generally work through the Gateway to Prep Schools portal, while many other applicants use the Enrollment Management Association’s Standard Application Online (SAO). Both converge on the same core file, an SSAT or ISEE score, a personal statement, a parent statement, and recommendations from a principal or counselor plus English and math teachers, but the fact that Brooks accepts either portal is itself a signal of how many different kinds of applicants it’s built to evaluate fairly, including a substantial international population that also needs a Vericant interview or English proficiency scores.
Top Tips for Applying
- Confirm which application portal your family is using (Gateway or SAO) early, since the required forms differ slightly between the two.
- Register for admission events as soon as the fall calendar is published; several online sessions run only once.
- If applying from mainland China, schedule the required Vericant interview well before the December 1 deadline.
- Treat the personal statement and parent statement as equally important as the SSAT/ISEE score.
Best Practices for Families
- Request teacher recommendations (English and math) well ahead of the January 15 deadline.
- Plan for either a 2-hour in-person visit (tour, student conversation, and parent/guardian discussion) or a 1-hour virtual interview.
- Non-native English speakers should confirm which test, TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo, best fits their timeline.
What the Brooks School Application Requires
To apply to Brooks School, you will need to submit the following:
- 01Standardized Testing
Brooks requires the SSAT or ISEE. The school also accepts PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores, primarily from applicants in grades 10 and 11. Non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores, and applicants from mainland China must complete a Vericant interview by December 1, 2026.
- 02Personal Statement and Parent Statement
Applicants submit a personal statement (called the Candidate Personal Statement on Gateway, or Student Essays on SAO), and families separately submit a parent or guardian statement.
- 03Recommendations and Transcripts
Brooks requires recommendations from a principal or counselor plus English and math teachers, submitted through whichever portal a family uses:
Portal Required Recommendations Gateway to Prep Schools Principal/Counselor Recommendation, English Teacher Recommendation, Math Teacher Recommendation, Personal Recommendation (optional) SAO (Standard Application Online) Principal Recommendation, English Recommendation, Mathematics Recommendation - 04Interview
Interviews are required and can be completed in person (a 2-hour visit including a tour, a student conversation, and a parent/guardian discussion) or virtually (1 hour). Specific weekday time slots are published on the school’s site.
“My four years at Brooks School were among the most transformative of my life so far. I was challenged both academically and athletically, and through study hall and dorm life, I learned independence early on.”— A Brooks Alumnus
How Cardinal Education Helps Elite Families
Because Brooks requires the SSAT or ISEE alongside a genuinely substantial written file, personal statement, parent statement, and multiple teacher recommendations, families often underestimate how much the required interview matters relative to the test score. Cardinal Education’s consultants help families prepare for the SSAT or ISEE, strengthen the personal and parent statements, and get ready for either the in-person or virtual interview.
Asian American and international families should also see our dedicated guide to Brooks School admissions for Asian American families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Brooks School require the SSAT or ISEE?
Is Brooks School test-optional?
What is Brooks School’s acceptance rate?
How big is the Asian American population at Brooks School?
Is an interview required to apply to Brooks?
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