Delbarton School Admissions Consulting
Expert Guidance for Families Applying to This All-Boys Catholic Day School in Morristown, NJ
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 Delbarton School.
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About the School
About Delbarton School
Delbarton School is an all-boys Catholic day school in Morristown, New Jersey, guided by the Benedictine monks of St. Mary’s Abbey and serving grades 7 through 12 on a 187-acre campus roughly 30 miles west of New York City. The school’s mission centers on developing young men intellectually, physically, spiritually, and morally, a whole-person approach that shapes everything from its academic program to its athletics and campus ministry. With 648 students, an 8:1 student-teacher ratio, and 27 AP and Honors courses, Delbarton pairs a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum with a close-knit, values-driven community. Families researching Delbarton’s admissions process will find a selective, relationship-focused review built around testing, interviews, and a required writing sample.
Families weighing Delbarton alongside other selective schools in the greater New York City area may also find our New York private school admissions consulting resources useful.
Fast Facts
Location
230 Mendham Road, Morristown, NJ 07960 (187-acre campus, 30 miles west of NYC)
Type
Private, Roman Catholic (Benedictine), Independent, All-Boys Day School
Grades
7–12
Total Enrollment
648 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
College Outcomes
90% of graduates attend colleges classified as “Most Competitive” or “Very Competitive”
Application Opens
August 17, 2026 (for the 2027-28 school year, Grades 7 & 9)
Accreditation
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Academic Snapshot
AP & Honors Courses Offered
27
SAT Middle 50% (Class of 2026)
ERW: 600–720 | Math: 600–720
ACT Composite Middle 50% (Class of 2026)
24–32
Faculty Holding Advanced Degrees
73 faculty members
Student Body Identifying as Students of Color
29%
Athletics
Delbarton fields interscholastic teams at both the Middle School and Upper School levels.
Middle School (18 sports, ~50+ teams)
Football, Hockey, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Rugby, Skiing, Soccer, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball, Winter Track, Wrestling
Upper School (16 sports, Varsity/JV/Freshman levels)
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rugby, Skiing, Soccer, Squash (co-ed), Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball, Winter (Indoor) Track, Wrestling. 85% of Upper School students play on an interscholastic team.
Transportation
Delbarton offers optional contracted daily bus transportation: an annual subscription of $7,000 covers AM/PM busing, while $4,000 covers pickup at the Morristown Train Station. Families may be able to recover up to $1,177 through their local school district’s AIL transportation reimbursement policies.
For a deeper look at Delbarton’s admissions process, academics, and student life, see our full Delbarton School Profile.
Admissions Timeline & Events
For applicants to Grades 7 and 9:
Applications Open
August 17, 2026
New Family Mass & Picnic
August 23, 2026
Admissions Open House
September 27, 2026, 12–3 p.m.
Admissions Interviews
October 17, 2026, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. (one of several interview dates; also offered during the school day)
Entrance Exam (Option 1)
October 24, 2026
Entrance Exam (Option 2)
December 5, 2026
Final Application Deadline
November 30, 2026 (all paperwork and application materials due)
For transfer applicants (Grades 8, 10, and 11): applications are accepted from September through June of the year prior to enrollment. Selected candidates may be invited to “spend a day” at Delbarton between February and June, space permitting, with all transfer decisions finalized by June.
What Makes Delbarton’s Admissions Process Unique?
Delbarton’s process is built around direct, in-person evaluation rather than a purely numbers-driven review. Every 7th and 9th grade applicant sits for an on-campus entrance exam and a student-and-parent interview with the Admissions Committee, giving the school a firsthand read on character and fit alongside academic record. The transfer path for Grades 8, 10, and 11 is deliberately smaller and slower, built around space-available “day visits” rather than a fixed testing date, which means transfer families need a different kind of preparation than first-time 7th and 9th grade applicants.
Top Tips for Applying
- Register early for an October or December entrance exam date; both fill on a first-come basis.
- Treat the parent questionnaire as seriously as the student’s own materials; it is a required, weighted part of the file.
- For transfer applicants, apply as early in the September–June window as possible, since openings are filled as they appear.
Best Practices for Families
- Attend the Admissions Open House or an Entrance Exam information session before finalizing the application.
- Prepare your son for a roughly 40-minute interview covering both academic interests and personal character.
- For transfer families, use the “spend a day” visit to assess fit as much as Delbarton is assessing the applicant.
What the Delbarton Application Requires
To apply to Delbarton, you will need to submit the following:
- 01Entrance Exam (Grades 7 & 9)
Required for all 7th and 9th grade applicants: an on-campus test covering Reading, Language, and Mathematics, plus an in-person Writing Sample, offered on October 24 or December 5, 2026.
- 02On-Campus Interview
A required interview with a member of the Admissions Committee, involving both the applicant and a parent. Interviews are offered during the school day and on five Saturday mornings in October and November.
- 03Teacher Recommendations & Transcripts
Both are submitted as part of the online application via Finalsite Enrollment for 7th and 9th grade applicants.
- 04Parent Questionnaire
A required parent essay/questionnaire component, completed as part of the Finalsite application.
- 05Transfer Applicants (Grades 8, 10, 11)
Transfer families apply through SchoolAdmin rather than Finalsite. After completing Parts I and II of the application and the family questionnaire, official transcripts and recommendation letters are requested only once a fit and an opening are confirmed. Transfer applicants submit existing standardized test scores rather than sitting for Delbarton’s own entrance exam, and interview only once invited for a space-available day visit between February and June. Families new to this path may find our guide to applying to a private school as a transfer student helpful.
How Cardinal Education Helps
Delbarton’s process rewards preparation across three distinct touchpoints: the entrance exam, the in-person interview, and the parent questionnaire. Cardinal Education’s private school admissions consulting works with families to prepare for all three, from entrance exam practice to interview coaching for both student and parent. Families interested in how Delbarton’s process specifically affects Asian American applicants can find additional detail on our Delbarton School Guide for Asian American Families.
“Almost every little thing was stressful, but Cardinal Education made it much more manageable. They helped our son stay authentic and on top of things throughout the interview and essays, and we’re grateful he’s now part of the Delbarton community.”— Parent of a Delbarton Student
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Delbarton School only for boys?
What tests are required for admission to Delbarton School?
How can transfer students apply to Delbarton in grades 8, 10, or 11?
How competitive is admission to Delbarton School?
How big is the Asian American population at Delbarton School?
Does Delbarton offer bus transportation for students?
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