Greenwich Academy Admissions Consulting
Expert Guidance for Families Applying to This All-Girls, Pre-K–12 Day School in Greenwich, CT
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 Greenwich Academy.
As Seen On
About the School
About Greenwich Academy
Greenwich Academy is a private, all-girls, college-preparatory day school in Greenwich, Connecticut, founded in 1827 and now approaching its Bicentennial in 2027. It is one of the oldest girls’ schools in the country, guided by the motto “Ad Ingenium Faciendum” (“Toward the Building of Character”). Greenwich Academy is currently led by Interim Head of School Reed W. Minor, while the Board of Trustees conducts a national search for a permanent Head. For more than 50 years, GA has maintained a Coordination partnership with the neighboring all-boys Brunswick School, sharing classes and activities at the Upper School level. With 815 students, a 5:1 student-teacher ratio, and 83 Honors/AP courses among 200+ combined course offerings, Greenwich Academy pairs deep institutional history with serious academic rigor and accreditation from NEASC.
Fast Facts
Main Campus
200 North Maple Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 (Middle & Upper School)
Molly H. King Campus
16 Ridgeview Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 (Lower School)
Type
Private, Independent, All-Girls, College-Preparatory Day School
Grades
Pre-K–12 (Lower School: PC/CC + Groups I–IV; Middle School: Groups V–VIII; Upper School: Groups IX–XII)
Total Enrollment
815 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
5:1
Student Diversity
23% students of color
Academic Snapshot
Honors/AP Courses
83, among 200+ combined course offerings
Upper School Course Catalog
277 courses
Sports Offered
16 sports across 25+ teams
College Enrollment Rate
100% four-year college enrollment (Niche.com)
Athletics & the Coordination Program
Greenwich Academy fields 16 sports across 25+ teams, including distinctive offerings like squash, sailing, and crew, competing through NEPSAC, WNEPSAA, FAA, and MSFAA, part of a broader extracurricular program. At the Upper School, GA’s decades-long Coordination partnership with Brunswick School combines course catalogs, activities, and theater productions between the two single-sex schools.
Families specifically interested in how these same fundamentals apply to Asian American applicants can also see our dedicated guide to Greenwich Academy for Asian American families.
Admissions Process by Entry Point
Greenwich Academy’s admissions requirements vary meaningfully by the grade a student is entering, from Kindergarten admissions at the youngest ages through the Upper School. Note that Group XII (12th grade) does not accept new students.
PC/CC (Pre-K/K)
No testing; parent interview + child assessment visit; no essays
Groups I–II
No testing; parent interview + classroom visit; no essays
Groups III–IV
ISEE Primary required; parent interview; no essays
Groups V–VIII
ISEE or SSAT required; parent + student interview; essays required
Groups IX–XI
ISEE or SSAT required; family + student interview; essays required
Applications generally open on a rolling basis in the fall, with interviews beginning in mid-September. In the most recently completed cycle, Application Part I was due December 15, standardized testing scores and Application Part II were due January 15. Families should confirm exact current-cycle dates directly with the admissions office, since deadlines can shift from year to year. Families researching top-rated elementary schools and best middle schools alongside Greenwich Academy may also find these resources useful.
What Makes Greenwich Academy’s Admissions Process Unique?
Requirements scale with age: the youngest applicants (Pre-K through Group II) are evaluated through a parent interview and a visit, with no standardized testing at all. Starting in Groups III–IV, the ISEE Primary becomes required, and from Groups V–XI, applicants may submit either the ISEE or SSAT alongside a student interview and essays. Recommendation requirements also expand at older grades: Groups VI–VIII and IX–XI require both an English and a Math teacher recommendation alongside the Head, Dean, or Principal recommendation required at every level.
Top Tips for Applying
- Schedule your parent/guardian interview early; it’s required at every grade level, and interviews begin in mid-September.
- Confirm which test your daughter’s entry grade requires: ISEE Primary for Groups III–IV, ISEE or SSAT for Groups V–XI.
- Remember that Group XII (12th grade) does not accept new students, so plan transfer timing accordingly.
Best Practices for Families
- Take advantage of the optional student-ambassador-led campus tour to see daily life firsthand.
- For Groups V and up, treat the required student essays and interview as seriously as the standardized test.
- Ask directly about the Coordination program with Brunswick School if coeducational social opportunities matter to your family.
What the Greenwich Academy Application Requires
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01Testing Policy
No standardized test is required for PC/CC or Groups I–II. The ISEE Primary is required for Groups III–IV. The ISEE or SSAT is required for Groups V–XI, with scores due by January 15.
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02Recommendations
A current teacher recommendation and a Head of School/Principal recommendation are required at all grade levels. Groups VI–VIII and IX–XI additionally require separate English and Math teacher recommendations. An optional extracurricular recommendation may also be submitted.
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03Transcripts
Current year-to-date grades and the previous full year’s transcript, including any standardized testing, are emailed directly by the applicant’s current school to Greenwich Academy’s admissions office.
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04Interviews
A parent/guardian interview is required for every applicant. A student interview is added starting in Group V; younger applicants complete a visit instead. A virtual interview option is available.
How Cardinal Education Supports Greenwich Academy Applicants
Because Greenwich Academy’s requirements shift meaningfully by grade, from a no-testing parent interview at the youngest ages to a full ISEE/SSAT-plus-essay file at the Upper School level, families benefit from a strategy built around their daughter’s specific entry point.
Cardinal Education’s private school admissions consulting helps families prepare for the right test, the parent and student interviews, and the essays required at each stage. Families should also understand what schools look for in applicants at a school as selective as Greenwich Academy.
“Allen provided the exact roadmap we needed for such a competitive all-girls school. We’re so grateful to have had their support, whether it was for the interview prep or overall application of our daughter, who is now at GA!”— Gloria, Parent in Greenwich
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Greenwich Academy require the ISEE or SSAT?
Can a student apply to Greenwich Academy for 12th grade?
Is Greenwich Academy an all-girls school?
Who is the current Head of School at Greenwich Academy?
What is Greenwich Academy’s college enrollment rate?
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