Cardinal Education is an independent educational consulting company. We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any public or private school.
Everything Families Need to Know About Applying to This All-Girls, Pre-K-12 Day School in Greenwich, CT.
Quick Answer for Busy Parents
Greenwich Academy is a selective, all-girls, Pre-K-12 day school in Greenwich, Connecticut, serving 815 students with a 5:1 student-teacher ratio and 100% four-year college enrollment. Admissions requirements scale by entry grade: no test through Group II, the ISEE Primary for Groups III-IV, and the ISEE or SSAT for Groups V-XI, each paired with an interview and, from Group V on, essays. Group XII (12th grade) does not accept new students. Applications open on a rolling basis in the fall, with interviews beginning in mid-September.
Why Do Families Choose Greenwich Academy?
Founded in 1827, Greenwich Academy is one of the oldest girls’ schools in the United States and the oldest in Connecticut, approaching its Bicentennial in 2027. The school’s motto, “Ad Ingenium Faciendum” (“Toward the Building of Character”), reflects a mission built around developing girls and young women of exceptional character and achievement, consistent with the educational philosophy of many historic single-sex schools. 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, combining course catalogs, activities, and theater at the Upper School level. Greenwich Academy holds accreditation from NEASC.
Independent verification supports the school’s reputation: Niche.com reports that 100% of Greenwich Academy graduates go on to attend a four-year college.
Greenwich Academy at a Glance
| Category | Detail |
| Total Enrollment | 815 students, Pre-K-12 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 5:1 |
| Student Diversity | 23% students of color |
| Honors/AP Courses | 83, among 200+ combined course offerings |
| Upper School Course Catalog | 277 courses |
| College Enrollment Rate | 100% four-year college enrollment (Niche.com) |
How Hard Is It to Get Into Greenwich Academy?
Greenwich Academy does not publish an official acceptance rate. What’s verifiable is that requirements scale meaningfully by grade, and the school competes for applicants with other highly selective Connecticut and Westchester-area independent schools. Families researching Greenwich Academy alongside other options should note the school’s rivals include several other well-known Connecticut independent schools, and may benefit from Cardinal’s broader private school admissions consulting practice.
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 before beginning test preparation.
- Remember that Group XII (12th grade) does not accept new students.
Best Practices for Families
- Take advantage of the optional student-ambassador-led campus tour.
- For Groups V and up, treat the required essays and student interview as seriously as the standardized test.
- Ask directly about the Coordination program with Brunswick School if coeducational social opportunities matter to your family.
Greenwich Academy Admission Process by Entry Point
Requirements vary by the grade a student is entering. Note that Group XII (12th grade) does not accept new students.
| Entry Point | Testing | Interview / Visit | Essays | Recommendations |
| PC/CC (Pre-K/K) | None | Parent interview + child assessment visit | None | Teacher + Head/Principal |
| Groups I-II | None | Parent interview + classroom visit | None | Teacher + Head/Principal |
| Groups III-IV | ISEE Primary | Parent interview | None | Teacher + Head/Principal |
| Groups V-VIII | ISEE or SSAT | Parent + student interview | Required | English + Math teacher + Head/Dean (VI-VIII) |
| Groups IX-XI | ISEE or SSAT | Family + student interview | Required | English + Math teacher + Head/Dean |
- Complete Application Part I through Veracross or the Standard Application Online (SAO).
- Schedule the required parent/guardian interview (plus a student interview or visit, depending on grade).
- For Groups III and up, complete the required standardized testing (ISEE Primary or ISEE/SSAT).
- Complete Application Part II: parent questionnaire, student essays (Groups V+), recommendations, and transcripts.
For general guidance on assembling a strong private school application, see our full application walkthrough. Families entering at the youngest ages may also find our Kindergarten admissions guide useful.
Admissions Calendar
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, and standardized testing scores along with 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. See our guide to private school open houses and tours for how to make the most of a campus visit.
Application Requirements
Testing Policy
No standardized test is required for PC/CC or Groups I-II. The ISEE Primary is required for Groups III-IV, typically offered on campus in November and December. The ISEE or SSAT is required for Groups V-XI, with scores due by January 15.
Recommendations
A current teacher recommendation and a Head of School/Principal recommendation are required at every grade level. Groups VI-VIII and IX-XI additionally require separate English and Math teacher recommendations. An optional extracurricular recommendation may also be submitted.
Transcripts
Current year-to-date grades and the previous full year’s transcript are required for all applicants. This includes any standardized testing scores from the applicant’s current school. Documents must be emailed directly by the applicant’s current school to Greenwich Academy’s admissions office.
Interviews
A parent/guardian interview is required for every applicant. A student interview is added starting in Group V, while younger applicants complete a visit instead. A virtual interview option is available, along with an optional student-ambassador-led tour.
Essays
A Parent Questionnaire is required at all levels. Student essays, referred to as the “Student Response,” are required starting in Group V. These components help the admissions committee understand each applicant’s unique character and perspective.
Ready to Build Your Daughter’s Greenwich Academy Application Strategy?
Our consultants help families prepare for the right test, interviews, and essays at each grade level.
Student Life at Greenwich Academy
Academics
Greenwich Academy’s curriculum spans English, Math (through multivariable calculus), History & Social Science (including 7 AP courses), Science (including AP Biology and Small World Initiative research seminars), Engineering & Computer Science (AP Computer Science Principles and A), World Languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, and Greek), and Health & Wellness.
Athletics
Greenwich Academy’s athletics program fields 16 sports across 25+ teams, including cross country, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, basketball, ice hockey, squash, skiing, swimming & diving, crew, golf, lacrosse, sailing, tennis, track & field, and water polo, competing through NEPSAC, WNEPSAA, FAA, and MSFAA.
The Coordination Program with Brunswick School
For more than 50 years, Greenwich Academy has maintained a Coordination partnership with the neighboring all-boys Brunswick School, combining course catalogs, activities, and theater productions for Upper School students at both schools. See our full breakdown in The Coordination Program: How Greenwich Academy and Brunswick School Share the Upper School Experience.
“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
Apply to Greenwich Academy with the Best Admissions Consultants
Greenwich Academy’s age-scaled admissions process rewards families who identify the right test and interview format for their daughter’s specific entry point well in advance. Cardinal Education helps families build results-driven strategies for each stage of that process.
Families specifically interested in how these same fundamentals apply to Asian American applicants can also see our dedicated guide to GA for Asian American families.
Considering Greenwich Academy?
Our consultants help families navigate Greenwich Academy’s admissions process with care and confidence.
Related Articles:
The Coordination Program: How Greenwich Academy and Brunswick School Share the Upper School Experience
Inside Greenwich Academy’s Small World Initiative Research Seminar