How to Get Into Groton School: Key Information and Application Steps

Groton School is one of the most selective boarding schools in the country, and one of the most misunderstood. This guide walks through what the admissions process actually weighs, what the application requires, and how families can put together a strong, honest case for their child.

Quick Answer for Busy Parents

Groton School enrolls 380 students in grades 8–12 at its Groton, Massachusetts campus, admitting primarily at Second Form (8th grade) and Third Form (9th grade). The application, due January 15, 2027 for fall 2027 enrollment, requires the Candidate Profile, transcripts, teacher and counselor recommendations, a Candidate Statement, a Parent Statement, a graded writing sample, and SSAT or ISEE scores, plus an interview. Groton does not publish an official acceptance rate, but it is widely regarded as one of the most competitive boarding schools in the U.S.

Why Do Families Choose Groton School?

Groton was founded in 1884 by Reverend Endicott Peabody, an Episcopal priest who wanted a school that paired academic rigor with moral seriousness and public duty. That founding mission, now stated as inspiring “lives of character, scholarship, leadership, and service within a diverse, inclusive, and close-knit community,” still shapes the school today. Groton was originally a boys’ school and became coeducational in 1975. Its most famous alumnus, Franklin D. Roosevelt (Class of 1900), is a frequent reference point for families researching the school’s history, but Groton’s identity has always rested less on individual alumni and more on its small scale: 380 students, an 11-student average class size, and a 4:1 student-faculty ratio that makes it difficult for any student to disappear into the background.

Groton School at a Glance

How Hard Is It to Get Into Groton School?

Groton does not publish an official acceptance rate. Third-party estimates commonly cite a figure around 10–12%, but treat that as an unconfirmed, widely repeated estimate rather than a school-verified statistic; Groton itself does not release admissions-yield data. What is verifiable is that Groton’s average class size (11) and total enrollment (380) leave very little room in each entering class, and that most openings occur at the Second Form and Third Form entry points, with fewer seats at Fourth and Fifth Form.

Groton evaluates transcripts, recommendations, the Candidate Statement, and the interview together, and there’s no single number that decides an application. The school is also explicitly need-blind: financial circumstances play no role in admission decisions, and families earning $150,000 or less pay no tuition, room, or board at all.

Top Tips for Applying

• Apply at Second Form or Third Form when possible, since these are Groton’s primary entry points, with more available seats than upper-grade transfers
• Take the SSAT or ISEE in November or December rather than waiting for the January date
• Treat the Candidate Statement as a chance to show real voice; admissions officers read hundreds of these and can tell when an answer is rehearsed

Best Practices for Families

• Start the Candidate Profile as soon as it opens (early July) to avoid losing interview availability later in the season
• Request fee waivers before November 1 if applying for one, since later requests require an additional transcript
• Don’t assume you won’t qualify for aid: Groton’s financial aid budget is $7.6 million and reaches 40% of the student body

Groton School Admission Process

1. Create an account and complete the Candidate Profile on Gateway to Prep Schools; this single form can be shared with multiple schools
2. Schedule a campus visit: a group tour, or an individualized tour paired with an interview
3. Complete the Candidate Statement and Parent Statement
4. Submit transcripts covering the past two years plus the current year’s first marking period
5. Arrange recommendations from a principal/counselor, current English teacher, and current math teacher, plus a personal or special interest recommendation
6. Register for and submit SSAT or ISEE scores (and English-proficiency scores, if applicable)
7. Complete the interview, in person, remotely, or via video introduction
8. Submit the Clarity financial aid application by January 15, 2027, if requesting aid

Admissions Calendar & Key Dates

Groton School Application Requirements

Testing

SSAT (code 3598) or ISEE (code 220930) scores are required. Second Formers may submit the middle or upper-level SSAT; Third Formers, the upper-level SSAT; Fourth and Fifth Formers may submit the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or upper-level SSAT; all grades may submit the ISEE. Applicants who haven’t attended an English-language school for the past two years should also submit TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test results (TOEFL code 8224).

Recommendation Options

Every applicant needs a Principal/Counselor Recommendation and current English and Math teacher recommendations. Beyond that, Groton accepts either or both of the following:

Essays & Writing Sample

The Candidate Statement asks students to answer four of five short-answer prompts (about 150 words each) and expand one into a full essay (about 500 words). Parents complete a separate Parent Statement addressing the child’s character, how they engage with others, and the family’s reasons for applying. A graded, non-fiction writing sample from the current school year, preferably from an English class, rounds out the written portion.

Transcripts

Transcripts must include the past two full academic years plus the first marking period of the current year. Groton strongly prefers to receive these directly from the applicant’s current and former schools. If your child needs to strengthen their grades and GPA, you might want to consider tutoring and academic coaching.

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Student Life at Groton School

Academics

Second and Third Formers take a common core across English, math, science, Latin, a modern language, and the arts. From Fourth Form on, students choose from electives and advanced coursework, including tutorials and independent projects. In the Form of 2027, students sat for 531 AP exams, with 99% scoring 3 or higher and 92% scoring 4 or higher; the Form of 2026’s average standardized test scores were a 1470 SAT composite and a 34 ACT composite.

Activities

Groton’s roughly 40 student-run clubs range from the Debating Society and Model UN to the Robotics Club, Investment Club, and Circle Voice (the student newspaper). Identity- and culture-based groups include the Cultural Alliance, Asian Culture Group, South Asian Affinity Group, Mixed Heritage Alliance, and Gender Sexuality Alliance, all student-founded, and students are encouraged to start new clubs if an interest isn’t yet represented.

Athletics

As a member of the Independent School League, Groton fields 46 teams across 14 sports, from crew and squash to ice hockey and track and field. Most students participate in athletics each season, and students can also propose a Faculty Sponsored Activity as an alternative to a traditional team.

Arts

Groton’s arts program spans visual arts (photography, ceramics, sculpture, painting, and more, including a visiting artist program), music (ensembles, choir, orchestra, and private lessons), and theater and dance. Students with a strong arts interest are encouraged to complete an Arts Interest Form so directors can learn more about their background.

Summer Programs

Groton’s GRACE (Groton Accelerate Challenge Enrich) program offers current students an accelerated academic summer between 9th and 10th grade, and GEO (Global Education Opportunities) sends students abroad during school vacations, both distinctive to Groton’s academic calendar rather than typical of boarding schools generally.

Groton School Famous Alumni

1. Franklin D. Roosevelt (Class of 1900): 32nd President of the United States, led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II
2. Dean Acheson (Class of 1911): U.S. Secretary of State under President Truman and a key architect of NATO
3. Louis Auchincloss (Class of 1935): novelist known for works including The Rector of Justin
4. William F. Buckley Jr. (Class of 1943): founder of National Review and a central figure in 20th-century conservative political discourse
5. John B. Goodenough: Nobel laureate in Chemistry (2019), recognized for his work on lithium-ion batteries

Cardinal Education worked closely with our son to improve his writing, prepare for the interview, and find the best ways to show off his academic and extracurricular skills. The fact that they really knew what Groton wanted made all the difference.

— Parent of a 9th grader

The Bottom Line

Groton’s small scale is both the draw and the challenge: the same 4:1 ratio and 11-student classes that create close relationships also mean very few open seats each year. Families who succeed here tend to be the ones who take Groton’s holistic review seriously, building a genuine, specific application rather than a generically impressive one.

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Related Articles

• Best Guide to Groton School’s Selective Admissions Process
• Groton School Admissions Timeline: Key Dates and Deadlines
• Groton School Alumni: Where Are They Now? Notable Grotonians and Their Achievements

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