How to Get Into Newark Academy: What You Need to Know

Quick Answer for Busy Parents

Ambitious families seeking admission to Newark Academy should demonstrate strong academic performance, authentic intellectual curiosity, and alignment with the school’s commitment to producing learners who are committed to excellence, inclusivity, and service instilled with passion and generosity. 

To be considered competitive in this highly selective process, students must present a compelling narrative that reinforces a strong fit with Newark Academy. A student’s ability to highlight their unique strengths, initiative, and commitment to contributing positively to the school community plays a critical role in securing favorable admission. 

Why Do Families Choose Newark Academy?

Founded in 1774, Newark Academy is one of the oldest independent schools in the United States. Established on the belief that rigorous education and genuine civic preparation go hand in hand, the school’s founding mission has only deepened over 250 years. 

Located in Livingston, New Jersey, Newark Academy has become one of the most prestigious schools in the country, recognized for its global student body, rigorous academics, distinguished alumni, and strong emphasis on commitment to citizenship, service, and character development. 

Families choose Newark Academy for its holistic education that fosters not only intellectual curiosity but also generosity of spirit, service-mindedness, leadership, and a sense of belonging and community, equipping learners with the skills essential to their functioning as members of the greater community. 

How Hard Is It to Get Into Newark Academy?

Newark Academy does not publish an official acceptance rate, which is common among highly selective independent schools. Its selectivity stems less from raw application numbers and more from the caliber of the pool. Many families applying to Newark Academy are also considering other top private and boarding schools across the U.S., including Phillips Andover, Phillips Exeter, and Choate Rosemary Hall. As a result, admissions are highly competitive, with the school evaluating students in the context of an exceptionally accomplished peer group. 

Based on application volume relative to enrollment, admission is genuinely competitive, particularly for the 9th-grade entry point (Form III), the school’s primary and most sought-after entry year. The middle school entry point (6th grade) draws a somewhat smaller pool. Occasional openings exist at other grade levels, but families should plan around standard entry points. 

Taking into consideration how competitive Newark Academy’s admission is, elite families may benefit by working with a highly regarded private school admissions consultant experienced in NA’s admissions process. Consultants can provide invaluable guidance in crafting a compelling narrative for the application. 

Top Tips For Families Who Want to Get Into Newark Academy

• • Apply to the right entry point. 
• • Build the strongest possible academic foundation now. 
• • Engage in meaningful extracurricular activities way before the start of any applications. 

Best Practices for Students Applying to Newark Academy

• • Visit campus before submitting the application. 
• • Start the standardized testing process early. 
• • Talk to current Newark Academy families if possible. 

Common Questions Parents Ask About NA’s Admissions

Q: What grades does Newark Academy admit?
A: Newark Academy is a 6–12 school. The primary entry points are 6th grade (middle school) and 9th grade (upper school), with occasional openings at other levels.  

Q: Is the SSAT or ISEE required?
A: Yes. Standardized testing is part of the Newark Academy application. The school accepts both the SSAT and ISEE. Families should confirm current testing requirements directly with the admissions office, as policies can be updated. 

Q: Is there a sibling preference in admissions?
A: Newark Academy, like many independent schools, gives some consideration to siblings of current students, though admission is never guaranteed. 

Newark Academy’s Admission Process

Accomplishing the “Online Admission Form” is the first step in Newark’s admission process, which opens in September of the following academic year. It’s a way for the school to get to know the applicant and their interests. 

1. Online Admission Form
2. Candidate & Parent Conversation
3. Teacher Recommendations
4. Grade Reports
5. Standardized Testing
6. Supplementary Materials

For more details and to begin your application, visit Newark Academy’s Admissions. 

Newark Academy’s Admission Requirements

Admission to Newark Academy is composed of multiple requirements specifically designed to help the admissions team gain a deeper understanding of your child beyond their transcript and test scores. 

In this section, we will be identifying the key components of the application and what families should know to help them prepare for the selective admissions process. 

Online Admissions Form

The first step in the application process is completing the Online Admissions Form, which also includes short-answer questions for both the applicant and the parents or guardians. The form invites applicants to share biographical information that would help admissions get to know them and their interests. 

How to write a compelling student essay

To help the admissions officers get a full snapshot of the applicant as a whole person, crafting a well-written and thoughtful student essay is crucial. When choosing what to write about or which areas of the students’ profiles to highlight, the key thing to remember is to remain authentic rather than trying to appear overly polished. 

Crafting a narrative that stands out requires a unique perspective; learn more about developing an authentic writing voice to help your child resonate with admissions officers.

How to write an effective parent essay

Write in a natural, personal voice—not in the register of a formal letter. Choose two or three specific observations and develop them with real detail. The most effective parent statements are the ones where an admissions officer finishes reading and feels they have genuinely met the student. 

A persuasive parent statement balances pride with objective insight. Explore our expert guide on how to write a compelling private school parent essay for further strategies and examples. 

Candidate & Parent Conversations

Similar to competitive private school admissions in the U.S., elite private schools in the country may include separate interviews or, in Newark Academy’s case, a 30-minute candidate essay followed by a 15-minute parent conversation. 

Regardless of how the interview is structured format-wise, it is important to remain authentic in reinforcing both the family’s and the child’s strong fit and value alignment with the school. 

Indeed, taking an interview is nerve-racking, but worry not! Confidence is key. Our interview preparation helps students and parents articulate their values effectively during the NA’s conversation with admissions. Our process involves introducing you to common interview questions and how to structure your answer in a way that is both reflective of your values and also appealing to Newark Academy’s admissions committee.

Teacher Recommendations

Newark Academy specifically requires applicants to submit a recommendation from the current English and math teacher, as well as another teacher of their choice, through the application portal. 

How to get the best letter of recommendation

To secure the best letter of recommendation, it is important for your child to establish a genuine relationship with the teachers. Your child’s leadership in the school community is as important as academic performance. For the LoR to be of true value, the teachers, principal, or school counselor must be able to talk about how your child plays a big role in the school community in terms of their leadership and how they model good behavior and excellent academic performance for their peers. 

Grade Reports

Newark Academy applicants should submit their prior year transcripts, as well as the current year grades. Transcripts are the foundation of the academic review. Newark Academy looks at both the level of courses taken and the consistency of performance across subjects and years. 

A strong upward trajectory, a student who has pushed themselves into more challenging coursework and risen to meet it, is often more compelling than flat excellence in undemanding classes. 

How to improve grades? 

Your child’s transcript will demonstrate their readiness for Newark Academy’s academically challenging environment. But what if your grades are not as competitive as those of the other applicants? Start your top private school admissions consulting early! 

Our subject tutors will work with your child closely to improve their foundational knowledge and study habits, ultimately helping your child achieve the grades that meet the school’s academic standards. We provide high-impact tutoring for a variety of courses. However, we also acknowledge that the development of executive functioning plays a big role in building habits that truly guarantee long-term success, which our academic coaches are excellent at. 

Standardized Testing

Newark Academy requires either the SSAT or ISEE as part of the application. Both are accepted, and families should choose based on which test plays to their child’s strengths; the SSAT tends to reward strong verbal reasoning and vocabulary, while the ISEE is often considered more straightforward in structure. Competitive applicants typically score in the 70th percentile or above on their chosen exam, though the school evaluates scores in the context of the full application. 

For a detailed list of the required testing information and test report to be submitted for each grade level, kindly visit Newark Academy’s Admissions page. 

Admission testing is an integral part of Newark’s application process. These test scores will be used by the admissions team to assess the student’s fit with the academically demanding environment of the school. To ensure your child is prepared for the rigors of the SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT, or ACT, schedule a proctored diagnostic test to identify knowledge gaps and establish a baseline score.

Supplementary Materials

Applicants may upload or link supplementary materials through the Online Admission Form. While these materials are optional, they can help highlight a student’s achievements and abilities in areas such as athletics, visual and performing arts, leadership, or other specialized talents. Additional recommendations from a coach, instructor, or mentor may also be submitted by email to admission@newarka.edu and will be included in the applicant’s file for review. 

Top Tips for Navigating Newark Academy’s Admission Requirements

• • Start your application process by completing the online admissions form. 
• • Always review the school website to confirm the application requirements and process. 
• • Work with an expert private school consultant for a less stressful and more informed approach to NA’s selective admission process.  

Best Practices to Achieve a Strong Newark Academy Application

• • Ensure that all requirements are submitted before the deadline. 
• • Choose a letter of recommendation writer who knows your child well and can speak positively about your child for better admission chances. 
• • Thoughtfully prepare for interviews by reviewing unique offerings by the school and getting a great understanding of the school’s core values and how it matches your family’s. 

Common Questions Families Ask About the Admission Process

Q: Is the interview required?
A: Yes—the interview is a required component of the Newark Academy application. Families should schedule it early in the admissions cycle, as slots fill up as application deadlines approach. 

Q: Can parents sit in on the student interview?
A: Typically, no—student interviews are conducted one-on-one or in a small group format without parents present. This is intentional; the school wants to hear directly from the student.  

Q: How long after the interview will we hear back about admission?
A: Interviews are one component of a holistic review. Families should not expect feedback tied to the interview date; decisions are released on the standard notification timeline in late February or March. 

What is Student Life Like at Newark Academy?

Newark Academy has the kind of culture that’s hard to manufacture and easy to recognize once you’re inside it: academically serious without being ruthless and socially warm without being insular. The extracurricular culture is participatory: students don’t watch from the sidelines; they start clubs, lead performances, compete on teams, and organize community initiatives.  

Academic Culture 

Newark Academy offers a rigorous curriculum across its middle and upper school divisions. The faculty’s approach to producing lifelong learners is relationship-centered, culturally competent, and skill-focused. The school offers over 100 courses across academics, arts, and enrichment. It also offers four signature experiences and three personalized learning opportunities. 

Newark Academy’s Signature Experiences:

• • Experiential Learning
• • IB Diploma Programme
• • June Terms and Capstone
• • Immersion Experiences

Newark Academy’s Personalized Learning Opportunities:

• • Independent Study
• • Student Support
• • Malone Schools Online Network (MSON)

As one of the top-tier private schools in the country, with a full range of Advanced Placement courses and an extensive elective selection, the school emphasizes critical thinking, strong writing, and engagement with complex ideas across disciplines.

Campus Culture

Newark Academy’s 68-acre campus does something that larger schools often struggle to achieve: it creates genuine intimacy without sacrificing breadth. The grounds are spacious enough to support a full range of athletic, arts, and academic facilities, yet compact enough that students cross paths constantly throughout the day. 

NA students tend to be genuinely curious about each other, and the school’s size makes it difficult to maintain the social silos that define so many secondary school environments. A student-athlete might be in the same theater production as a dedicated visual artist; a math enthusiast might co-lead the community service initiative with someone whose primary passion is creative writing. That cross-pollination of identity and interest is quiet and largely unplanned, but it shapes the kind of person Newark Academy graduates become—people who are comfortable across contexts and genuinely interested in the world around them. 

Student Activities & Athletic Culture

Newark Academy offers a lively extracurricular culture with more than 60 clubs and activities across the Upper School and Middle School. 

As an example of how students continue learning and building skills beyond the classroom, NA highlights clubs such as the following:

• • The Minuteman Student Newspaper 
• • Mock Trial 
• • Ethics Club 
• • Robotics Team 

Additionally, as a private school for grades 6-12, students in middle school and upper school are afforded plenty of opportunities to explore their interests in STEM, arts, publications, culture and identity, business, service, debate, athletics-related activities, and special interest clubs. 

The following table outlines the clubs and activities available for both middle and upper school students:

Life outside the four walls at Newark Academy is vibrant and diverse, with plenty of opportunities for students to pursue passions, build leadership skills, contribute to community projects, and connect with peers through shared interests.

For a comprehensive list of clubs and societies, please visit NA’s Clubs & Activities page.

Newark Academy Famous Alumni

Newark Academy’s 250-year history has produced graduates who have gone on to distinguished careers across fields such as science and academia, politics and public service, business, journalism, arts, literature, sports, and entertainment. Its graduates have gone on to achieve distinction in a wide variety of professional arenas, reflecting the school’s emphasis on character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility. Some of Newark Academy’s notable alumni include:

• • Richard H. Thaler (Class of ‘63). Nobel Prize-winning economist and one of the founders of behavioral economics. Thaler was awarded the 2017 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his pioneering research on how psychological factors influence economic decision-making, transforming the fields of economics, finance, and public policy. 
• • William E. Simon (Class of ‘46). Business executive, philanthropist, and former United States Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Simon played a significant role in shaping economic policy during the 1970s and later became a prominent leader in investment management and charitable endeavors. 
• • Jocelyn Willoughby (Class of ‘16). Professional basketball player in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). After a standout collegiate career at the University of Virginia, Willoughby was selected in the first round of the 2020 WNBA Draft and has built a successful career as a versatile guard and forward at the professional level. 
• • Arthur Klebanoff (Class of ‘65). Entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist known for his leadership in the financial services industry. Throughout his career, Klebanoff has supported numerous educational and charitable initiatives while maintaining a strong commitment to community engagement and civic leadership. 
• • Lanny J. Davis (Class of ‘63). Attorney, political commentator, and public affairs consultant who has advised major political figures, corporations, and nonprofit organizations. Davis served as Special Counsel to President Bill Clinton and has been a prominent voice on legal, political, and public policy issues for decades. 

These alumni reflect Newark Academy’s enduring commitment to developing accomplished leaders, innovators, and engaged citizens who go on to make an impact in STEM, public service, and beyond.

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