Ten Schools Admission Organization
Consortium of ten American boarding schools
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The Ten Schools Admission Organization (TSAO), established in 1952, is a collaborative consortium of ten highly selective college-preparatory boarding schools located primarily in the Northeastern United States.[1] The organization coordinates collective outreach and domestic and international recruitment efforts, while maintaining shared admissions standards, such as a uniform enrollment decision deadline of April 10.[1]
 | |
| Abbreviation | TSAO |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1952 |
| Type | Educational consortium |
| Purpose | Admission outreach and collaboration |
Region served | Northeastern United States |
| Members | Andover, Choate, Deerfield, Exeter, Hill, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, Loomis Chaffee, St. Paul's, and Taft. |
| Website | tenschools.org |
Sociologists have identified the member institutions as part of a "select" tier of American secondary schools that play a significant role in the socialization of the American elite and the maintenance of class cohesion through rigorous academic and social "crucibles."[2] As a group, the member institutions are characterized by their substantial financial endowments and their historical status as "feeder schools" for the Ivy League and other highly selective universities.[3] Collectively, the schools award over $125 million in financial aid annually to support a diverse student body.[4]
Overview
Member institutions cooperate in their outreach to prospective students, sharing resources at domestic and international admission fairs.[5][6]
Although several TSAO schools no longer publish their endowment figures, in 2016 the TSAO contained ten of the twenty wealthiest traditional college-preparatory boarding schools in the United States, as measured by total size of endowment.[7] Seven TSAO members are also members of the Eight Schools Association, another group of large college-preparatory boarding schools.
At times, TSAO schools adopt common policies with respect to applicants and admitted students, such as a uniform deadline to accept or reject offers of admission.[8] The TSAO does not have a uniform policy with respect to standardized testing, and two of its member schools remain test-optional as of the 2024–25 application cycle.[9][10]
With one exception, every TSAO member educates both boarding and day students, and offers a postgraduate year. St. Paul's School educates only boarders, and admits neither post-graduates nor incoming seniors.[11]
Member schools
| School | Location | Established | Enrollment (2021–22) |
Campus type (NCES) |
PG year (approx. students) |
Standardized test required? |
Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choate Rosemary Hall | Wallingford, CT | 1890 | 868 | Suburban | Yes (15–25) | No | [12][9] |
| Deerfield Academy | Deerfield, MA | 1797 | 666 | Rural | <!--number not published--> | Yes | [13][14] |
| The Hill School | Pottstown, PA | 1851 | 520 | Suburban | Yes (14–20) | Yes | [15][16][17] |
| Hotchkiss School | Lakeville, CT | 1891 | 622 | Rural | Yes<!--number not published--> | Yes | [18][19][20] |
| Lawrenceville School | Lawrenceville, NJ | 1810 | 818 | Suburban | Yes<!--number not published--> | Yes | [21][22] |
| Loomis Chaffee School | Windsor, CT | 1914 | 736 | Suburban | Yes (20–25) | No | [23][24][10] |
| Phillips Academy | Andover, MA | 1778 | 1,187 | Suburban | Yes (~20) | Yes | [25][26][27] |
| Phillips Exeter Academy | Exeter, NH | 1781 | 1,064 | Suburban | Yes (~24) | Yes | [28][29][30] |
| St. Paul's School | Concord, NH | 1856 | 542 | Town | No | Yes | [31][11][32] |
| Taft School | Watertown, CT | 1890 | 601 | Suburban | Yes<!--number not published--> | Yes | [33][34] |