Anonymous
Post 09/11/2025 18:14     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Phillip Academy’s acceptance rate was 9% in 2022 (via their school newspaper). Assume Sidwell, St. Albans, etc. have similar 9th grade acceptance rate. So I assume 6th grade may be like 15%, maybe 20%.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2025 13:55     Subject: Actual admissions rates
I think gender imbalance is a visible indicator of a high admissions/low enrollment rate.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2025 13:41     Subject: Actual admissions rates
How are we defining “selective”? A school that takes 50-75% of applicants isn’t really selective, but it still means a kid has a 25-50% chance of not getting in. Even if it’s 80/20, that’s still not the same as the “any warm body with a checkbook” admissions policy that some folks on DCUM like to claim any school below the big 3 have.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2025 11:47     Subject: Actual admissions rates
The handful of most competitive schools in this area can be selective. However, I suspect that it’s less selective than many believe. The high tuitions narrow down the application pool a lot, especially as the cost of attendance can be high even with financial aid. A lot of other independent schools aren’t selective at all. Especially in small, independent but religiously affiliated K-8s off-year admissions and even mid-year admissions happen.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 15:00     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's kind of relative too. Our AD told me once that while they got a lot of applications, the actual pool of candidates they deemed qualified was about 10% of the total. The admissions rate among that group was about 80% (and they hated to WL any of them, but there are only so many seats in the class). So, if you are considered highly qualified, your chances are great. If you aren't (90% of applicants), your chances are zero.


What would mark you as highly qualified as a rising freshman?


I’m curious this too. There’s so many bright and talented students in this area. What makes some qualified vs highly qualified


Having graduated kids from 2 different "Big3" schools in the past 2 years I can say confidently that these schools want kids they can place in top colleges, including of course into the Ivy league.
Who are the only kids that have a shot at the Ivies from the DC privates?

-top 20% of the grade
-recruited athletes
-legacies who are also strong students
-URM who are also strong students
-children of VIPs who are also strong students

These high schools are looking for these kids.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 14:39     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's kind of relative too. Our AD told me once that while they got a lot of applications, the actual pool of candidates they deemed qualified was about 10% of the total. The admissions rate among that group was about 80% (and they hated to WL any of them, but there are only so many seats in the class). So, if you are considered highly qualified, your chances are great. If you aren't (90% of applicants), your chances are zero.


What would mark you as highly qualified as a rising freshman?


I’m curious this too. There’s so many bright and talented students in this area. What makes some qualified vs highly qualified



Not parents saying how wonderful kid is. By middle school, they have a track record.

- 99% SSAT
- standardized tests scores off the charts in subject matters
- potential/likely D1 athletic recruit for college, with coaches known to private school coaches who vouch
- teacher recommendations that say best student ive seen in a decade, particularly from teachers known to private school

Im sure there are other things. This isn’t kindergarten entry.

Look, kids get admitted for sibling, donation abilities, friends of friends, etc. But by 9th, they typically are very good students as well at the top tier schools & you have unconnected kids who are off the charts (like above).


-


I honestly do not think it is this competitive. My kid applied to 2 Big 3 schools for 9th last year and doesn’t meet any of the criteria above. We are also not legacy or donors or any of the other things. He was admitted to both and to the 2 other non big 3 schools he applied to. He’s a great kid but not a superstar by any means
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 09:56     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's kind of relative too. Our AD told me once that while they got a lot of applications, the actual pool of candidates they deemed qualified was about 10% of the total. The admissions rate among that group was about 80% (and they hated to WL any of them, but there are only so many seats in the class). So, if you are considered highly qualified, your chances are great. If you aren't (90% of applicants), your chances are zero.


What would mark you as highly qualified as a rising freshman?


Depends on where you are applying.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 09:56     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting because I always assumed the opposite (that 80% were perfectly qualified and that the decisions were based on the non-academic differences). I’m not basing my opinion on anything factual, just a gut that may be wrong.

Between grade inflation and a certain “type” of family that seeks out private schools, I kind of assumed that nearly every applicant to the super competitive schools was an A/A- and occasional B+ student.


Obviously that depends on the school, I'm just giving one AD's perspective. There simply is no one answer that will apply to every school, which is why I said it is relative.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 09:44     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's kind of relative too. Our AD told me once that while they got a lot of applications, the actual pool of candidates they deemed qualified was about 10% of the total. The admissions rate among that group was about 80% (and they hated to WL any of them, but there are only so many seats in the class). So, if you are considered highly qualified, your chances are great. If you aren't (90% of applicants), your chances are zero.


What would mark you as highly qualified as a rising freshman?


I’m curious this too. There’s so many bright and talented students in this area. What makes some qualified vs highly qualified



Not parents saying how wonderful kid is. By middle school, they have a track record.

- 99% SSAT
- standardized tests scores off the charts in subject matters
- potential/likely D1 athletic recruit for college, with coaches known to private school coaches who vouch
- teacher recommendations that say best student ive seen in a decade, particularly from teachers known to private school

Im sure there are other things. This isn’t kindergarten entry.

Look, kids get admitted for sibling, donation abilities, friends of friends, etc. But by 9th, they typically are very good students as well at the top tier schools & you have unconnected kids who are off the charts (like above).


-


Not if the child and/or parents have difficult personalities.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 09:11     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's kind of relative too. Our AD told me once that while they got a lot of applications, the actual pool of candidates they deemed qualified was about 10% of the total. The admissions rate among that group was about 80% (and they hated to WL any of them, but there are only so many seats in the class). So, if you are considered highly qualified, your chances are great. If you aren't (90% of applicants), your chances are zero.


What would mark you as highly qualified as a rising freshman?


I’m curious this too. There’s so many bright and talented students in this area. What makes some qualified vs highly qualified



Not parents saying how wonderful kid is. By middle school, they have a track record.

- 99% SSAT
- standardized tests scores off the charts in subject matters
- potential/likely D1 athletic recruit for college, with coaches known to private school coaches who vouch
- teacher recommendations that say best student ive seen in a decade, particularly from teachers known to private school

Im sure there are other things. This isn’t kindergarten entry.

Look, kids get admitted for sibling, donation abilities, friends of friends, etc. But by 9th, they typically are very good students as well at the top tier schools & you have unconnected kids who are off the charts (like above).


-


DEI matters as well in this area. The private schools cannot be seen to have a non diverse class.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 09:09     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's kind of relative too. Our AD told me once that while they got a lot of applications, the actual pool of candidates they deemed qualified was about 10% of the total. The admissions rate among that group was about 80% (and they hated to WL any of them, but there are only so many seats in the class). So, if you are considered highly qualified, your chances are great. If you aren't (90% of applicants), your chances are zero.


DEI matters as well.

What would mark you as highly qualified as a rising freshman?


I’m curious this too. There’s so many bright and talented students in this area. What makes some qualified vs highly qualified



Not parents saying how wonderful kid is. By middle school, they have a track record.

- 99% SSAT
- standardized tests scores off the charts in subject matters
- potential/likely D1 athletic recruit for college, with coaches known to private school coaches who vouch
- teacher recommendations that say best student ive seen in a decade, particularly from teachers known to private school

Im sure there are other things. This isn’t kindergarten entry.

Look, kids get admitted for sibling, donation abilities, friends of friends, etc. But by 9th, they typically are very good students as well at the top tier schools & you have unconnected kids who are off the charts (like above).


-
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 09:08     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's kind of relative too. Our AD told me once that while they got a lot of applications, the actual pool of candidates they deemed qualified was about 10% of the total. The admissions rate among that group was about 80% (and they hated to WL any of them, but there are only so many seats in the class). So, if you are considered highly qualified, your chances are great. If you aren't (90% of applicants), your chances are zero.


What would mark you as highly qualified as a rising freshman?


I’m curious this too. There’s so many bright and talented students in this area. What makes some qualified vs highly qualified



Not parents saying how wonderful kid is. By middle school, they have a track record.

- 99% SSAT
- standardized tests scores off the charts in subject matters
- potential/likely D1 athletic recruit for college, with coaches known to private school coaches who vouch
- teacher recommendations that say best student ive seen in a decade, particularly from teachers known to private school

Im sure there are other things. This isn’t kindergarten entry.

Look, kids get admitted for sibling, donation abilities, friends of friends, etc. But by 9th, they typically are very good students as well at the top tier schools & you have unconnected kids who are off the charts (like above).


-
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 08:50     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's kind of relative too. Our AD told me once that while they got a lot of applications, the actual pool of candidates they deemed qualified was about 10% of the total. The admissions rate among that group was about 80% (and they hated to WL any of them, but there are only so many seats in the class). So, if you are considered highly qualified, your chances are great. If you aren't (90% of applicants), your chances are zero.


What would mark you as highly qualified as a rising freshman?


I’m curious this too. There’s so many bright and talented students in this area. What makes some qualified vs highly qualified
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 08:49     Subject: Actual admissions rates
Anonymous wrote:What impact will the stats have anyway? Are you going to apply or not apply based on the stats? Data is just trivia unless it impacts your decisions.


I agree. Find the schools you like and apply.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2025 08:48     Subject: Actual admissions rates
No one here is going to be able to tell you what you want to know OP. Talk to the school. We came into a K-8 private in 6th and knew from talking to them there were 4-5 slots and they told us it varies by year but they get 20-30 applicants for those.

It’s going to be grade, year and school specific.