Our application deadline for the 2023–2024 academic year has passed. Current applicants can access their portal here.
To learn about upcoming admissions cycles and be added to our mailing list, please complete our inquiry form here.

Thank you for your interest in the Ethical Culture Fieldston School! We are excited to begin this journey with you as a prospective family, and look forward to sharing what makes ECFS such a special school and community.

We place each of our applicants, from Pre-K through 11th Grade, at the center of our admissions process, which informs all of the careful considerations we make when meeting and getting to know our prospective students and families. The Fieldston Middle and Upper Admissions team is deeply committed to embodying the values of our School and providing the highest level of care in supporting you through the process and ensuring the experience is a meaningful one for you and your child, should you choose to apply.

Steps to apply: Fieldston Upper

9th Grade — entry point: Our cohort of students grows into the 9th Grade to a total enrollment of around 155–160 students. We anticipate 30–35 openings for new students to join the community at this entry point.

10th and 11th Grades — attrition-based: We welcome applications for the 10th and 11th Grades, which are considered based on the number of open seats we have due to attrition.

Step 1: Learn more about our School, program, and community
Step 2: Submit an application — DEADLINE TUESDAY 11/15
  • Create an account in our online application system.
  • Complete and submit our online application by the Tuesday 11/15 deadline.
    • Our application form captures the applicant’s educational background as well as parent/guardian and household information.
    • We ask for two parent statements in response to the following prompts:
      • Please describe your child’s personality and interests including your observations of their strengths and areas for growth.
      • Please describe the educational environment and experience you envision for your child.
  • We do not require a student essay as part of our application.
  • Our application fee, payable online, is $75. We are happy to provide a fee waiver to qualifying families who request one by contacting us at [email protected].
  • If you’d like to be considered for need-based financial aid, submit an application by Monday 12/12. More information about our financial aid program, and how to apply, can be found here.
Step 3: Complete your application — DEADLINE FRIDAY 1/6
  • Use your parent portal checklist in our online application system to request and upload the required documents. For applicants to Fieldston Upper, we require:
    • A School Report Form, completed by a principal, division head, counselor or dean at the applicant’s current school.
    • Two teacher evaluation forms, one each from the applicant’s current English and math teacher.
    • ISEE/SSAT scores OR a graded/evaluated analytical writing sample (you can read more about our test-optional policy here).
    • Official transcripts/report cards showing all semester and final grades for the previous academic year.
  • Attend your online interview conversation.
    • Once we have received and processed your submitted application form, we will notify you via email about your interview appointment.
    • The interview conversation will be conducted by a member of the admissions team or faculty via Google Meet and will last approximately 45 minutes.
    • More information about your interview conversation will be included in your appointment email.
  • Schedule a campus tour.
    • We look forward to welcoming you to our campus in person and having you experience our community in action!
    • Use your parent portal checklist to self-schedule a date and time that is most convenient for your family.
  • Register for our programs for applicant students and families.
    • We are proud to offer a broad range of online, student-centered programs to help you and your child understand all that Fieldston Upper has to offer.
    • Use your parent portal checklist to self-schedule your child or yourself to attend as many of these offerings as you’d like.
Step 4: Admissions decisions released — WEDNESDAY 3/1
  • All parents/guardians included on the application will receive an admissions decision via email after 4:00pm on the date indicated above.
  • Admitted students and families will be invited to attend additional programs and revisit opportunities.
  • Admitted families have until Thursday 3/16 at 12:00pm to make their enrollment decisions.

Sibling, alumni, and faculty/staff applicants

Sibling, alumni, and faculty/staff applicants are given special consideration during the admissions process. We strive to keep families together at ECFS. However, due to the sheer quantity of applications we receive, admission is not automatic nor guaranteed. All applicants (regardless of prior family connection to the School) are evaluated according to the same criteria, and all admission decisions consider the best interest of each individual child. It is wonderful that the number of sibling, alumni, and faculty/staff families applying to ECFS continues to increase. While we value ECFS’s community of siblings, alumni, and faculty/staff, we are also committed to providing access to new families whose values and goals reflect the School’s mission. We ask that our sibling, alumni, and faculty/staff applicants submit their applications by Monday 10/3.