How to Get Into Dalton
Key Dates and Information
- Location: Manhattan, New York City
- Grades: K-12
- Application deadlines:
- Kindergarten: November 13, 2026, at 12:00 PM
- Middle School (grades 4-8) and High School (grades 9-12): November 13, 2026, at 12:00 PM, for grades accepting applications
- Entry grades for September 2027: Kindergarten and 9th grade
- Grade 6: General applications are not being accepted for September 2027; interested families can submit the closed-grade inquiry form
- Financial aid deadline: December 1, 2026
- Admission tests:
- Middle School and High School applicants: ISEE or SSAT required
- Testing window: August 2026 through the first week of January 2027
- Admissions decisions:
- Kindergarten: February 2027
- Middle School and High School: According to the ISAAGNY admissions timetable
Introduction
The Dalton School (Dalton) is a top day school in New York City. Dalton offers students in grades K-12 an innovative and progressive approach to education. It was in the top 20 of the most sought-after schools of 2023.
Test Innovators is here to guide you through the application process for Dalton. We’ve outlined the application components, along with important information about Dalton. We recommend using this guide in conjunction with our Admissions Assist Courses. Through our course, you will gain an understanding of what schools like Dalton look for, as well as how to showcase your strengths as an applicant.
Application
Dalton’s primary entry point grades for September 2027 are kindergarten and 9th grade. Dalton is not accepting general applications for 6th grade this year due to limited openings. Applications for other non-entry grades depend on availability. Students interested in a non-entry point grade can submit the closed grade inquiry form.
Dalton accepts applications through Ravenna. The application is divided by three grade ranges, and the following steps are required:
- Submit the preliminary application
- Deadline: November 13, 2026, at 12:00 PM
- Application fee: $75
- If the application fee presents a financial hardship, families may use the fee waiver code NEEDFA.
- Schedule admissions assessment, parent tour, and parent interview
- The admissions office will call to schedule the in-person application components after receiving the application. Families should allow several weeks for the office to contact them.
- The child’s assessment lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes and consists of age-appropriate group and individual activities.
- The parent/guardian tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and takes place during the child’s assessment.
- The parent/guardian interview lasts approximately 30 minutes and takes place on a different day from the tour and assessment
- Request school report from current school
- The ISAAGNY Confidential School Report is requested and submitted through Ravenna
- The report must be received according to the ISAAGNY admissions timetable
- Submit supplemental materials (optional)
- A parent statement can be submitted through Ravenna
- Complete financial aid application (if applicable)
- Deadline: December 1, 2026, through Clarity
- Submit the preliminary application, if applications are being accepted for the grade
- Deadline: November 13, 2026, at 12:00 PM
- Application fee: $75
- If the application fee presents a financial hardship, families may use the fee waiver code NEEDFA.
- Middle School is not a standard entry point for September 2027. General applications will only be accepted if potential openings arise due to significant attrition. Interested families can submit the closed-grade inquiry form
- Schedule a tour through Ravenna
- Dalton offers on-campus and virtual tours
- Touring is not required, but highly recommended
- Schedule the student interview and parent/adult meeting
- Students participate in a 20-to-30-minute interview with a member of the Admissions staff, Middle School faculty, or administrative team.
- Parents or adults in a parental role participate in an information and Q&A session led by the Head of Middle & High School Admissions.
- Take an admissions test and submit scores
- Students must submit either SSAT or ISEE scores.
- Testing should take place during the application year, between August 2026 and the first week of January 2027.
- Testing appointments must be scheduled directly with the testing providers.
- Submit supplementary materials through Ravenna
- Deadline: Follow the ISAAGNY admissions timetable.
- Required materials include:
- Parent statement
- Transcripts/report cards from the previous school year and current fall term
- English/language arts teacher recommendation from a teacher who has taught the student within the past year
- Math teacher recommendation from a teacher who has taught the student within the past year
- Guidance counselor or school administrator recommendation
- Admissions test score report sent directly from the testing provider
- Optional materials include additional teacher or extracurricular recommendations and work samples.
- Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
- Deadline: December 1, 2026, through Clarity.
- Submit the preliminary application
- Deadline: November 13, 2026, at 12:00 PM
- Application fee: $75
- If the application fee presents a financial hardship, families may use the fee waiver code NEEDFA.
- Ninth grade is Dalton’s primary High School entry point for September 2027. Applications to other grades depend on availability. Dalton also accepts applications from eligible Prep for Prep students entering grades 7 or 8.
- Schedule the school tour and student interview through Ravenna
- The school visit is required and takes place between October and early December.
- The visit lasts approximately 90 minutes and includes a campus tour for the student and parents/guardians, a group meet-and-greet for student applicants, and a 20-to-30-minute student interview.
- Parents/guardians may also schedule an optional small-group Q&A session on Zoom with the Director of Middle & High School Admissions.
- Take an admissions test and submit scores
- Students must submit either SSAT or ISEE scores.
- Testing should take place during the application year, between August 2026 and the first week of January 2027.
- Testing appointments must be scheduled directly with the testing providers.
- Submit supplementary materials through Ravenna
- Deadline: Follow the ISAAGNY admissions timetable.
- Required materials include:
- Parent statement
- Transcripts/report cards from the previous school year and current fall term
- English/language arts teacher recommendation from a teacher who has taught the student within the past year
- Math teacher recommendation from a teacher who has taught the student within the past year
- Guidance counselor or school administrator recommendation
- Admissions test score report sent directly from the testing provider
- Optional materials include additional teacher or extracurricular recommendations and work samples.
- Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
- Deadline: December 1, 2026, through Clarity
- Early Notification option for eligible ninth-grade applicants
- Eligible applicants include siblings of current or former students, children of Dalton graduates, and children of current faculty or staff
- Applicants must opt in by November 6, 2026, at 12:00 PM.
- All application requirements, including the on-site interview, must be completed by November 30, 2026
- Admissions test scores must be received by Dalton by December 4, 2026
Please refer to Dalton’s website for more information on the application requirements.
Admissions Interview
Families applying to Dalton’s First Program (kindergarten–3rd grade) will be contacted to schedule the parent interview after submitting the preliminary application. The parent interview is about 30 minutes and takes place on a different day from the child’s assessment and parent tour. Dalton’s admissions office asks families to allow several weeks after submitting the application to be contacted.
Applicants to Middle School (4th–8th grade) and High School (9th–12th grade) schedule a school visit through Ravenna after submitting the preliminary application. The visit is required and includes a student interview lasting 20–30 minutes with a member of the admissions staff, a faculty member, or an administrator. Middle School visits last approximately 60–75 minutes and include a school tour and a parent information and Q&A session. High School visits last approximately 90 minutes and include a tour, a group meet-and-greet with the Head of Middle and High School Admissions, and the student interview. Please note that Middle School is not a standard entry point for September 2027; applications will only be considered if potential openings become available.
The interview is an opportunity for you to express your interest in Dalton and showcase the ways in which you would be a good fit for the school. Test Innovators offers an Interview Prep Course to help you ace the interview. Our course provides videos and drills for families, preparing you for common interview questions and giving you confidence for the interview.
Along with the Admissions Assist Course, we recommend researching Dalton before your interview. Look into their mission statement and values. Check out the curriculum and class options for First Program, Middle School, and High School. Hear from Dalton alumni and faculty about their experiences at the school. Explore opportunities in arts, athletics, and technology at Dalton. Don’t hesitate to share the reasons you are excited about Dalton in your interview and personal statement!
Admissions Tests
Applicants to grades 4–12 are required to submit either SSAT or ISEE scores. Students applying for September 2027 entry should take an admissions test during the application year, between August 2026 and the first week of January 2027. Testing dates and locations should be scheduled directly with the testing providers, and fees range from $140 to $200; fee waivers may be available for eligible families. Please note that applications to Middle School grades are only considered if potential openings become available.
At Test Innovators, we have years of experience helping students like you prepare for admissions tests. We are an official practice partner of the SSAT and the only official practice partner of ISEE. With our platform, you will take full-length practice tests and receive a detailed score analysis after each test, along with a personalized Prep Plan to help identify and target areas with room for improvement. You can even compare your practice scores to target score data for Dalton and other schools of interest.
Take a look at our SSAT Prep Guide and ISEE Prep Guide to see how Test Innovators can help you prepare for test day.
Want to get a top score?
Take a small-group class to learn key strategies and boost your knowledge!
Financial Aid Application
Dalton’s financial aid program strives to enroll qualified students, regardless of a family’s ability to pay full tuition. Approximately 21% of Dalton students receive need-based financial aid. Families should apply for financial aid during the initial application process, unless there is a significant, unexpected change in circumstances, such as job loss.
Families applying for financial aid must complete the Clarity application by December 1, 2026.
For more information about financial aid at Dalton, visit their financial aid page.
Extracurricular Opportunities
Athletics
Dalton students can join teams in the following sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Football
- Golf
- Indoor track
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
For more information on athletics at Dalton, visit their athletics page.
Arts
Arts are central to Dalton’s education philosophy. Dalton offers four arts disciplines: dance, music, theater arts, and visual arts. Students have opportunities to explore the arts through coursework, creative projects, performances, exhibitions, and independent studies. Applicants can draw inspiration for their interview or written materials from Dalton’s opportunities in the arts. To learn more about the arts at Dalton, please visit their arts page.
Technology
Dalton encourages students to take advantage of opportunities involving technology. Their New Lab for Teaching and Learning (NLTL) is a place where students can explore and innovate with technology. The NLTL also helps teachers incorporate more technology into classes. For more information on technology and the NLTL at Dalton, check out their technology page.
Conclusion
Preparation is key to creating a strong application for a school like Dalton. Test Innovators can help you prepare for admissions tests, interviews, and essays, ensuring you create your best application.
Preparation Resources:
- Enroll in our Admissions Assist Courses
- Learn more about preparing for the SSAT
- Learn more about preparing for the ISEE
- Learn more about Dalton
Originally published on September 15, 2022. Updated on September 10, 2024.
