The Most Competitive Schools That Require the SSAT – 2019
Over the past seven years, Test Innovators has helped more than 100,000 students prepare for the SSAT and the ISEE—the admissions tests required by the most competitive independent schools in the country. Every year we review our data from thousands of test-takers to determine the most popular schools.
Below are the 4 most sought-after schools that require the SSAT, based on the number of students who stated their intention to apply in 2019.
Keep in mind that there are many wonderful schools not included on this list that may be perfect for you.
1. Milton Academy, Milton, Massachusetts
Unlike many of the other schools founded in Massachusetts during the 1700s, Milton Academy began as a coeducational day school. After 100 years, the school divided into separate boys’ and girls’ schools before merging the schools once again and becoming the coeducational, K-12 boarding and day school it is today. Milton draws students from 27 states and 28 countries, all motivated and bound together by the school motto ‘Dare to be true’—a motto embodying the school culture of initiative, respect, and the active pursuit of learning.
2. The Taft School, Watertown, Connecticut
The Taft School’s motto is, “Not to be served but to serve,” and the school embodies this with a strong emphasis on service, collaboration, and character. Taft’s diverse student body is comprised of 606 students in grades 9-12, hailing from 33 different states and 44 different countries. These students are able to choose from 200 courses, 20 of which are AP, as well as over 60 clubs and extracurricular activities.
3. The Urban School of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
The Urban School of San Francisco was founded in 1966 with the objective of creating a more student-centered school. Urban was the first coeducational private high school in San Francisco and had just 22 students in its first class. Today, Urban’s student body consists of over 400 students, and the school receives 700 applicants annually for the Freshman class alone. Instead of receiving letter grades on assignments, tests, and progress reports throughout the term, students only receive letter grades at the end of each course. At the end of each course, teachers write extensive reports that provide comprehensive feedback on student achievement and set specific goals for improvement. Students are also asked to reflect on and evaluate their own work.
4. Brooks School, North Andover, Massachusetts
Brooks School, established in 1926, provides a college-preparatory program for 380 students on a 270-acre campus. Small class sizes allow students to work closely with teachers and foster positive relationships, helping to build a close-knit community. Brooks offers opportunities to study abroad in Africa, Europe, and South America. Notable alumni include Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, Elle Logan, Olympic rowing gold medalist, Mark Shuttleworth, first South African in space, and actors Anthony Perkins, James Spader, Parker Stevenson, Sam Waterston, and Michael Weatherly.
Visit our Most Competitive Schools of 2019 page to see what schools made the top 50 for 2019.
