Georgetown Day School (GDS) requires an admissions test, a family interview and, for families who need it, a separate financial aid application. The 2026-27 High School tuition is $58,256 for Grades 9 to 11. This guide explains each piece in plain terms so you can plan the order of the work.
Testing: required, with choices
GDS requires standardized testing to apply. Applicants can submit the HSPT, SSAT or ISEE. Applicants to Grades 10 to 12 can submit a PSAT, SAT or ACT in place of the SSAT or ISEE. GDS also accepts certain school-administered tests, such as ERBs, MAP, SOL, Stanford, IOWA, CTPs, PARCC and CAPE, in place of the SSAT or ISEE.
A few practical points follow from that.
- Check what your school already gives. If your current school administers one of the accepted tests, you may not need a separate sitting. Ask the school counselor which test the class takes and when.
- Pick one test and learn its format. The HSPT, SSAT and ISEE differ in sections and timing. Take one full timed practice test before building a study plan, so the plan targets real gaps.
- Leave a spare date. Supplementary materials, which include testing, are due January 13, 2027. A second sitting only helps if there is time for scores to arrive.
GDS does not publish average scores on the pages we reviewed, so there is no published number to aim for. Treat the test as one required piece of a file that also includes report cards, teacher recommendations and graded writing samples.
The family interview
The first required step is to register for an interview that includes both the applicant and parents or guardians. Interviews can be virtual or in person. At the High School the interview includes the prospective student and a tour.
Interviews are offered on weekdays from mid-September to January. You do not need to submit the application first, and spaces fill quickly, so book early.
What helps in the room is simple:
1. Let your student do most of the talking about what they like to learn and why. 2. Have two or three real stories ready, such as a project, a book or a problem they worked through. 3. Bring questions about daily life. The High School runs a block schedule, with four odd or even classes meeting each day. On Wednesdays students begin in advisory, with an average of 8 members. Students have Open Campus privileges, and lunch is not provided. 4. Use the tour to notice what the school feels like on an ordinary day.
Writing samples and recommendations
GDS asks for graded writing samples, transcripts and teacher recommendations as supplementary materials, all due January 13, 2027. The pages we reviewed list no High School essay or parent statement, and we do not assume one exists. Open the Ravenna portal to see exactly what your application asks for.
Ask your student which recent graded pieces show their thinking best, and ask the teacher to send it. Give recommenders notice and the date. Teachers write better letters when they are not rushed.
Tuition
GDS publishes its 2026-27 tuition by grade.
| Grade band | Tuition 2026-27 | | --- | --- | | PK to K | $48,601 | | Grades 1 to 4 | $52,651 | | Grades 5 to 8 | $55,760 | | Grades 9 to 11 | $58,256 | | Grade 12 | $58,606 |
Tuition includes athletics uniforms and equipment for 7th to 12th grade participants, all field trips and class overnights, and school supplies and books. Dining services and 1:1 devices are included for PK to 8th grade only. GDS does not offer loans. For a nominal fee, parents may spread tuition payments throughout the academic year. Recheck the figures on gds.org before you budget, since tuition changes each year.
Financial aid
The financial aid application is through Clarity and is separate from the Ravenna admissions application. That means two portals and two sets of tasks.
- Deadline. New families must submit it by January 6, 2027. Returning families are due December 7, 2026.
- Effort. Clarity can be completed in as little as 20 minutes and transfers the 2025 W2 and 1040 directly from the IRS.
- Documents. Families submit a complete copy of their 2025 tax return. Parents who own a business also submit the appropriate business tax return.
- How need is measured. The Clarity assessment takes into account income, assets, liabilities, family size and living costs.
- Grants only. All financial aid awards are grants and do not require repayment.
- Scale. For 2026-27 GDS allocated $10.4 million in financial aid to 24% of its students, with an average award of nearly $37,000.
- Renewal. Families must reapply each year because financial circumstances may change.
GDS also says that if all of the children are in school, it generally expects both parents to work outside of the home. The Equity Fund addresses gaps in the aid program so High School students can reach the complete GDS experience, including technology, college counseling costs, athletics and High School trips.
Does asking for aid affect admission?
GDS says the admissions committee makes its initial decisions without regard to financial need. It also says that because resources are limited, it may ultimately have to limit the number of aid applicants it can accept within the budget. So need is not part of the first read, but the budget is finite. Apply on time, and do not leave aid for the last week.
How to sequence it
Start with the interview and the test, because both have limited spaces. Gather your tax documents while you wait. Submit the application and the aid application by January 6, then confirm that teachers and your current school have sent their materials by January 13. Decisions arrive on February 26, 2027, at 4:00 p.m. through Ravenna.
For help thinking through a specific student's plan, EduAvenues can send a written recommendation. Start at EduAvenues high school admissions or send a note.
Sources
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