How to Apply - Kingswood Oxford

How to Apply

KO is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 school year!

Goals for Admission

 

Students at Kingswood Oxford are intellectually curious and motivated with a passion for learning and share a common interest and care about the world around them. During the application process our committee looks for students with:

 

  • strong levels of academic achievement
  • talent and interest in the arts, athletics, and/or community service
  • indications of leadership, involvement, and interest in extracurricular activities

 

Important Admissions Dates

 

February 1, 2025
Admissions Applications and
Financial Assistance Deadline 

March 10, 2025
Admissions decisions released within your Ravenna account

April 10, 2025
Contract due date for newly admitted students

 

Spring 2025

Rolling Admissions after February 1

 

 

Learn more about the Financial Assistance Timeline and Dates.

 

 

first step: create your ravenna account!

 

We use a platform called Ravenna for all of our events and the admissions process. It takes a few minutes to set up and submit your application then you are ready to move forward.

 

Please create your account here to begin your journey!

We accept the SAO (Standard Application Online) for students applying to grades 9-11 only. Please note that all families will need a Ravenna account to receive an admissions decision.

Steps for the Application

UPPER SCHOOL

 

• Tour & Interview

Interviews and campus tours are scheduled online through a Ravenna account. You can also schedule by contacting our office via email at [email protected] or by phone at (860) 727-5000.

 

• Online Application

Upper School applicants (Grades 9, 10, 11) must complete one of the following online applications. 

 

 

While students have a choice of which application to use, a Ravenna account is required to schedule an interview, register for events, and view the admissions decision. Only one application fee should be submitted. If you submit via SAO, you do not need to pay the Ravenna application fee. You will need a Ravenna account to see updates.

 

• Testing

9th & 10th Grade Applicants: Kingswood Oxford is test-optional for 9th & 10th grade applicants. Applicants may choose to submit standardized testing with their application, others may choose not to do so. Either scenario is acceptable and Kingswood Oxford will continue to perform a holistic review of the applicant’s entire application with or without testing submission. Standardized testing is only one piece in the overall application and in this unique time in our history, we recognize some applicants may have challenges to ensure an optimum testing environment.

 

  • For applicants choosing to submit scores, KO accepts the SSAT, PSAT, or SAT. Scores should come from the official testing agency

  • For those not submitting standardized test scores, an additional teacher recommendation is required. 

 

10th Grade Reclass and 11th Grade Applicants: 10th grade reclass and 11th-grade applicants must submit PSAT scores.

 

International Applicants: For our Upper School international applicants, please visit this page for more information on required testing.

 

• Recommendation Forms

We require three recommendations: the current English teacher, the current Math teacher, and the School Report Form. For those students not submitting test scores, an additional current teacher recommendation is required.

 

These recommendation forms can be accessed and managed online through your account. The Supplemental Recommendation Form is optional and may be completed by a coach, music instructor, or specific subject-matter teacher. Applicants may ask one person to complete a Supplemental Recommendation Form.

 

• Transcripts

The Transcript Release Form should be completed by a school official (i.e. Principal, guidance counselor or advisor). Transcripts containing the most up-to-date grades from the current year and final grades from the previous two years should be sent directly from the school official to Kingswood Oxford Admissions. Transcripts may be emailed to [email protected], mailed or faxed to (860) 236-3651, or mailed to:

 

ATTN: Admissions Office

170 Kingswood Road

West Hartford, CT 06119

 

• Writing Sample

Within your online account, please upload a 1-3 page graded writing paper from an English class or another academic subject from your current school year. You may also email this sample to [email protected]. Please make sure the applicant’s name is in the subject line when emailing the file.

 

• Financial Assistance

For instructions on how to apply for need-based Financial Assistance, visit the Tuition and Affordability page. This application may be completed concurrently with the admissions application.

 

• International Students

For our international applicants, please visit this page for more information on admissions, testing, and the interview process.

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL

 

• Early Round Admissions

Families applying to enter Upper Prep (6th), Form 1 (7th), or Form 2 (8th) who wish to receive an earlier admissions decision have the option to participate in Early Round Admissions (ERA). Please call (860) 727-5000 or email [email protected] to notify us that you would like to be considered during ERA. The application deadline for ERA is January 1, 2025. Decisions will be released on January 10, 2025 for files that are complete. Incomplete files will be pushed to our regular admissions cycle. 

 

The tuition for ERA will remain at $43,300 plus the activity fee of $750 for the 2025-2026 academic year. You can find three ERA-eligible OLSAT dates below.

 

• Tour & Interview

Interviews and campus tours are scheduled online through a Ravenna account. You can also schedule by contacting our office via email at [email protected] or by phone at (860) 727-5000.

 

• Online Application

Middle School applicants (Grades 6, 7, 8) must use the KO online application using Ravenna. The application fee is $60. Once an account is created, you will be able to view, track and complete the checklist items.

 

• Middle School Entrance Exam (Otis Lennon School Ability Test)

Students will take a timed multiple-choice assessment called the Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT). Please allow a total of one hour for your on-campus assessment.

 

Families must register online for one of the following test dates in the Ravenna HUB account as part of the admissions process. We cannot take walk-ins because the test requires specific information as part of the registration process to be administered. We appreciate your understanding!

 

Wednesday, December 4 @ 4 pm (ERA Eligible)
Wednesday, December 11 @ 4 pm (ERA Eligible)
Saturday, December 14 @ 9 am (ERA Eligible)
Saturday, January 11 @ 9 am
Wednesday, January 15 @ 4 pm
Wednesday, January 22 @ 4 pm
Saturday, January 25 @ 9 am

 

• Recommendation Forms

We require three recommendations: the current English teacher, the current Math teacher (for some applicants this may be the same teacher), and the School Report Form. These recommendation forms can be accessed and managed online through your Ravenna account. The School Report Form should be completed by a school official (i.e. Principal, guidance counselor, advisor, or homeroom teacher).

The Supplemental Recommendation Form is an optional recommendation form that can be completed by a coach, music instructor, or specific subject-matter teacher. Applicants may ask one person to complete a Supplemental Recommendation Form.

 

• Transcripts

The Transcript Release Form, which can be accessed and managed through your Ravenna account, should be completed by a school official (i.e. Principal, guidance counselor, advisor, or homeroom teacher). Transcripts containing the most up-to-date grades from the current year and final grades from the previous two years should be sent directly from the school official to Kingswood Oxford Admissions. Transcripts may be emailed to [email protected], mailed or faxed to (860) 236-3651 or mailed to:

 

ATTN: Admissions Office

170 Kingswood Road

West Hartford, CT 06119

 

• Financial Assistance

For instructions on how to apply for need-based Financial Assistance, visit the Tuition and Affordability page. This application may be completed concurrently with the admissions application.

 

 

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Upper School Fireside Chat December 11

The Fireside Chat allows prospective families to engage in conversations with the Head of the Upper School, Lisa Loeb, the Dean of Students, Kata Baker, the Director of Athletics, Josh Balabuch, and the Director of Performing Arts, Kyle Reynolds. Conversation topics include KO’s philosophy on academics, student life, athletics, and the arts. Join us to envision how your child can thrive in school and beyond! What a difference a day makes!

 

Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

 

Alumni Hall

Register through your Ravenna Account or email [email protected].