ELITE EIGHT: THE TOP-TIER OF AMERICA’S ELITE BOARDING SCHOOLS

The Elite Eight is a an informal moniker applied to a group of highly-selective boarding schools in the United States that are considered to be the most exclusive schools in the country. Whilst many of the schools are known to consider one another as equals and often collaborate with one another with respect to common admissions practices or their participation in formal associations (such as the Eight Schools Association – with which the term is sometimes erroneously associated, or the Ten Schools Admission Organization), the Elite Eight is not an official body. Nonetheless, it is a common term used by prospective pupils and admissions agents assisting families with attaining places to such elite prep schools.

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ABOUT

The schools that comprise the Elite Eight, namely: Andover; Choate; Deerfield; Exeter; Groton; Hotchkiss; Lawrenceville; and St. Paul’s, are, historically the leading feeder schools to the Ivy League and are amongst the oldest and, most expensive, schools in the country. Each of the schools, traditionally all-boys schools but now co-educational, boasts an excellent academic pedigree and a host of famous names including Presidents, royalty and titans of industry amongst their alumni.

The schools regularly feature in rankings of the top performing schools in the United States and internationally, operating extremely selective admissions policies with applicants from all over the globe. The Elite Eight schools are often included in other common groupings such as HADES, GLADCHEMMS and St. Grottlesex with some members being excluded or replaced with other excellent schools, albeit the core group remains largely the same. All of the Elite Eight are also included in the similar informal grouping, the Select 16. Many of these schools are members of the Gateway to Prep Schools consortium which affords prospective applicants with a single admissions portal from which they can apply to many of the schools with a single candidate profile. All of the schools except Groton are members of the Independent School Innovation Consortium (ISIC), a consortium of more than twenty of the most renowned schools in the country which was created to advance standards in schools innovation and establishing metrics to support college admissions. Nonetheless, Hill and various other elite boarding schools have participated in ISIC sponsored studies.

Do you agree that these are the eight most exclusive schools in America? Perhaps you think there is a better grouping or have some thoughts about any of these schools that you would like to share with our community? Please do in the comments section.

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MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES

CHOOSE LIST VIEW FOR A SIMPLE LIST OF ALL LISTED SCHOOLS. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN SELECT SCHOOLS USING THE MAP BELOW.

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