North America

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.