Admissions
How to Apply
Grades 6-9 Application Steps
We'll guide you through the following steps:
Step 1: Parent Tour and Interview
Step 2: Preliminary Online Application
Step 3: Student Shadow Day
Step 4: Standardized Testing
Step 5: Teacher Recommendations
Step 6: School Report Cards
Step 1: Parent Tour and Interview
Step 2: Preliminary Online Application
Step 3: Student Shadow Day
Step 4: Standardized Testing
Step 5: Teacher Recommendations
Step 6: School Report Cards
The Upper School at FCDS balances a traditional curriculum with innovative instruction designed specifically for boys of this age. Throughout the day, our boys benefit from strong relationships with their teachers, discussion-based classes, and hands-on learning.
Step 1: Parent Tour and Interview
Take a guided tour with a member of our Admissions team to see what makes FCDS such a special place. Tour our vibrant campus, meet some of our faculty, and see our classrooms in action. To schedule your tour, please fill out our inquiry form and we will be in touch to schedule a visit time that's convenient for you.
Step 2: Preliminary Online Application
Create an online account on Ravenna, our application portal. Ravenna will provide you with our preliminary application, instructions for each step of the admission process, and a completion checklist for you to track your progress.
Step 3: Student Shadow Day
Shadow Day Visits provide a wonderful opportunity for your son to experience a day-in-the-life of a FCDS student. Visits for Grades 6-9 are from 8:15AM - 2:15PM. Your son's Shadow Day will include participation in class time with future classmates, lunch in our dining hall, and a brief writing assessment. Registration for this event is available within your Ravenna account.
Step 4: Standardized Testing
We value admissions assessments as a useful tool in understanding how we can best serve incoming students. We accept scores from standardized tests that your student has likely completed in school in the past year, such as the ERB, CMT, or equivalent. Alternatively, we accept Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) or Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) scores. Information on how to register for the ISEE and SSAT is available within your Ravenna account.
Step 5: Teacher Recommendations
Grade 6 applicants should submit a teacher recommendation from their current classroom teacher. Grades 7-9 applicants are required to submit a current English teacher recommendation and a current math teacher recommendation. Ravenna will provide you with instructions on how to email our Teacher Recommendation form to your child's current teachers.
Step 6: School Report Cards
Students are required to submit last year’s report card as well as their most recent report card from the current school year.
Step 7: Tuition Assistance Application (optional)
We offer need-based Tuition Assistance to those who qualify. To find out if your family would qualify, you must complete an application via Clarity. Clarity is a secure website that shares your information with FCDS upon your request. Note that both your Ravenna application and your Clarity application share the same priority application deadline in February.
Fairfield Country Day School (FCDS) is a private, all-boys day school in Fairfield, Connecticut.
FCDS admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
FCDS admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
FCDS is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status.