For more information and to attend our upcoming Admissions events, please complete an inquiry form here.

Fieldston Middle Admissions Events

Fieldston Middle Online Information Session (for 6th–8th Grade applicants)

Wednesday 10/9 from 4:30–5:30pm

Our Fieldston Middle Online Information Session will provide an opportunity to hear from members of our Admissions Office, our Belonging and Social Impact Department, and our leadership. Register to attend here.

Fieldston Middle Discovery Day

Saturday 10/19 from 10:00am–4:00pm, by appointment 

Our Discovery Day will offer students and families a unique, in-depth, in-person exploration of our campus and facilities, highlighting the ways in which our students and faculty bring these spaces to life. Register to attend here. 

Thank you for your interest in the Ethical Culture Fieldston School! We are excited to begin this journey with you as a prospective family, and look forward to sharing what makes ECFS such a special school and community.

We place each of our applicants, from Pre-K through 11th Grade, at the center of our admissions process, which informs all of the careful considerations we make when meeting and getting to know our prospective students and families. The Fieldston Middle and Upper Admissions team is deeply committed to embodying the values of our School and providing the highest level of care in supporting you through the process and ensuring the experience is a meaningful one for you and your child, should you choose to apply.

Steps to apply: Fieldston Middle

6th Grade — Entry point: Our cohort of students grows into the 6th Grade to a total enrollment of around 134 students. We anticipate 20–25 openings for new students to join the community at this entry point.

7th and 8th Grades — Attrition-based: We welcome applications for the 7th and 8th Grades, which are considered based on the number of open seats we have due to attrition.

Step 1: Learn more about our School, program, and community
  • Submit our inquiry form to be placed on our mailing list for updates about our application process.
  • Attend an online or in-person event for prospective students and families.
    •  Fieldston Middle online information session: Wednesday 10/9/2024 from 4:30–5:30pm
    • Fieldston Middle Discovery Day: Saturday 10/19/2024 (by appointment)
  • Explore our website
Step 2: Submit an application — DEADLINE FRIDAY 11/15/2024 AT NOON
  • Create an account in our online application system.
  • Complete and submit our online application by the Friday 11/15 deadline.
    • Our application form captures the applicant’s educational background as well as parent/guardian and household information.
    • We ask for two parent/guardian statements in response to the following prompts:
      • Please describe your child’s personality and interests including your observations of their strengths and areas for growth.
      • Please describe the educational environment and experience you envision for your child.
  • We do not require a student essay as part of our application.
  • Our application fee, payable online, is $75. We are happy to provide a fee waiver to qualifying families who request one by contacting us at [email protected].
  • If you’d like to be considered for need-based financial aid, submit an application by Monday 12/2/24. More information about our financial aid program, and how to apply, can be found here.
Step 3: Complete your application — DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 1/8/2025
  • Use your parent portal checklist in our online application system to request and upload the required documents. For applicants to Fieldston Middle we require:
    • A School Report Form, completed by a principal, division head, counselor, or dean at the applicant’s current school.
    • A Teacher Evaluation Form from the applicant’s current 5th Grade teacher (applicants to 7th and 8th Grade are required to submit Teacher Evaluation Forms from both a current English and math teacher).
    • ISEE or SSAT scores (New requirement for the 2024–2025 application year)
    • Official transcripts/report cards showing all semester and final grades for the previous academic year and the first marking period or semester of the current academic year
  • Attend your online interview conversation (for 6th Grade applicants only).
    • Once we have received and processed your submitted application form, you will be allowed to self-schedule your interview.
    • The interview conversation will be conducted by a member of the admissions team or faculty via Google Meet and will last approximately 40 minutes.
    • More information about your interview conversation will be included in your appointment email.
  • Schedule a campus tour.
    • We look forward to welcoming you to our campus in person and having you experience our community in action!
    • Use your parent portal checklist to self-schedule a date and time that is most convenient for your family.
  • Register for our programs for applicant students and families.
    • We are proud to offer a broad range of online, student-centered programs to help you and your child understand all that Fieldston Middle has to offer.
    • Use your parent portal checklist to self-schedule your child or yourself to attend as many of these offerings as you’d like.
Step 4: 6th Grade Admissions decisions released — MONDAY 2/10/2025 at 4:00pm
  • All parents/guardians included on the application will receive an admissions decision via email after 4:00pm on the date indicated above.
  • Admitted students and families will be invited to attend additional programs and revisit opportunities.
  • Admitted 6th Grade families have until Friday 2/28/2025 at 12:00pm to make their enrollment decisions.

Sibling, alumni, and faculty/staff applicants

Sibling, alumni, and faculty/staff applicants are given special consideration during the admissions process. We strive to keep families together at ECFS. However, due to the sheer quantity of applications we receive, admission is not automatic nor guaranteed. All applicants (regardless of prior family connection to the School) are evaluated according to the same criteria, and all admission decisions consider the best interest of each individual child. It is wonderful that the number of sibling, alumni, and faculty/staff families applying to ECFS continues to increase. While we value ECFS’s community of siblings, alumni, and faculty/staff, we are also committed to providing access to new families whose values and goals reflect the School’s mission. We ask that our sibling, alumni, and faculty/staff applicants submit their applications by Tuesday 10/1.