Application Process

We recommend scheduling your tour and interview before January 15. Families are encouraged to schedule an appointment early to ensure the availability of a date and time that is most convenient for them. 

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Canterbury uses a common admission application for independent schools called the Standard Application Online (SAO), offered through ssat.org. We use this material to assess how well you would fit into our school community. 

Completed applications submitted by January 15 receive an admission decision on March 10. Applications submitted after January 15 are subject to space availability and are considered on a rolling admission basis.

The application includes the following components:

• Applicant information

• Student essay questions

• Parent statement 

• Current and prior two years of transcripts (it is recommended to have your transcripts sent after the first marking period of the current academic year)
• Writing sample
• Recommendations (standardized forms can be sent directly to the teacher, principal, or guidance counselor via the SAO)
  • Current Math teacher recommendation
  • Current English teacher recommendation
  • Current Principal or Guidance Counselor recommendation
• Standardized test results (optional)

Note: The information submitted to your SAO will be automatically sent to your Canterbury Admission Portal (created when you submitted the online inquiry form). As the information is received, the items in the checklist will be updated. As we near the January 15 application deadline, it is important for you to check your Canterbury Admission Portal (not your SAO account) to monitor the completeness of your application.

Start YOUR APPLICATION

For the 2024-2025 application cycle, Canterbury will remain test-optional

Standardized testing for the admission process depends on the grade to which you are applying:

Grade 9, 10 (Third or Fourth Form)
SSAT

Grade 11 (Fifth Form)
PSAT or SSAT

Grade 12 (Sixth Form)
PSAT, SAT, or ACT

Postgraduate (PG)
SAT or ACT

The preferred time to schedule a standardized test is on the November or December dates. We encourage you to register for a test as soon as possible since registration deadlines come well in advance of the test administration dates.

When registering for the SSAT, please use Canterbury's school code (2050) to ensure the results will be sent directly to our Admission Office. It is important to register in advance at ssat.org.  

REGISTER FOR THE SSAT

International Applicants
In addition to submitting the standardized testing listed above, non-native English speaking applicants are required to submit test scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the Duolingo test. When registering for the TOEFL, please use Canterbury's school code (7219) to ensure results will be sent directly to our Admission Office. A school code is not required for Duolingo. 

Minimum Required Scores

• TOEFL: Minimum score of 90
• Duolingo: Minimum score of 120 for Third Form; higher for Fifth Form

For applicants who have attended a school for three years or more where English is the primary mode of instruction, the TOEFL or Duolingo test is not required.

REGISTER FOR THE TOEFL

REGISTER FOR DUOLINGO

Due to the high number of applications, we have partnered with Vericant to provide an in-person interview opportunity for all Chinese applicants interested in Canterbury School. Vericant will faciliate interviews and short writing samples with our applicants and the videos will be reviewed as a component of the application. Further details can be found on the International Students section of our website.

international applicant faqs

Canterbury’s Postgraduate (PG) Program is a valuable option for determined high school students who feel that an extra year of academic, athletic, artistic, and/or personal growth would benefit their future. Whether you want to spend more time getting ready for the rigors of college, raising your overall grade point average, or enhancing your college athletic recruitment profile, our PG Program provides the ideal college preparatory experience for you.

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