The Frederick Gunn School

We are excited that you are interested in learning more about The Frederick Gunn School. Our approach to education is informed by our connection to our founder, Frederick Gunn, who believed that strength of character is the goal of education. What that means for us today is that we graduate students who are well prepared for college and, more importantly, have a sense of their moral compass, which will guide them not only through college but in life, so that they become active, engaged citizens in their community.

We value motivated, genuine, kind students and faculty who want to live, learn, play, compete, perform and challenge each other in a community that is safe, nurturing, stimulating and fun. Students thrive at FGS because they are known. They are able to develop the courage and confidence they need to take on challenging tasks, and if they fail, to learn and try again with the support and encouragement of faculty and their peers.

We are fortunate that Mr. Gunn chose to found his school in Washington, Connecticut, one of the most beautiful settings in the country. Would he be surprised to return today and find the arts thriving in our gorgeous, new Arts and Community Center; freshmen feeling right at home in our Graham House (girls) and Teddy House (boys) dormitories; the tremendous growth of our engineering program in the IDEAS Lab; and students uncovering facets of our history in our Gunn Scholar Program? We would love for him – and you – to see it all.

we've seen a wide variety of students succeed here, from top academic scholars, to motivated students in need of some academic support, to elite athletes, to concert-level musicians, to four members of my own family, each of whom is different and has found success and a second home here. As you search for the right school for you, remember there are a lot of things in boarding schools that are similar. Most of them have great athletic, artistic and academic offerings and all have a nice community, but each school does have its own soul and its own culture and the emotional connection that you can feel when you visit a school can and should be very important in your decision making. When I ask students why they chose FGS, a large number of them say, ‘It felt like home.’ We hope that you will choose to make The Frederick Gunn School your school, too.

For more information or to schedule your visit, please call the Admissions Office, or email us.

Admissions Process

Inquire

Contact the Admissions Office to express your interest in The Frederick Gunn School or complete our online inquiry.

Explore Our Campus Virtually

We encourage all prospective students and parents to check our campus virtually. On this page, you will find our virtual student-led campus tour and student videos highlighting why they chose FGS. In addition, you will find multiple videos providing valuable information about our academic, arts and athletic programs as well as other signature programs.

Schedule A Personalized Virtual Campus Tour & Interview This Fall

Please call us, or e-mail us to schedule a personalized, virtual campus tour and interview via Zoom. Prospective students and parents will virtually explore our campus with a student tour guide. After that, prospective students will have a conversational interview with an admissions officer. The virtual visit will conclude with an opportunity for parents to speak with the admissions officer. Your personalized virtual visit is expected to last approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.

Join Our Admissions Forums

We encourage all prospective students and parents to join our Admissions Forums, a series of online events for your family to learn more about the Frederick Gunn School. To register for Admissions Forums, please visit our Calendar of Events page

Submit Your Application

Your completed application is due January 15 (rolling admissions after this date, please contact The Admissions Office). Complete and submit the Standard Application Online (SAO). The Frederick Gunn School's SAO and SSAT code is: 3628.

The SAO application includes the following components:

• Applicant information
• Application fee ($70 for domestic applicants; $150 for international applicants)
• Student essays
• Parent questionnaire
• Current and prior year transcripts
• Graded writing sample
• Recommendations (standardized forms sent via SAO directly to the teacher, principal or guidance counselor)
  • Current Math teacher recommendation
  • Current Principal or Guidance Counselor recommendation
  • Current English teacher recommendation
• Test results (Optional)
  • Given the uncertainty regarding the availability of standardized testing options, we will not require the submission of standardized test scores for thenext year application. If testing options are available, submission of scores is optional. For 9th and 10th grade applicants, we accept the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT). Be sure to list The Frederick Gunn School as a school where your child is applying. Our SSAT school code is 3628. We will also accept the ISEE for 9th and 10th grade applicants in lieu of the SSAT. For 11th, 12th and PG applicants, FGS accepts the PSAT, SAT or ACT. ISEE, PSAT, SAT or ACT test results should be sent directly.
  • International applicant test requirements (REQUIRED) All international applications for whom English is not their first language must take an English proficiency test. We accept TOEFL (school code 8980), IELTS and Duolingo scores.

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant, please refer to our international admissions page for additional instructions.

Tuition & Financial Aid

We understand and appreciate the financial commitment families undertake in deciding to send their children to FGS. Our financial aid program is designed to allow access to those who may not be able to afford the full cost of tuition. If you are a candidate for financial aid, please refer to our Tuition & Financial Aid section. You may also contact Suzanne Day, Director of Financial Aid, with any questions.