The Fessenden School

We are delighted that you are considering a Fessenden education for your son! Steeped in over 100 years of experience in educating boys, our philosophy of “nurture, then challenge” successfully marries a strong academic program with a joyful, diverse, and inclusive community that embodies our core values of honesty, compassion, and respect.

Fessenden is far more than a collection of classrooms: it’s a home for academic, athletic, and artistic adventures of all types—set on 41 beautiful acres just 10 minutes from Boston. We’re home to nearly 200 people, including students and faculty/staff families. Our highly skilled teachers, coaches, and advisors are passionate about what they do and deeply understand elementary and middle-school-aged boys.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in applying to Fessenden. Our admissions processes and timelines vary slightly by entry grade. For additional application details, please select the entry grade for which you are applying in the Grade-Specific Guidelines section below.

Create a Ravenna Account

Fessenden uses Ravenna, a leading application management system, to collect inquiries and manage our application process. Creating an account allows you to request an admissions packet, complete our online admissions application, track your application status, stay informed about upcoming events, and receive updates from our Admissions Office. Create your Ravenna account today!

Register for a Virtual Tour

While we would love to invite you to tour our beautiful School in-person, Fessenden’s campus is only currently open to students, faculty, and essential staff. However, starting October 1 and continuing through the end of January, we will be offering weekly virtual tours for families who would like to learn more about Fessenden. Please visit fessenden site to register for the grade-specific tour of your choice.

Grade-specific Guidelines

Pre-K

Students entering Pre-Kindergarten should be 4 years old by September 1.

Fessenden’s Pre-K program recognizes each boy’s unique learning style and developmental stage. The following offerings are available. (Note that parents do not need to select an option until their child receives an offer of admission.)

• Full-Day Pre-K Option
• Blended Pre-K Option (two full days, three half days)
• Half-Day Pre-K Option

KEY APPLICATION STEPS & DATES

Create a Ravenna Account – Establish an account on Ravenna (ravenna-hub.com), our online application management system. This enables you to request an admissions packet, complete our online admissions application, track your application status, stay informed about upcoming events, and receive updates from our Admissions Office. Create a Ravenna-hub.com account today.

Parent Virtual Tour – Grade-specific, group tours begin on October 1 and will be offered weekly through January. These tours are a required step in the application process. Candidates are encouraged to accompany their parents on the virtual tour. Visit fessenden.org/virtual or your Ravenna account to register for the tour of your choice.

Parent Virtual Interview – After attending a virtual tour, please log in to your Ravenna account to schedule a virtual interview with an Admissions Associate.

Candidate Virtual Assessment – Typically, candidates are required to attend a group or individual campus visit. New option allows parent(s)/guardian(s) to provide several video recordings of their applicant responding to different prompts/tasks. It is our hope that this alternative will simplify the application process for our youngest applicants and their families/guardians by enabling them to provide ONE common, single set of short videos to all participating schools. Please log in to your Ravenna account to see the full details of this step.

Online Application – The online application and parent statement, available on Ravenna (ravenna-hub.com), are due by February 1.

Transcripts – The transcript record release form is available on Ravenna to download, sign, and submit to the candidate’s current school. The school must upload prior and current year transcripts to Ravenna or send them directly to our Admissions Office by February 1.

Teacher Evaluation Form – After December 1, please provide current teachers with the grade-appropriate student evaluation form available on Ravenna. Evaluations are confidential and the teacher/school must upload the forms to Ravenna or return forms directly to the Admissions Office by February 1.

Financial Aid Requests – The deadline for financial aid applications is February 1. Please see more financial aid details on the next page or visit fessenden.org/financialaidls.

Once all of the above steps are taken, the candidate’s application is considered complete. The Admissions Committee will begin to review completed applications on February 1, and a decision will be sent to parents in writing on March 10.

Applications completed after February 1 will be considered on a rolling basis based on availability. Please contact Admissions for more information about availability and the second round admissions process. Please note that to be fair to all candidates, applications received after the February 1 deadline will be considered only after initial decisions are made on March 10.

Kindergarten

Students entering Kindergarten should be 5 years old by September 1. Once all of the above steps are taken, the candidate’s application is considered complete. The Admissions Committee will begin to review completed applications on February 1, and a decision will be sent to parents in writing on March 10.

Applications completed after February 1 will be considered on a rolling basis based on availability. Please contact Admissions for more information about availability and the second round admissions process. Please note that to be fair to all candidates, applications received after the February 1 deadline will be considered only after initial decisions are made on March 10.

• Start your online application process by creating a Ravenna account. Creating an account allows you to request an admissions packet, complete our online admissions application, track your application status, stay informed about upcoming events, and receive updates from our Admissions Office.
• Register for a virtual tour at fessenden.org/virtual. Pre-K/K virtual tours are offered weekly, from October 1 through the end of January, and are a required part of the application process.
• After you have completed a virtual tour, schedule a virtual parent interview in Ravenna.
• Candidate Virtual Assessment – Typically, candidates are required to attend a group or individual campus visit. We will have collaborated with other Boston-Area Lower Schools to develop the Boston Area Virtual Evaluation (BAVE) as an alternative method to get to know your son. This new option allows parent(s)/guardian(s) to provide several video recordings of their applicant responding to different prompts/tasks. It is our hope that this alternative will simplify the application process for our youngest applicants and their families/guardians by enabling them to provide ONE common, single set of short videos to all participating schools. Please log in to your Ravenna account to see the full details of this step.
• Complete our online application and parent questionnaire with $50 application fee on Ravenna (required and due by February 1).
• Submit Transcript Release Form - available on Ravenna - to current school so they can forward school transcripts or progress reports (required and due by February 1).
• After December 1, provide your son's current teacher with the student evaluation form - available on Ravenna - (required and due by February 1).
• To be considered for financial assistance, please submit your application and supporting documentation by February 1.

Grades 1-3

Grades 1-3 are not typical entry points for Fessenden. However, there are occasional openings so we encourage you to begin the admissions process. Once all of the above steps are taken, the candidate’s application is considered complete. The Admissions Committee will review completed applications after February 1, and a decision will be sent to parents in writing on March 10.

Applications completed after February 1 will be considered on a rolling basis based on availability. Please contact Admissions for more information about availability and the second round admissions process. Please note that to be fair to all candidates, applications received after the February 1 deadline will be considered only after initial decisions are made on March 10.

• Start your online application process by creating a Ravenna account. Creating an account allows you to request an admissions packet, complete our online admissions application, track your application status, stay informed about upcoming events, and receive updates from our Admissions Office.
• Register for a virtual tour at fessenden Site. Virtual tours are offered weekly, from October 1 through the end of January, and are a required part of the application process.
• Schedule a irtual parent interview in Ravenna.
• Schedule Virtual One-on-One Session for Candidates in Ravenna.
• In December or January, candidates are normally required to schedule a campus during which they will visit a classroom and experience a typical day in the life of a Fessenden student. 
• Complete our online application and parent questionnaire with $50 application fee on Ravenna (required and due by February 1).
• Submit Transcript Release Form - available on Ravenna - to current school so they can forward school transcripts or progress reports (required and due by February 1).
• After December 1, provide your son's current teacher with the appropriate student evaluation form (Grade 1 evaluation form or Grades 2-5 evaluation form - available on Ravenna)- required and due by February 1.
• To be considered for financial assistance, please submit your application and supporting documentation by February 1.

Grade 4

Once all of the above steps are taken, the candidate’s application is considered complete. The Admissions Committee will review completed applications after February 1, and a decision will be sent to parents in writing on March 10.

Applications completed after February 1 will be considered on a rolling basis based on availability. Please contact Admissions for more information about availability and the second round admissions process. Please note that to be fair to all candidates, applications received after the February 1 deadline will be considered only after initial decisions are made on March 10.

• Start your online application process by creating a Ravenna account. Creating an account allows you to request an admissions packet, complete our online admissions application, track your application status, stay informed about upcoming events, and receive updates from our Admissions Office.
• Register for a virtual tour at fessenden.org/virtual. Virtual tours are offered weekly, from October 1 through the end of January, and are a required part of the application process.
• After you have attended a virtual tour, schedule a parent virtual interview in Ravanna.
• Schedule a virtual one-on-one session for candidates in Ravenna.
• Complete our online application and parent questionnaire with $50 application fee on Ravenna (required and due by February 1).
• Submit Transcript Release Form - available on Ravenna - to current school so they can forward school transcripts or progress reports (required and due by February 1).
• After December 1, provide your son's current teacher with the appropriate student evaluation form (Grade 1 evaluation form or Grades 2-5 evaluation form - available on Ravenna)- required and due by February 1.
• To be considered for financial assistance, please submit your application and supporting documentation by February 1.

Grades 5-9 Day Students

• Start your online application process by creating a Ravenna account. Creating an account allows you to request an admissions packet, complete our online admissions application, track your application status, stay informed about upcoming events, and receive updates from our Admissions Office.
• Register for a virtual tour at fessenden site. Grades 5-9 virtual tours are offered weekly, from October 1 through the end of January, and are a required part of the application process.
• Candidate & (Parent) Virtual Interview – Once the candidate and parent(s)/guardians(s) have attended a virtual tour, they should log in to their Ravenna account to schedule a virtual with an Admissions Associate. During the interview, the Admissions Associate will talk privately with the candidate first and then parents/guardians will be asked to join the remainder of the meeting for a Q & A session.
• Submit online application using with $50 application fee using Ravenna (required and due by February 1).
• Submit the Transcript Release Form - available on Ravenna - to your child’s current school so they can forward transcripts for current and prior year (required and due by February 1).
• On or about December 1, provide current teachers with the AISNE student evaluation form(s): Grade 5: Form for Grade 5 Candidates; Grades 6-8: English evaluation form and Math evaluation form). The forms are available on Ravenna. Evaluations are confidential and the teacher must upload the forms to Ravenna or return them directly to our Admissions Office by February 1.
• Candidates are not required to take standardized tests.
• Candidates for Grades 5 and 6 are normally required to attend the Middle School re-visit day which is held on a Saturday in early February. We will update you on the alternative to this step. There is no re-visit day requirement Grades 7-8 candidates.
• To be considered for financial assistance, please submit your application and supporting documentation by February 1.

Once all of the above steps are taken, the candidate’s application is considered complete. The Admissions Committee will review completed applications after February 1, and a decision will be sent to families in writing on March 10.

Grades 5-9 Domestic Boarding Students

Boarding applications are considered on a rolling basis. However, if you would like to be considered for financial assistance, applications must be completed by February 1.

Five-Day and Seven-Day Boarding Options Available for Domestic Boarding Students.

• Start your online application process by creating a Ravenna account. Creating an account allows you to request an admissions packet, complete our online admissions application, track your application status, stay informed about upcoming events, and receive updates from our Admissions Office.
• Contact the Admissions at 617-630-2300 or admissions@fessenden.org to schedule a virtual tour and candidate and parent interview for you and your son.
• Submit online application using with $50 application fee using Ravenna. Boarding applications are accepted on a “rolling” basis, meaning there are no formal deadlines. However, we suggest applications be submitted as early as possible since there are a limited number of boarding spaces available.
• Submit the Transcript Release Form - available on Ravenna - to your child’s current school so they can forward transcripts for current and prior year.
• Provide current teachers with the AISNE student evaluation form(s): Grade 5: Form for Grade 5 Candidates; Grades 6-8: English evaluation form and Math evaluation form). The forms are available on Ravenna. Evaluations are confidential and the teacher must upload the forms to Ravenna or return them directly to our Admissions Office.
• Candidates are not required to take standardized tests.
• To be considered for financial assistance, please submit your application and supporting documentation by February 1.

Once all of the above steps are taken, the candidate’s application is considered complete. The Admissions Committee will review completed applications and a decision will be sent to families in writing.

Grades 5-9 International Boarding Students

Seven-Day Boarding is the only option for international boarding students.

• Start your online application process by creating a Ravenna account. Creating an account allows you to request an admissions packet, complete our online admissions application, track your application status, stay informed about upcoming events, and receive updates from our Admissions Office.
• Register for a virtual tour at fessenden site. Grades 5-9 international boarding virtual tours are offered weekly, from October 6 - December 10, and are a required part of the application process.
• Candidate & (Parent) Virtual Interview – Once the candidate and parent(s)/guardians(s) have attended a virtual tour, they should log in to their Ravenna account to schedule a virtual with an Admissions Associate. During the interview, the Admissions Associate will talk privately with the candidate first and then parents/guardians will be asked to join the remainder of the meeting for a Q & A session.
• Submit the Transcript Release Form - available on Ravenna - to current school so they may forward previous and current year school transcripts.
• Provide current teachers both the student English evaluation form and the student Math evaluation form. Teachers should either upload forms directly to Ravenna or emailed them to admissions@fessenden.org, or faxed them to 617-630-2303. Form(s) are confidential and should be returned directly to the admissions office or Fessenden's Ravenna portal by the current school.
• Middle and Upper School international boarding candidates are required to submit their TOEFL Jr. test results.
• Provide current teachers both the student English evaluation form and the student Math evaluation form. Evaluations are confidential and teachers must return them directly to our Admissions Office by uploading them to Ravenna or emailing them to admissions@fessenden.org.

Applications for the first round of international admissions are due December 15 and decisions are made by January 15. If you would like to be considered for the second round of international admissions, please contact our office for deadline information. Also, space availability in Grades 8 and 9 is often limited, so please contact us before starting the application process for those grades.