Secondary School Placement

Click here to review the Class of 2020's secondary schools.

The Secondary School Placement Office comes under the Admission Office umbrella and serves, on average, 40 families each year. We enjoy a deep connection with the Directors of Admission and their associates at numerous independent schools around the country.

We begin our process in the spring of a student's 8th grade year with individual counseling and advice on finding the "right fit." Our office oversees 400 plus applications to roughly 90 independent schools each year. We are responsible for gathering all recommendations and transcripts and guide our families through the completion of their applications.We coach our students on upcoming interviews, and offer an SSAT overview class complete with practice tests and analysis of individual scores. Hillside School is a test site for the SSAT's and we assist all families with their test registrations, including those requiring specific accommodations.

Our son attended Hillside for two years (8th and 9th grade), and I can unequivocally say that he had a distinct advantage applying to secondary schools as a result. Hillside's placement team were constant guides and provided invaluable advice every step along the way. I cannot provide a higher recommendation for Hillside School. Simply put, the best of the best."
– A Future Groton Parent

2020–2021 Secondary School Placement Timeline

May/June of 8th Grade Year:

Individual family meetings
with Secondary School
Placement (SSP) Office

Summer before 9th Grade Year:

Families research secondary
schools; students prepare for SSAT/TOEFL

August before 9th Grade Year:

Parents schedule school
interviews for week of October
10-17

Fall of 9th Grade Year:

Students invited for
information sessions with
secondary school
representatives; SSP Office helps students prepare for interviews

October 3:SSAT administered at Hillside
October 10-17:

Secondary school interviews
(no classes for 9th Grade)

October 31:

SSAT administered at Hillside

November:

Families make progress on
common applications through application platforms

November 21:

SSAT administered at Hillside

December 1:

Families notify SSP Office of
their final list of schools

January 15, 2021:

First wave of application
deadlines; SSP Office will
upload teacher recommendations
and transcripts

March 10:

Families notified of decisions by secondary schools

March 10–April 10:

Secondary schools host events for admitted families

April 10:Enrollment Deadline