Fay School – 2 offers
The Fessenden School – 2 offers
Eaglebrook School – 1 offer
Rumsey Hall School – 4 offers
Cardigan Mountain School – 2 offers
Indian Mountain School – 2 offers
Rectory School – 2 offers
Total: 15 acceptances across 7 schools
As admissions decisions for U.S. Junior boarding schools are released, we are thrilled to share an extraordinary milestone: 100% of Foundation GE students applying this cycle received offers of admission.
This outstanding result reflects far more than numbers. Behind every offer is a student’s months of steady effort, a family’s unwavering trust, and a consulting team’s precise, thoughtful, and deeply committed guidance. Each acceptance letter marks the beginning of a new chapter—and we could not be prouder to celebrate this journey of growth, resilience, and shared achievement with our students and families.
Building on both the emotional significance of this admissions season and our responsibility to guide future applicants, Iris Lau, Partner at Foundation GE and Director of Early Admissions, led our team in a comprehensive review of the 2026 admissions outcomes. Combined with in-depth conversations with admissions offices, we present below a clear and practical analysis of key trends shaping U.S. boarding middle school admissions for Fall 2026.
Despite global uncertainty and widespread speculation that families might delay early overseas education plans, overall application numbers remained largely consistent with last year. Most schools reported stable applicant pools, with only a small number seeing modest declines—and none of these changes were significant.
Due to over-enrollment in Grades 6 and 7 over the past two years, most schools reported very limited new openings for Grade 8 this cycle. Through long-term planning and early preparation, Foundation GE students were still able to secure Grade 8 offers despite these constraints.
Admissions offices consistently noted a marked improvement in overall applicant quality this year. Students demonstrated stronger profiles across academics, extracurricular engagement, and—most notably—English communication and self-expression.
Schools increasingly emphasize the importance of students completing Grade 9 within a U.S. boarding middle school environment. A full middle school experience allows students to integrate more deeply into the American education system and access meaningful leadership opportunities—many of which emerge most clearly in Grade 9. These experiences play a crucial role in long-term development and significantly strengthen applications to top U.S. boarding high schools.
Every acceptance letter represents months of student dedication, wholehearted family support, and the Foundation GE team’s tireless work behind the scenes. We know exactly how hard-won these offers are.
In some cases, students were admitted just hours before decisions were released, lifted from waitlists at the very last moment. When that happened, our team was watching the screen alongside the students—hearts racing, breath held. Those final surprises were not luck; they were the result of continuous advocacy, careful communication, and a refusal to ever ease up.
These moments reaffirm what we believe deeply: professional rigor, long-term vision, and genuine care truly make a difference.
We look forward to continuing this journey with future families—and helping more students step confidently toward their dream schools.
