Ten Schools Admission Organization
| Abbreviation | TSAO |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1952 |
| Type | Educational consortium |
| Purpose | Admission outreach and collaboration |
Region served | Northeastern United States |
| Membership | 10 boarding schools |
| Website | www |
| Remarks | Founding schools: Andover, Choate, Deerfield, Exeter, Hill, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, Loomis Chaffee, St. Paul's, and Taft. |
The Ten Schools Admission Organization (TSAO), established in 1952, is a collaborative consortium of ten highly selective college-preparatory boarding schools located primarily in the Northeastern United States. The organization coordinates collective outreach and domestic and international recruitment efforts, while maintaining shared admissions standards, such as a uniform enrollment decision deadline of April 10.
Sociologists have identified the member institutions as part of a "select" tier of American secondary schools that play a significant role in the socialization of the American elite and the maintenance of class cohesion through rigorous academic and social "crucibles." As a group, the member institutions are characterized by their substantial financial endowments and their historical status as "feeder schools" for the Ivy League and other highly selective universities. Collectively, the schools award over $125 million in financial aid annually to support a diverse student body.