Apply to Gunston
The best way to get to know Gunston is to visit! There are numerous opportunities throughout the admission season to visit our beautiful campus and see our talented teachers and amazing students in action.
- Come for a Visit
- Schedule a Shadow Day Visit (in-person or virtually)
- Application Deadlines
- Complete the Application - Parent & Student Sections
- Have the Recommendation Forms Completed
- Have Transcripts Sent to Gunston
- Admission Testing
Come for a Visit
Schedule a Personal Tour
We invite you to set up a personal tour of our campus. Your tour will feature an introduction to our academic and extra-curricular programs, as well as an opportunity to witness our students and faculty in action. Tours usually last an hour, and can be scheduled by contacting David Henry.
~or~
Attend an Open House Event
Join us at any of our Open House events. Your experience will include:
- A presentation by Headmaster John Lewis
- An introduction to Gunston's Student Ambassadors
- A student-led tour of our 35-acre waterfront campus
- A question and answer session on academics, athletics and campus life
Schedule a Shadow Day Visit (in-person or virtually)
During a shadow day visit, the applicant will visit 1-2 class(es), and have the opportunity to interact with Gunston students and faculty.
Shadow visits can be done in-person or virtually. The time on campus will be limited for our student visitors, so we have designed the following time slots:
- 8:15 - 10:00
- 9:45 - 11:30
- 11:40 - 1:25
- 1:05 - 2:50
This will allow for proper health screening during check-in, as well as time to conduct a student candidate interview at the end of the visit. Although our availability to host visitors on campus is limited, we will do our best to accommodate.
Please contact David Henry, Director of Admission, to schedule (dhenry@gunston.org; 410-758-0620, ext 1104).
Application Deadlines
9th Grade Applicants:
Early Decision Deadline: January 4
Families who decide that Gunston is the "perfect fit" for their child are encouraged to apply for Early Decision. Completed applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and applicants and their families will be notified of a decision by January 19. Like college, acceptance during Early Decision is considered a binding commitment.
Regular Decision Deadline: February 12
Completed applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and applicants and their families will be notified of a decision by late-February. Families typically have 3 weeks to reply to a Gunston acceptance decision.
Rolling Admission:
Applications received after February 12 for grade 9 will be evaluated on a rolling admission basis as space becomes available.
10th-12th Grades Applicant:
Applications are accepted throughout the school year and evaluated on a rolling admission basis as space becomes available.
* NOTE: Financial aid applications will need to be submitted by the deadline for application of enrollment (Early Decision - by Jan 4; Regular Decision - by Feb 12)
Complete the Application - Parent & Student Sections
The Gunston School online application has sections for both students and parents. The application does not need to be completed in one sitting; you will be able to start, stop, and resume at any time.
Application Part I (Parent section) - to be completed by the parent/guardian. The application fee is $50, and is payable at the end of this portion of the application.
Application Part II (Student section) -to be completed by the student
* NOTE: Financial aid applications will need to be submitted by the deadline for application of enrollment (Early Decision - by Jan 4; Regular Decision - by Feb 12)
Have the Recommendation Forms Completed
Applicants will need to have recommendations submitted by a school administrator, their English teacher, and their mathematics teacher.
Applicants should provide the recommendation forms to their current teacher or administrator: a) by email - copy and paste the live link provided below, OR b) by directing them to this webpage, OR c) by printing out and giving the form to the appropriate teacher / administrator to be sent in by mail or email scanned attachment:
- School Recommendation - to be completed by the student's current school administrator—Principal/Headmaster, Vice-Principal/Assistant Headmaster, or Guidance Counselor
- Copy & paste the live link and send by email to school administrator: https://www.gunston.org/admissions/the-admission-p...
- OR - Print form and give to administrator to be sent in by mail or email attachment: School Recommendation
- English Teacher Recommendation - to be completed by the applicant's current English instructor
- Copy & paste the live link and send by email to English instructor: https://www.gunston.org/admissions/the-admission-p...
- OR - Print form and give to English instructor to be sent in by mail or email attachment: English Teacher
- Math Teacher Recommendation - to be completed by the applicant's current math instructor
- Copy & paste the live link and send by email to math instructor: https://www.gunston.org/admissions/the-admission-p...
- OR - Print form and give to math instructor to be sent in by mail or email attachment: Math Teacher
If you are having the teacher / administrator send in the recommendation by mail, it is customary to provide a stamped reply envelope addressed to:
Admissions Office
The Gunston School
P.O. Box 200
Centreville, MD 21617
Have Transcripts Sent to Gunston
The applicant's parent will need to request that the student's transcripts be sent directly to Gunston. This can be done in either of two ways:
a) Call, or send an email to, the applicant's current school counselor or registrar's office, and request that the following be sent to Gunston (the information below can be copied and pasted into your email request):
- All progress reports from the current school year
- Progress reports from the previous school year
- Standardized test score
- Attendance record
* Please ask that all information be sent to Gunston by email to: admission@gunston.org, or by mail.
OR
b) Print, fill out, and give the Transcript Request Form to the applicant's current school counselor or registrar's office, and request that the information be sent to Gunston.
Admission Testing
Visit the SSAT website for more information or to register for the test. Enter our code - 3271- on your SSAT registration, and your scores will be sent directly to Gunston.
Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) - optional (not required)
Visit the ISEE website for more information or to register for the test.
** NOTE: Neither of these tests are required for admission to Gunston. If the scores are submitted with the application, they will not be utilized in determining admission to Gunston.
Summer Applicants:
Please contact David Henry, who will assist you throughout the application process.
Merit Award
The Gunston School is pleased to announce the 21st annual Merit Scholarship Competition. The winners will receive a one-year scholarship, the value of which is equal to 25% – 50% of the student’s 9th -grade tuition to The Gunston School.
In ordered to be considered for one of the merit scholarships, an applicant will need to:
1) submit the Merit Scholarship Essay
2) have the Merit Scholarship Recommendation Form submitted on their behalf (this should be completed by a non-family member, and someone who can best attest to the student’s abilities & talents)
3) have a completed application for admission to Gunston on file, including a copy of the transcript
An email will be sent to confirm receipt of the essay & recommendation form.
All submissions must be received by February 12, 2021. Applicants will be notified of results by February 26.
This competition is optional and open to any 8th-grade student who is applying to The Gunston School for the 2021-2022 school year. In recent years, an average of two students have had the opportunity to win this scholarship.
Please contact David Henry, Director of Admission, with questions.