International Applicants FAQs

Yes. International candidates go through the same admission and evaluation process as domestic students. Admissible international students demonstrate advanced skills in English comparable to their domestic peers.

If you wish to apply to Commonwealth and you live in a country other than the U.S., or you live in the U.S. but you would require an F-1 student visa, you should complete our Application for International Students in Ravenna.

Although we do so rarely, Commonwealth is certified by SEVIS to issue I-20 visas when needed.

No. Commonwealth is not a boarding school, and we do not permit homestays. Students who apply to Commonwealth should either live in the Boston area with their families or plan to move here with at least one parent.

We require all applicants to take either the SSAT or the ISEE (please see our How to Apply page for details). Unless they currently attend a school in which English is the primary language of instruction, international students should also plan to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

January 15.

We are happy to communicate with a consultant on an applicant’s behalf. While consultants can provide logistical assistance, we expect all families to complete their own application forms themselves and request a transcript and recommendations from the applicant’s current school. Commonwealth does not liaise with agents seeking compensation for applicant referrals.

Commonwealth rarely considers midyear transfers, and we do not accept one-semester exchange students. Our academic program is yearlong, and courses run from September through May. Since we are a small school, we have limited capacity to enroll additional students once the academic year has started.

Admission to eleventh or twelfth grade is very rare, especially for a student who currently attends a school in which English is not the primary language of instruction. If you are interested in applying for eleventh or twelfth grade, please email the admissions office first so that we can advise you.