Chatham High Seniors Submit Record 3,029 College Applications, Report Shows

CHATHAM, NJ - Chatham High School seniors submitted 3,029 college applications during the 2024-2025 cycle, up from 2,830 the previous year, according to an annual graduation report presented this month by Principal Douglas M. Walker.

The Class of 2025 averaged 9.8 applications per student and earned 5.2 acceptances each, for an overall acceptance rate of 53.21 percent, a slight improvement over the Class of 2024's 52.27 percent rate.

Early action was the dominant strategy, accounting for 51 percent of all applications, or 1,516 submissions. Regular decision and rolling applications made up 42 percent, while early decision and ED II together accounted for 5 percent.

The report also flagged a notable pattern in outcomes: students who applied to fewer schools fared better. Those who submitted between one and four applications saw acceptance rates approaching 90 percent, while students who sent 20 or more saw rates drop to roughly 40 percent. Walker's report noted that "intentionality pays off."

Ninety-four percent of the graduating class enrolled in four-year colleges, consistent with the school's five-year trend. Rutgers University-New Brunswick drew the most applications from the class with 113, followed by Penn State-University Park with 97 and Virginia Tech with 75.

Graduates enrolled at more than 120 unique institutions across 20 states and four countries.

You can see the entire presentation here.

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