When the Ten Schools Admission Organization (TSAO) was founded in 1952, its mission was both simple and ambitious. Families navigating the independent school landscape needed clarity, support, and a smoother path to understanding what made these historic institutions extraordinary. By uniting their admissions philosophies and processes, ten schools set out to make access more equitable and the experience more humane.
Those founding schools remain the core of TSAO today: Andover, Choate, Deerfield, Exeter, Hill, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, Loomis Chaffee, St. Paul’s, and Taft. Their collaboration continues to shape how families experience the independent school journey, upholding a standard of excellence that has influenced generations.
At Eustis Chair, we have long admired that commitment to tradition and purpose. Perhaps that is why seven of these ten distinguished schools have entrusted their learning, gathering, and dining spaces to our American-made hardwood chairs. It is a point of pride to know our work supports daily life in institutions that have shaped so much of the country’s academic heritage.
Why These Partnerships Endure
Working with TSAO schools has always meant embracing environments that ask a great deal from their furniture. Libraries open from early morning to late night, dining halls that serve hundreds of students in a single seating, study spaces that flex and adapt with each generation of learners. These are the rooms that define a campus, and they demand chairs built not only for comfort and beauty but for decades of rigorous use.
That is where our proprietary Eustis Joint® sets the tone. It allows us to craft elegant hardwood chairs that hold up to daily institutional life without sacrificing the timeless aesthetic these campuses are known for. The durability is measurable, the craftsmanship unmistakably American, and the sustainability rooted in domestic hardwoods and responsible building practices.
A Shared Philosophy
TSAO’s member schools have always understood that the built environment is part of the educational experience. A dining hall chair is not simply a seat. It is where students gather after a long practice, where friendships form, and where ideas begin. A library chair becomes a companion through four years of study. These spaces deserve furniture with integrity.
To be trusted by seven of the ten schools is an honor. We see these installations as long-term partnerships grounded in shared values: longevity, quality, and a belief that what we build today should serve generations to come.
Looking Ahead
As TSAO continues its work supporting families and strengthening the identity of its member schools, we remain committed to supporting their campus environments with seating that respects both heritage and future needs. The story that began in 1952 is still being written, and we are grateful for the chapters that include our craft.
For more about TSAO and its continued mission, visit https://www.tenschools.org/.