Orange County private schools accepting the ISEE
8 of 116 schools list the ISEE; 32 are unverified and excluded.
| School | City | Grades | Exam | ISEE level by entry grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's School | Aliso Viejo | K-8 | ISEE | Primary 2 · Primary 3 · Primary 4 · Lower Level · Middle Level |
| Harbor Day School | Corona del Mar | K-8 | ISEE | Primary 2 · Primary 3 · Primary 4 · Lower Level · Middle Level |
| The Pegasus School | Huntington Beach | K-8 | ISEE | Primary 2 · Primary 3 · Primary 4 · Lower Level · Middle Level |
| TVT Community Day School (Tarbut V'Torah) | Irvine | K-12 | ISEE | Primary 2 · Primary 3 · Primary 4 · Lower Level · Middle Level · Upper Level |
| Newport Christian School | Newport Beach | K-12 | ISEE | Primary 2 · Primary 3 · Primary 4 · Lower Level · Middle Level · Upper Level |
| Pacifica Christian High School, Orange County | Newport Beach | 9-12 | ISEE | Upper Level |
| Sage Hill School | Newport Coast | 7-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Middle Level · Upper Level |
| St. Margaret's Episcopal School | San Juan Capistrano | K-12 | ISEE | Primary 2 · Primary 3 · Primary 4 · Lower Level · Middle Level · Upper Level |
Levels are derived from entry grades and the official level table; confirm with each school for the current year.
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is not a required step for every private school application. The entrance test requirements of Orange County private schools fall into four types: ISEE required, HSPT required (common at Catholic high schools), a school assessment, and no standardized test. The three schools one family applies to may each have different requirements. Before preparation begins, therefore, the requirement of every school on the family’s list should be confirmed one by one. The table at the top of this page lists the schools in the database that accept the ISEE; the sections below explain how to read the table, the common forms of school requirements, the steps for checking them, and the next step once the level is known.
How to read the table
This section explains the meaning of each column in the table and how the level column is derived.
| Column | Meaning | Notes for use |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | The grade span the school enrolls | Not the same as the grades that require the ISEE; at a K–8 school, a student applying for grade 2 takes Primary 2, and a student applying for grade 6 takes the Lower Level |
| Entrance test | Taken directly from the school database field, whose value comes from the school’s official admission page | Source links and check dates are on each school page |
| Levels for these entry grades | Derived from the school’s entry grades and the official level table | For quick reference; the school’s admission page for the current year governs which grade a student applies to in a given year, whether a test is required, and when scores are due |
The table includes only schools whose entrance test field lists the ISEE. Schools whose field lists a school assessment, the HSPT or no test are not in the table; schools whose field is blank have not yet been verified and are also not in the table. The database is verified school by school, and each update is dated on the school page.
Common forms of school requirements
This section describes four kinds of ISEE-related rules on admission pages and what to confirm for each.
| Rule | Common form on the admission page | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Whether a test is required | ISEE scores required; or no standardized test, with a school assessment instead | Whether the grade applied to falls within the requirement |
| Whether another test can substitute | ISEE only; or either ISEE or SSAT (for example, Sage Hill School); Catholic high schools mostly require the HSPT | Whether a student already preparing for the ISEE needs to take a second test |
| Score submission method and deadline | The testing organization sends the official score report directly, with a deadline usually near the application deadline (January 31 at Sage Hill School) | Whether the deadline refers to when scores are sent or when they are received |
| How scores are used | Admission pages usually state only the submission requirement | Whether there is a minimum score and how each section is considered; the admissions office’s answer governs |
Source: Sage Hill School official application information.
Steps for checking a target school’s requirements
This section sets out the order for checking, from the school list to the test date.
- Confirm the entry grade for each school. The ISEE level is determined by the grade the student is applying to enter, not the student’s current grade.
- Look up the school in the table on this page. For a school not in the table, check the entrance test field on the school page.
- Check the school’s admission page for the current year item by item. Following the four kinds of rules in the previous section, confirm whether a test is required, whether another test can substitute, the submission method and deadline, and how scores are used.
- Work backward from the deadline to the test date. The school year has three testing seasons, with at most one test per season; if a fall result is unsatisfactory, the winter season offers another attempt. Winter results take time to be released, so families preparing for a January deadline usually complete the test before early December. Testing season and score release rules are described in registration and test scheduling.
- Submit schools that have not been verified. For a school whose entrance test field has not been verified or that is not in the database, the family can send the school name to an EDUBUS advisor, who will check the school’s admission page for the current year and reply.
Source: official ERB ISEE materials.
Next steps once the level is known
This section explains which level page to use for preparation after the school requirements have been checked. Levels correspond to entry grades as follows.
| Entry grade | ISEE level | Level page |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 2 | Primary 2 | Primary 2 preparation |
| Grade 3 | Primary 3 | Primary 3 preparation |
| Grade 4 | Primary 4 | Primary 4 preparation |
| Grades 5 to 6 | Lower Level | Lower Level preparation |
| Grades 7 to 8 | Middle Level | Middle Level preparation |
| Grades 9 to 12 | Upper Level | Upper Level preparation |
Source: official ERB ISEE materials.
When a target school accepts both the ISEE and the SSAT, the differences between the two tests are explained in ISEE and SSAT compared. The meaning of each score report item and the score sending rules are in scores, score sending and retakes, and the overall application schedule is in the private school application timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Irvine student moving from a public school to a private school always need to take the ISEE?
Not necessarily. Most Orange County private schools use their own assessments or do not require a standardized test; only some schools require the ISEE, and Catholic high schools mostly use the HSPT, a different entrance test. Families should first look up each target school in the table on this page, then confirm the requirements on the school page and the school's admission page for the current year.
Should an Irvine student applying to Sage Hill School take the ISEE or the SSAT?
Sage Hill School accepts both tests, and the official score report must reach the school directly by the January 31 deadline. A student who is already preparing for the ISEE does not need to take the SSAT as well.
What does an entrance test listed as school assessment in the database mean for an Irvine family?
A school assessment is an evaluation or admission test arranged by the school itself, not a standardized test administered by a testing organization such as the ISEE. The specific format, whether an interview, classroom observation or on-campus written test, is set out on each school's admission page.
How should an Irvine family check the requirements of a target school that is not in the table on this page?
There are two possibilities: the school is in the database but its entrance test field has not yet been verified, or the school is not in the database. In either case, the family can send the school name to an EDUBUS advisor, who will check the school's admission page for the current year and reply.
Which ISEE level should an Irvine student take when applying for grade 7 at an Orange County private school?
A student applying for grade 7 takes the Middle Level. The level is determined by the grade the student is applying to enter: grades 5 to 6 take the Lower Level, grades 7 to 8 the Middle Level, and grades 9 to 12 the Upper Level; students applying for grades 2, 3 and 4 take Primary 2, 3 and 4 respectively.
