The apply page of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School shows that applications for the 2027-28 school year are open and that the Middle School and Upper School (grades 6 through 12) offer an Early Admission Review: families opt in by email by November 15, 2026, and the online application, supporting materials, interview, and ISEE scores must all be received by December 1, with decisions in mid-December. In the regular round, the first form is due December 15 and all materials are due February 1, 2027. The school is in San Juan Capistrano in south Orange County and is among the K-12 independent schools Irvine families regularly consider; eighth-grade families planning on the early review have five weeks left.
Who Is Affected by the St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Early Admission Review
Students applying for fall 2027 entry to grades 6 through 12 who want a decision in December. The early review is not a separate application; it completes every step of the regular process ahead of schedule. The dates and requirements for both rounds:
| Item | St. Margaret’s Episcopal School policy |
|---|---|
| Early Admission Review (grades 6-12) | Opt in by email by November 15; application, materials, interview, and ISEE scores received by December 1; decisions in mid-December |
| Regular round (all grades) | First form due December 15; application checklist and all materials submitted through the admissions portal by February 1 |
| ISEE | Lower School applicants for grades 3 through 5 and Middle and Upper School applicants complete the ISEE At-Home assessment by February 1; the TOEFL is not accepted |
| Interview and visit | Middle School applicants complete an in-person interview by February 1; Upper School applicants complete an in-person interview and visit day by February 1 |
| Written materials | Parent statement, student statement, teacher comment, and transcript requests, all through the portal |
| Language and visas | No ESL program; applicants should have at least two years in an English-based curriculum; students who need a Form I-20 must have a finalized offer and a paid tuition deposit first, and the school supports about 3 to 5 such families |
What to Do Now About the St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Early Review
Schedule the ISEE first. The early review needs scores by December 1. The ISEE administrator’s page states that a student may test once per season, that the fall season runs August through November, that the winter season begins in December, and that a student may test up to three times per school year; the comparison is in ISEE Once per Season, SSAT Several Times a Year, and at-home registration and preparation are covered on the ISEE preparation page.
Send the email by November 15 and book the interview at the same time. Opting in takes one email, but the interview and visit day are on campus and need to be scheduled in November alongside the ISEE.
Compare the school’s courses and college outcomes. The Upper School’s A-G courses, AP offerings, and college destinations are in the St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Upper School guide; overall school selection and timing are covered by the EDUBUS K-12 Private School Planning service.
Sources
- St. Margaret’s Episcopal School: Apply (accessed October 11, 2026)
- Enrollment Management Association: About the ISEE (accessed October 11, 2026)
- CSU Transfer Priority Filing Ends Nov. 30CSU priority filing for fall 2027 transfer applicants ends November 30, 2026; $70 per campus. ADT admission guarantee, upper-division requirements, and next steps.
- Notre Dame REA Nov. 1; Tests Required Fall 2028Notre Dame Restrictive Early Action closes November 1, 2026. Scores stay optional this cycle; SAT or ACT is required for fall 2028 entry. Dates, essays, and rules.
- Pomona Two Essays, Early Decision Due Nov. 8Pomona College Early Decision I closes November 8, 2026, decisions by December 15. Two supplement prompts of 150 and 250 words, plus recommendation and testing rules.
- Portola High Financial Aid Workshop Oct. 19Portola High School holds a mandatory financial aid workshop for all seniors on October 19, 2026, led by Irvine Valley College, with FSA ID creation. Parent steps first.
