At Orange County K-8 and K-12 schools, grade 6 is the second main entry grade after kindergarten. Some schools add sections in grade 6 and offer more places to new students than in other grades; at other schools the middle school begins in grade 7, or no new students are admitted in grades 7 and 8. The first step in applying for grade 6 is to confirm the grades in which each target school admits new students.
Schools that treat grade 6 as an entry grade
Grade 6 is a main entry grade
- Harbor Day School: openings every year in kindergarten, grade 5 and grade 6
- The Pegasus School: grade 6 expands from 3 sections to 4, with 16 to 18 students per section and 0 to 8 places for new students
- St. Margaret's Episcopal School: the website lists early childhood, kindergarten, grade 6 and grade 9 as its most popular entry grades
Points to confirm first
- Sage Hill School: the middle school begins in grade 7, with places in grades 7 and 8 and no grade 6 admission
- Carden Hall: accepts applications only from preschool through grade 6, with no new students in grades 7 and 8
- The Pegasus School: grade 8 is not an entry grade
What grade 6 applicants are tested on
Entrance exam
ISEE Lower Level
The test level depends on the grade the student is applying to enter: applicants to grades 5 to 6 take the Lower Level, and applicants to grades 7 to 8 take the Middle Level. Harbor Day School, The Pegasus School, St. Mary's School, TVT Community Day School and Newport Christian School all require the ISEE.
For reading scores, see the ISEE score guide
Interview
Student interview and parent meeting
At The Pegasus School, the middle school team meets with the student after ISEE scores show potential; at Newport Christian School, the meeting includes administrators, parents and the student.
For interview preparation, see the private school interview guide
Campus visit
Shadow Day and classroom visits
St. Mary's School and TVT Community Day School arrange a Shadow Day on campus; applicants to grades 6 to 8 at New Horizon School, Irvine — Upper Campus first spend two full days in the classroom.
The shadow day itself is part of the evaluation
Not every school relies only on testing. TVT Community Day School requires applicants to grades 6 to 11 to take the ISEE and also to complete an interview or a Shadow Day; New Horizon School, Irvine — Upper Campus relies mainly on classroom visits and a developmental assessment.
Planning the grade 5 year
- 1
Grade 5, September to October
Visit schools and set the list
Attend open houses and information sessions, and confirm whether each school admits grade 6 students and whether the ISEE is required.
- 2
October to December
Register for the ISEE and submit applications
The ISEE can be taken at most once per testing season; take it once in the fall, with another opportunity in the winter.
- 3
December to February
Interviews, shadow days and complete files
Recommendation forms and transcripts must arrive before the deadline; schedule interviews and Shadow Days as each school arranges.
- 4
Late February to March
Receive decisions, compare and enroll
When admitted to several schools, decide before the enrollment deadline.
Grade 6 entry at eight schools (2027-28 school year)
Harbor Day School
ISEE- Entry grades
- Openings every year in kindergarten, grade 5 and grade 6
- Testing
- Grades 2 to 8 take the ISEE, which can be taken remotely
- Campus
- The visit day must be completed on campus
The Pegasus School
ISEE- Places
- Grade 6 expands to 4 sections, with 0 to 8 new students
- Testing
- Grades 6 to 8 take the ISEE
- Meeting
- The middle school team meets with the student after scores show potential
St. Margaret's Episcopal School
ISEE- Testing
- Middle school applicants complete the at-home ISEE and an on-campus interview by February 1
- Early review
- Apply by November 15, complete the file by December 1, decisions in mid-December
St. Mary's School
ISEE- Testing
- Grades 6 to 8 take the ISEE
- Other
- Parent meeting and Shadow Day
- Deadline
- January 4, 2027
TVT Community Day School
ISEE- Testing
- Grades 6 to 11 take the ISEE
- Assessment
- Also an interview or Shadow Day
- Deadline
- February 1, 2027 priority deadline
- Decision
- Late February for grades 6 to 11
Newport Christian School
ISEE- Testing
- All new students in grades 6 to 12 take the ISEE
- Meeting
- Includes administrators, parents and the student
New Horizon School, Irvine — Upper Campus
Classroom visit- Assessment
- Two full days in the classroom, plus one day of classroom visit and developmental assessment
- Meeting
- Meeting with the admissions director, with the result given on the spot
- Fees
- Grade 6 students pay an additional $700 technology fee
St. John's Episcopal School
Varies by grade- Deadline
- January 8, 2027
- Documents
- File complete by January 29
- Decision
- First-round decisions March 1 to 5
These arrangements come from the admission page of each school website, checked on September 27, 2026. Schools update their policies every year; follow each school's announcements for the current year before applying.
