This is not an official school page; confirm requirements on each school’s admissions page.
What “accepts the ISEE” means
This section explains the three different things a school can mean when it lists the ISEE. The test organizer, E3n (formerly ERB, website admission.org), publishes the ISEE, but each school decides how to use it. The organizer does not set admission policy for any school.
- Required. The school asks every applicant for a particular grade to submit an ISEE score report.
- Accepted as one of several tests. The school reads either the ISEE or another standardized test, often the SSAT, and the family chooses.
- Optional or replaced. The school makes a standardized test optional for some grades or uses its own assessment, such as a classroom visit, a written task or an interview.
The same school can use different rules for different entry grades, so a policy read for grade 9 does not automatically describe grade 6. A family that applies to several schools should expect that two schools on the same list can ask for different tests.
How many schools accept the ISEE
E3n states that more than 1,200 independent schools accept ISEE scores, and that the test covers entry to grades 2–12. The figure shows how widely the ISEE is recognized. It does not show whether any particular school requires it, and it is not a list that a family can search on this site.
| Item | What E3n states |
|---|---|
| Schools that accept ISEE scores | More than 1,200 independent schools |
| Entry grades covered | Grades 2–12 |
| Who decides whether a score is required | Each school |
Source: E3n, ISEE overview (admission.org), checked 2026-08-24.
How to check a school in four steps
This section gives the order that avoids most registration mistakes.
| Step | What to do | What to write down |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Find the school’s admissions page | Start from the school’s own website, not from a third-party list or a social media post. | The address of the page and the date it was read |
| 2. Confirm the entry grade | Identify the grade the student is applying to enter, not the grade currently attended. | The entry grade for each school |
| 3. Check the accepted tests | Look for the words “required,” “accepted,” “optional” or “school assessment,” and whether the ISEE and SSAT are interchangeable. | The test, or tests, the school names for that grade |
| 4. Record the deadline and sending method | Find the date the score must reach the school and how it is delivered. | The deadline, the school code if one is given, and the contact for questions |
The entry grade in step 2 also decides the ISEE level, which is set by the grade the student is applying to enter.
| Applying to | ISEE level |
|---|---|
| Grade 2 | Primary 2 |
| Grade 3 | Primary 3 |
| Grade 4 | Primary 4 |
| Grades 5–6 | Lower Level |
| Grades 7–8 | Middle Level |
| Grades 9–12 | Upper Level |
Source: E3n, ISEE overview (admission.org), checked 2026-08-24.
The levels page explains each level. Once the table of accepted tests is complete, the ISEE and SSAT comparison helps with the choice when a school lists both, and the registration page covers the next step, which is choosing a test format and date.
What to confirm beyond the test name
This section lists the details that most often change between years. They belong in the notes from step 4 because they decide whether a test date works.
- Deadline for scores. Some schools set a deadline for the application and a separate date by which the score must be received.
- Latest acceptable test season. A school may stop reading scores from a season that ends after its deadline. The test dates page explains how the testing seasons are arranged.
- Whether the essay is requested. The ISEE essay is not scored, but it can be sent to schools, and each school decides whether to read it.
- Alternative paths. Some schools describe a different process for applicants who cannot take a standardized test. The admissions office is the only reliable source for these cases.
The ISEEPrep school directory
This section describes what the directory covers and how entries are checked. The directory is being built region by region. Each region has its own page, so that a family can read the schools that are realistic for that location.
| Region | Status |
|---|---|
| California: Orange County | Available |
| California: Los Angeles | Available |
| California: Bay Area | Available |
| New York: New York City, Westchester and Long Island | Available |
| Massachusetts: Boston, suburbs and boarding schools | Available |
| Washington: Seattle and the Eastside | Available |
| Texas: Houston | Available |
| Texas: Dallas–Fort Worth | Available |
| Boarding schools: all areas | Available |
| Other California counties | In preparation |
| Other states and metropolitan areas | In preparation |
Each school entry in the directory records the entrance test as the school lists it, the grades the school enrolls, links to the school’s own pages and the date of the most recent check. A school whose entrance-test information has not been verified is not shown as an ISEE school. The directory does not rank schools or suggest any relationship with a school, and ISEEPrep lists no score cutoffs for any school. ISEEPrep is an independent site.
Requirements change. A date in the directory shows when a page was read, not a promise that it is still current. The directory is reviewed each semester, and a family should still treat the school’s own admissions page as the final authority.
Next steps
After the requirements are confirmed, the usual order is to choose the test format and date, then to begin preparation at the level that matches the entry grade. Families who want a second reader for a school list, or help turning a list of requirements into a plan, can book a free consultation.
Schools in the directory that list the ISEE
8 schools. Confirm with each school’s admissions page for the current year; this is not an official school page and no cut-off scores are listed.
| School | City | Grades | Entrance exam | Levels for these entry grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Source: each school’s own admissions page, recorded per school in the directory; the levels column is derived from the grade span and the level-to-grade mapping used by E3n.
Frequently asked questions
Which schools require the ISEE?
No single list applies to every year. E3n (formerly ERB) states that more than 1,200 independent schools accept ISEE scores, and each school decides whether the test is required, optional or interchangeable with another test. The reliable method is to read the admissions page of each target school for the grade the student is applying to enter.
If a school accepts the ISEE, does the student have to take it?
Not always. Some schools require one specific test, some accept either the ISEE or the SSAT, and some make a standardized test optional or use their own assessment. Accepting the ISEE means that the school will read an ISEE score report, not that every applicant must submit one.
Is the ISEE accepted for every entry grade at a school?
Not necessarily. A school may use the ISEE for upper grades and a different assessment for younger applicants. The ISEE covers entry to grades 2–12, but a school's own policy is set grade by grade, so the entry grade should be confirmed on the admissions page before registering.
How early should a family check a school's test requirement?
Before registering for any test date. Requirements decide which test to take, which level applies and when a score must reach the school. A family that checks in late summer or early autumn leaves room for more than one testing season before a winter application deadline.
A school lists the ISEE and the SSAT. Which one should a student take?
Either is usually acceptable when the school states that both are accepted, so the choice depends on the student. Families who have already prepared for the ISEE generally do not need to add the SSAT. Differences between the two tests are covered on the ISEE and SSAT comparison page.
Can this directory confirm a school's current requirements?
No. The directory records what each school lists and the date it was checked, which makes it a starting point for research. It is not an official school page, and requirements can change after the check date. The school's own admissions office gives the final answer for the current year.
Sources1 source · checked 2026-09-30
Last reviewed 2026-09-30 · Next review 2026-12-31 · Reviewed by ISEEPrep teaching team
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