This is not an official school page; confirm requirements on each school’s admissions page.
What this page covers
This section answers which schools are included and what the table records. The page covers independent schools in Greater Los Angeles: the Westside around Santa Monica, Brentwood and Pacific Palisades; the San Fernando Valley from North Hollywood and Studio City to Calabasas and Chatsworth; Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge; the South Bay and the Palos Verdes Peninsula; and the boarding schools near Ojai, Carpinteria and Santa Barbara that draw applicants from the whole region. Orange County schools are not on this page; they have their own page in the directory.
For each school the table lists the grades enrolled, the tests the school accepts, whether a test is required or optional, the ISEE level that corresponds to each entry grade, and whether the school offers boarding. The counts shown above the table are calculated from these records rather than written into this text, so they change as records are added or re-checked.
How to read the table
This section explains the columns. The grades column is the span the school enrolls, which is not the same as the grades open for applications; a school enrolling grades K–12 may admit most new students at kindergarten, grade 7 and grade 9. The ISEE levels column lists the levels that follow from the school’s entry grades, using the grade-to-level mapping published by E3n: applicants to grades 2, 3 and 4 take Primary 2, 3 or 4; applicants to grades 5–6 take the Lower Level; applicants to grades 7–8 take the Middle Level; applicants to grades 9–12 take the Upper Level.
The policy column records what the school states. A school marked “Required” names the test as a required part of the application for its main ISEE entry grade; a school marked “Optional” accepts a score without requiring one, and in some cases describes it as strongly recommended or accepts another test in its place. Where the policy differs by grade, the school’s record keeps the detail. A school marked “See admissions page” has a page that does not name a test. The table never records minimum scores, and ISEEPrep lists no score cutoffs for any school.
Matching the entry grade to the level
This section explains the one decision that comes before everything else. The ISEE level is fixed by the grade the student is applying to enter, not by the grade the student currently attends. A student in grade 6 who is applying to grade 7 takes the Middle Level, and a student in grade 8 applying to grade 9 takes the Upper Level. Choosing the wrong level is not a small error: the score report names the level taken, and admission offices read it against the entry grade. The levels guide sets out all six entry points, and each level page describes the sections and timing for that level.
Grade 7 and grade 9 are the main entry points at a number of well-known schools in this area, and the K–12 schools that list the ISEE from grade 2 upward give younger applicants a reason to look at the Primary levels. The entry-grade table below the school list shows how many ISEE-accepting schools in the area have an entry point at each level.
Timing an application in this area
This section covers the order in which the pieces fall. A student may take the ISEE once per testing season and up to three times in a school year, so the practical plan is to test in the fall season and keep the winter season in reserve. Many schools in this area set deadlines close to one another in the winter, and the deadline column records each date as the school publishes it. The test dates page explains the seasons and how far in advance to register. Score reports are sent to the schools the family selects, so the list of target schools should be settled before the first test.
Boarding schools within reach of Los Angeles
This section is for families considering a boarding option. A small number of boarding schools near Ojai, Carpinteria and Santa Barbara appear in the table because they draw many of their applicants from Los Angeles. Their test policies are set by each school in the same way as the day schools, and the level follows the entry grade in the same way. Boarding applications usually involve more materials and interviews, so a family considering one should settle the test date early.
How to confirm a school
This section gives a four-step check that works for any school on the list. First, open the school’s admissions page from the link in the table. Second, confirm the grade the student is applying to enter and whether that grade is open for applications this year. Third, read which tests the school accepts and whether the test is required or optional for that grade. Fourth, note the deadline and the score-sending method. The schools guide describes these steps in more detail, and the ISEE vs. SSAT page helps when the target schools split between the two tests.
Preparation support for Los Angeles families
Families applying to Los Angeles schools work with ISEEPrep online: a diagnostic to confirm the level and find the weakest section, a plan that counts back from the earliest deadline on the family’s list, and one-to-one tutoring or the online learning system from there. Families who prefer in-person preparation in Orange County can find it through EDUBUS. The consultation is free and involves no admission promises.
Schools in this area that accept the ISEE
39 schools in this area are in the directory. 17 accept the ISEE (7 list the ISEE only and 10 accept either the ISEE or the SSAT); 4 state that they neither require nor consider standardized test scores; 9 use only the school’s own assessment; 3 use another external test; 6 have admissions pages that do not state a test, so families should confirm with the admissions office. 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 | Tests accepted | Policy | ISEE levels | Boarding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewpoint School | Calabasas | TK-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Optional | Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Cate School | Carpinteria | 9-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Required | Upper Level | Yes |
| Sierra Canyon School | Chatsworth | PK-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Required | Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| The Webb Schools | Claremont | 9-12 | No admission test | Not required | Upper Level | Yes |
| Vistamar School | El Segundo | 9-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Optional | Upper Level | No |
| Flintridge Preparatory School | La Cañada Flintridge | 7-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Required | Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Berkeley Hall School | Los Angeles | PK-8 | No admission test | Not required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| Brentwood School | Los Angeles | K-12 | ISEE | Optional | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Marlborough School | Los Angeles | 7-12 | See admissions page | — | Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Marymount High School | Los Angeles | 9-12 | ISEE | Optional | Upper Level | No |
| Milken Community School | Los Angeles | 6-12 | Other external test | Required | Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Mirman School | Los Angeles | K-8 | School’s own assessment | Not required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| Pilgrim School | Los Angeles | PK-12 | ISEE | Optional | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| The Archer School for Girls | Los Angeles | 6-12 | No admission test | Not required | Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Wildwood School | Los Angeles | K-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Required | Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Windward School | Los Angeles | 7-12 | ISEE | Required | Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Campbell Hall | North Hollywood | K-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Laurel Hall School | North Hollywood | TK-8 | See admissions page | — | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| Oakwood School | North Hollywood | K-12 | ISEE | Optional | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| The Wesley School | North Hollywood | K-8 | School’s own assessment | Not required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| The Thacher School | Ojai | 9-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Required | Upper Level | Yes |
| Villanova Preparatory School | Ojai | 9-12 | Other external test | Optional | Upper Level | Yes |
| Calvary Christian School | Pacific Palisades | PK-8 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| Village School | Pacific Palisades | TK-6 | School’s own assessment | Not required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level | No |
| Chadwick School | Palos Verdes Peninsula | K-12 | See admissions page | — | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Chandler School | Pasadena | K-8 | School’s own assessment | Not required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| High Point Academy | Pasadena | K-8 | School’s own assessment | Not required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| La Salle College Preparatory | Pasadena | 9-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Required | Upper Level | No |
| Mayfield Junior School | Pasadena | K-8 | School’s own assessment | Not required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| Mayfield Senior School | Pasadena | 9-12 | See admissions page | — | Upper Level | No |
| Polytechnic School | Pasadena | K-12 | School’s own assessment | Not required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Westridge School for Girls | Pasadena | 4-12 | School’s own assessment | Not required | Primary 4 | No |
| Crane Country Day School | Santa Barbara | K-8 | School’s own assessment | Not required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences | Santa Monica | K-12 | ISEE or SSAT | Required | Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| New Roads School | Santa Monica | K-12 | No admission test | Not required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Pacifica Christian High School | Santa Monica | 9-12 | See admissions page | — | Upper Level | No |
| The Buckley School | Sherman Oaks | K-12 | See admissions page | — | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Harvard-Westlake School | Studio City | 7-12 | ISEE | Required | Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Oaks Christian School | Westlake Village | TK-12 | Other external test | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | Yes |
Source: each school’s own admissions page, with a check date recorded per school; the levels column is derived from each school’s entry grades and the level-to-grade mapping used by E3n. 6 schools whose admissions page does not state a test requirement are marked “See admissions page”.
Entry grades across the area
The table counts how many ISEE-accepting schools in this area have an entry point at the grades each level covers. A school can appear under more than one level.
| Level | Applying to | Schools with an entry point |
|---|---|---|
| Primary 2 | grade 2 | 5 |
| Primary 3 | grade 3 | 5 |
| Primary 4 | grade 4 | 5 |
| Lower Level | grades 5–6 | 9 |
| Middle Level | grades 7–8 | 12 |
| Upper Level | grades 9–12 | 16 |
2 of the ISEE-accepting schools offer boarding.
Frequently asked questions
Do Los Angeles private schools require the ISEE?
Many do, and more schools in this area list the ISEE alone than in most other parts of California. The policy column in the table records what each school states: required, optional or not required. Some schools use only their own assessment, and a school whose admissions page does not name a test is marked for the family to confirm directly.
Which ISEE level does a student take for a Los Angeles school that admits at grade 7 and grade 9?
The level follows the grade the student is applying to enter. An applicant to grade 7 takes the Middle Level and an applicant to grade 9 takes the Upper Level. Several schools in this area admit mainly at those two grades, so the Middle Level and the Upper Level are the levels most Los Angeles applicants take.
Are the Orange County schools on this page?
No. Orange County has its own page in the directory, and the schools there are listed on that page only. A family living between the two areas should read both pages, because the two sets of schools do not overlap.
When do Los Angeles schools need ISEE scores?
Each school sets its own deadline, and the deadline column records the date as the school publishes it. Because a student may test once per season and at most three times in a school year, families usually schedule a first test in the fall season so that the winter season remains available if a second attempt is needed.
What does an optional test policy mean?
The school accepts an ISEE score but does not require one. Some of these schools state that a score is strongly recommended, and some accept another test in its place; the test note in each record keeps the school's wording. A family deciding whether to test for an optional-policy school should read that wording and ask the admissions office how scores are used.
How current is the information?
Each record carries the date it was checked against the school's admissions page, and this page is scheduled for review every three months. Admission policies change by year, so the school's page for the entry year governs, including whether a test is required and when scores must arrive.
Sources2 sources · checked 2026-10-01
Last reviewed 2026-10-01 · Next review 2027-01-01 · Reviewed by ISEEPrep teaching team