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 and parochial schools across Dallas–Fort Worth: Dallas and its northern suburbs of Addison, Plano and Carrollton; Fort Worth and Colleyville to the west; and Lewisville to the north. Public magnet schools are not in the directory, because the ISEE is an independent-school admission test. 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 K–12 school may admit most new students at kindergarten, grade 6 and grade 9, with a few places in the grades between. 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. In this area nearly every ISEE school is marked “Required”, meaning the school names the test as a required part of the application for its main ISEE entry grade. 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.
One test, every level
This section describes what sets Dallas–Fort Worth apart. As in Houston, the ISEE is the test here: every school in the directory that uses an admission test names it, and none accepts the SSAT in its place, so the comparison questions that take up time in other areas largely fall away. What distinguishes Dallas–Fort Worth from Houston is how early the test starts. Half of the ISEE schools in this area are K–12 schools that apply the ISEE from grade 2, which means the three Primary levels matter here as much as the Lower and Upper Levels. A family moving to the area with a child entering grade 3 should expect the Primary 3 level, which has Reading and Mathematics only and no essay; the Primary 2, Primary 3 and Primary 4 pages describe each one.
Faith-affiliated schools
This section notes a feature of the Dallas–Fort Worth landscape. Episcopal, Catholic and Christian schools make up a large share of the area’s private schools, and they appear in the table on the same terms as the non-sectarian schools; most of them name the ISEE. The level follows the entry grade in the same way at every school. Some faith-affiliated schools add requirements beyond the test, such as a pastor’s reference or a statement of faith, and the school’s own admissions page is the place to read those.
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 5 applying to grade 6 takes the Lower 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. The entry-grade table below the school list shows how many ISEE-accepting schools 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. The deadline column records each school’s date as the school publishes it, and 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.
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 for that grade and whether the test is required. Fourth, note the deadline and the score-sending method. The schools guide describes these steps in more detail, and families with Houston schools on the same list can read the Houston page.
Preparation support for Dallas–Fort Worth families
Families applying to Dallas–Fort Worth 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. The consultation is free and involves no admission promises.
Schools in this area that accept the ISEE
24 schools in this area are in the directory. 20 accept the ISEE (all of them list the ISEE only); 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhill School | Addison | PK-12 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| The Westwood School | Addison | PK-12 | See admissions page | — | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Trinity Christian Academy | Addison | PK-12 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Prince of Peace Christian School | Carrollton | PK-12 | See admissions page | — | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Covenant Christian Academy | Colleyville | PK-12 | ISEE | Required | Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Bishop Dunne Catholic School | Dallas | 6-12 | ISEE | Required | Lower Level | No |
| Bishop Lynch High School | Dallas | 9-12 | ISEE | Required | Upper Level | No |
| First Baptist Academy | Dallas | PK-12 | ISEE | Optional | Primary 2 | No |
| Good Shepherd Episcopal School | Dallas | PK-8 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas | Dallas | 9-12 | ISEE | Required | Upper Level | No |
| Lakehill Preparatory School | Dallas | K-12 | See admissions page | — | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Parish Episcopal School | Dallas | PK-12 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| St. John's Episcopal School | Dallas | PK-8 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level | No |
| The Cambridge School of Dallas | Dallas | 5-12 | See admissions page | — | Lower Level | No |
| The Covenant School | Dallas | K-12 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| The Episcopal School of Dallas | Dallas | PK-12 | ISEE | Required | Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| The Hockaday School | Dallas | PK-12 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Ursuline Academy of Dallas | Dallas | 9-12 | ISEE | Required | Upper Level | No |
| All Saints' Episcopal School | Fort Worth | K-12 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Fort Worth Country Day | Fort Worth | JK-12 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Trinity Valley School | Fort Worth | PK-12 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| Coram Deo Academy | Lewisville | PK-12 | ISEE | Required | Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
| John Paul II High School | Plano | 9-12 | ISEE | Required | Upper Level | No |
| Prestonwood Christian Academy | Plano | PreK-12 | ISEE | Required | Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level | No |
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. 4 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 | 12 |
| Primary 3 | grade 3 | 12 |
| Primary 4 | grade 4 | 12 |
| Lower Level | grades 5–6 | 15 |
| Middle Level | grades 7–8 | 14 |
| Upper Level | grades 9–12 | 16 |
Frequently asked questions
Do Dallas private schools require the ISEE?
Every school in this directory for Dallas–Fort Worth that uses an admission test names the ISEE, and nearly all of them require it. The policy column records what each school states. A few schools have admissions pages that do not name a test, and those are marked for the family to confirm directly.
Which ISEE level does a student take for a Dallas K–12 school?
The level follows the grade the student is applying to enter. 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. Many Dallas–Fort Worth K–12 schools apply the ISEE from grade 2, so a family applying for a younger child should read the Primary level pages.
Can an SSAT score be used instead of the ISEE in Dallas?
At the schools in this directory, no. Each one that names a test names the ISEE alone, so a family coming from an area where the SSAT is common should plan for the ISEE if Dallas–Fort Worth schools are on the list.
Do the faith-affiliated schools in the area use the ISEE too?
Yes. Episcopal, Catholic and Christian schools make up a large share of the table and appear on the same terms as the non-sectarian schools; most of them name the ISEE. Some add requirements beyond the test, and the school's own admissions page is the place to read those.
When do Dallas 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 test in the fall season and keep the winter season in reserve.
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