FAQ

The Office of Admission and Tuition Assistance is located at 4100 Merrell Road, Dallas, TX 75229. You may enter through either Gate 3 or 4 (depending on carpool) and park anywhere in the main front parking lot. Once you enter the main doors, our office is located directly across from the Receptionist on your right.

Our entry level year (youngest age group) is our Beginner Program. This is a three-year-old program. Children must turn three by June 1 of the year they would start school in late August. All applicants should start the application process one year in advance of anticipated school start date. 

Based on averages from the last three years our anticipated openings for the 2020-21 school year are as follows:

Beginners:  20-24
Pre-K:  20-26
Kinder:  10-14
Primer:  2-4
First:  8-12
Second:  12-14
Third: 0-2
Fourth:  12-14
Fifth:  20-22
Sixth:  4-6
Seventh:  0-2
Eighth:  8-10
Ninth:  24-28
Tenth:  8-10
Eleventh:  0-2 (depending on ability to meet graduation requirements; please call to discuss before applying)

Information regarding financials can be found here.

We do not offer transportation or boarding at this time.

We do not currently issue I-20s or visas with the exception of a few students identified through our international search partner New Oasis. If you don’t require any governmental paperwork, please call or email our office for instructions on how to proceed with an application.

In the ESD admission process, every effort is made to accommodate qualified applicants who are siblings of currently enrolled students, children of alumni, children of graduates of the former Saint Michael School, or children of full-time faculty and staff. However, admission decisions are based primarily upon the composite qualifications of the individual candidate, the space available, and gender balancing. Admission preference is given to community applicants if all other qualifications are equal.

Yes. Our wait pool process for the 2019-20 school year will close on the first day of the 2019-20 school year.

No. We are unable to accommodate new students once the school year begins.

The Office of Admission works to identify, attract, and retain a diverse group of students who possess the following characteristics: intellectual curiosity, willingness to serve others and community, self-motivation and a solid work ethic, admirable character, special talents, and an enthusiasm for involvement in the school’s extracurricular activities.

The Episcopal School of Dallas uses a web-based application called Ravenna for the submission of online applications and registrations to visit our school. Through Ravenna, you will be able to manage your applications online and complete the preliminary application as well as the common supplemental forms such as essays, teacher recommendations, and parent statements.

If you have questions or need help with Ravenna, please contact help@ravennasolutions.com

The admission process begins the year prior to entry. Applications for the following school year will become available around September 1, and we encourage you to start the process as early as possible in order to meet all deadlines.

The application deadline for admittance for the 2020-21 school year is January 7, 2020 (*the Beginner application deadline is December 6, 2019). Supplemental materials will be accepted through February 1, 2020. We encourage you to submit the Application Form as soon as possible so that you can be notified of events, deadlines, testing, interviews etc.

Admission decisions will be released online via your Ravenna account on March 13, 2020.

The admission process is designed to give the Admission Committee the best overall picture of your child so that we can best determine the right “fit.” We do not encourage any form of test prep; this only skews the picture of your child and makes the assessment process more difficult. The best thing you can do is to follow the process and be mindful of dates and deadlines. We encourage you to talk to your child about the process and procedures and ask for their feedback on ESD as well. Please feel free to contact our office if you have additional questions.

No. However, we place worth in our Value Discussions, held with prospective parents applying to the Lower School, that are held on Saturdays while the applicant is engaged in assessments at ESD. We also value the interactions with our prospective parents during the admission process for grades 5 -11 whether it be during a campus tour, shadow visit drop-off, Value Discussions, or the Admission Preview. We are always happy to try to accommodate an individual meeting with a family if needed, but time constraints during the admission season make it difficult to conduct one for each applicant. We are looking for families that view the educational journey of their child as a partnership and those that share our same core values.

Absolutely! Please see the Admission Events & RSVP section of the Admission website for dates and times offered. We are happy to accommodate individual requests for other times of the year and/or if you are visiting from out of town.

It is an exciting time to be an eagle with our new Lower School building, which just opened in August 2019! Tours are a part of the daytime Lower School "See Us in Action" visits. These tours allow the opportunity for prospective Lower School applicant parents to observe our teachers and students engaged and learning on our current Colgate Avenue campus. These tours are for adults only. Please note: our Lower School facility will be on our Merrell Road campus with the start of the 2019-20 school year. Please see the Admission Events & RSVP section of the Admission website for dates and times offered.

There is no specific test score minimum; however, our applicant pool is competitive. ESD’s admission process is designed to admit qualified students who are capable of benefiting from the school’s college preparatory program and making a positive contribution to the school community. The test scores serve as a piece of the puzzle in determining "academic readiness and fit."

ESD’s school code is 447503. You may reach ISEE directly: 800-446-0320 or www.iseetest.org

Yes. We will administer the electronic version for grades 5 - 11 on January 25, 2020 and the electronic version for grades 2-4 on January 11, 2020 (both held at 4100 Merrell Road). The cost of the ISEE is $125. You must register directly with ISEE at least three weeks prior to testing, www.iseetest.org or 800-446-0320.

The ISEE test must be taken and ESD designated to receive scores (our school code is 447503) by or on February 1, 2020.

We prefer that required documents be scanned and uploaded directly through Ravenna whenever possible in a .pdf format. If this is not possible, you may email forms directly to us at: admission@esdallas.org

You may request that a teacher from the previous year complete a recommendation form for your child or get a recommendation from someone who knows your child’s strengths and weaknesses.

Visitors may wear their current school uniform or come “business casual”, meaning no blue jeans. Applicants visiting grades 2-4 should wear tennis shoes in the event the class goes to P.E. and Recess during the visit. Visitors applying for grades 5-11 may bring an outside reading book. Fifth-, Sixth-, and Seventh-grade applicants can also bring a change of clothes for P.E. if they wish to participate. Lunch will be provided for all visitors. Visitors applying to Upper School may bring their cell phones, but they must be turned off during the visit unless needed. For more information on Student Visits, please click here.

We encourage you to tell your child that they are coming to ESD to spend some time with our teachers and students to get a feel for our community. They should be prepared to enjoy the day but should also plan to put their best foot forward. We do our best to match our visitors with current students who are excited to host. If you are applying for 5th or 9th grade, please note that you will be matched with a current 5th/9th grade student so that you can learn more about that grade level. If you are accepted and would like, there is a time to come back and visit with your peers (current 4th/8th grade). All other applicants visit with the grade level to which they are applying. Additionally, all 9th grade applicants will have the opportunity to participate in community service projects alongside our current 8th grade (Class of 2024) on January 20, 2020 (MLK Day). For more information on Student Visits, please click here.

The Enrollment and Tuition Agreement establishes the legal relationship between ESD and its families. This agreement includes, among other things, provisions regarding indemnification and legal action. Every parent, without regard to marital status, custody, guardianship, conservatorship, or financial responsibility, must execute the agreement on behalf of themselves and each ESD student. 

Yes. We are a Christian school as we are founded on and committed to living out the teachings of Jesus Christ as interpreted through the Anglican tradition with its emphasis on scripture, tradition, and reason. We are an Episcopal school in our worship practices, use of the Book of Common Prayer and hymnals, student servant leaders, and participation in Holy Eucharist weekly and/or monthly by division. We are a tradition that helps confirm faith but not one that requires conversion to Christian doctrine. We are an independent day school in our accreditation by the National Association of Independent Schools and our institutional practices.

The Episcopal School of Dallas values the dignity of every human being as a child of God. We strive to live with honor, integrity, and respect for all as expressed in our Code of Conduct. We are committed to creating, maintaining, and nurturing a diverse, safe and inclusive environment as we prepare young women and men for lives of service, intellectual discovery, integrity, morality, and purpose. We worship daily to grow spiritually. We gather in Chapel for prayer and thanksgiving for God’s blessings in our lives. We welcome people of all faith traditions. Together, we wonder about how we can love God and our neighbor as we discern our spiritual gifts and bear God’s image to the world. We embrace diversity in our school community. Diversity enhances the quality of the education that ESD provides and is essential to the development of well-rounded people. The Episcopal School of Dallas values diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to socioeconomic background, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. We explore Christianity and religions of the world to develop an understanding and respect of people and cultures. Through community service, our students are instilled with a sense of lifelong responsibility for the world God has entrusted to our care. Serving others raises social awareness in our global context and develops compassion, empathy, and a heart open to others. Read more. ESD is approximately 28% Episcopalian.

Yes. We welcome children and families of all faith traditions. Religious diversity enhances the quality of the education that ESD provides and is essential to the development of well-rounded people. We do expect that as part of our community, your child participates to the fullest level in all aspects of our life on campus.

ESD is approximately 20% diverse as self-reported by families, specifically defined as students of color.

We believe that diversity in our school community enhances the quality of the education that ESD provides and is essential to the development of well-rounded people. The Episcopal School of Dallas values diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background.

A variety of campus organizations, affinity groups and initiatives help to encourage and support cultural diversity and academic structures at ESD. You can read more here

We offer 32 Advanced Placement courses in the Upper School. Please visit the Curriculum Overview section on our website for a complete listing of course offerings in the Upper School.

ESD does not offer the IB program.

The Episcopal School of Dallas is an academic community where excellence is the standard. Our college preparatory curriculum, led by a nationally-recognized faculty, is complemented by a full array of artistic and athletic programs, daily chapel, experiences in the outdoors, and a myriad of opportunities to lead and serve others. ESD’s unparalleled balance of rigor and nurture inspires students to maximize their potential and live a life of purpose.

The philosophy of the Athletic Department follows the basic Mission and Founding Tenets of the School. It is our goal that through participation, with an emphasis on teamwork, unity, and commitment, we will prepare our students for a lifetime of service to others, which is the highest manifestation of God’s presence in our lives.

ESD fields more than 70 athletic teams for grades seven through twelve. Approximately 90 percent of Upper School Students play on at least one athletic team, more than 50 percent are active on two or more teams. Participation is the key -- all students have the opportunity to be on an athletic team.

In order to enhance and support these basic principles, the Athletic Department will develop programs which will teach positive lessons of sportsmanship, respect for one’s opponent, respect for the rules, and the ability to win and lose with grace. We will instill perseverance, self-discipline and self-denial, self-reliance and self- confidence in our student athletes. Each student athlete will learn the importance of teamwork, team discipline, competing and the joy of competition for its own sake.

Our coaches teach, encourage, and propel ESD teams and individual student-athletes to great accomplishments. In the last few years, ESD teams have won numerous championships in basketball, crew, field hockey, football, lacrosse, volleyball, and soccer (4 straight Women’s SPC Championships).

FALL: Football, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Cross Country, Cheer, Crew
WINTER: Basketball, Soccer, Wrestling
SPRING: Baseball/Softball, Lacrosse, Track & Field, Tennis, Golf, Crew

ESD competes in SPC, Southwest Preparatory Conference, which consists of 18 of the finest college preparatory schools located in Texas and Oklahoma.