FAQ

The Office of Admission and Tuition Assistance is located at 4100 Merrell Road, Dallas, TX 75229. All visitors should enter at Gate 3 near the security booth (Gate 4 if blocked for carpool) and can park anywhere in the main front parking lot or on the street. Once you enter the main doors, our office is located directly across from the Receptionist on your right. There is an additional Admission space in the Lower School building, however, all visitors should enter the main entrance on Merrell unless notified otherwise (mainly Admission event-related).

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 2021-22 school year are as follows:

Beginners:  16
Pre-K:  25-28
Kinder:  14-16
Primer:  2-6
First:  6-10
Second:  0-2
Third:  10-12
Fourth:  0-2
Fifth:  20-24
Sixth:  2-4
Seventh:  6-10
Eighth:  0-2
Ninth:  25-30
Tenth:  1-3
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. 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 2020-21 school year has closed.

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

No. Please click here for our complete immunization policy.

Yes. The Episcopal School of Dallas follows the most current immunization schedules adopted by the Texas Department of State Health Services. We do not accept ROC affidavits for exemptions from immunizations. Please click here for our complete immunization policy.

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 2021-22 school year are now open, 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 2021-2022 school year is January 11, 2021 (*the Beginner application deadline is December 7, 2020). Supplemental materials will be accepted through February 1, 2021. 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 12, 2021.

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.

This year, we will hold 15-minute virtual Parent Partnership Conversations in an effort to learn as much as we can about each child and family. This visit will be led by ESD admission staff and administration. We ask that your family's 'Parent Statement' form be submitted prior to scheduling. Please know that if your family is applying two or more children to ESD, you only need to register for and complete ONE Parent Partnership Conversation. 

Due to COVID 19, we will unfortunately not be able to have visitors on campus. We invite you to visit our website to take a virtual tour and would love for you to join us for our upcoming virtual visits!

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

Due to Covid, we are unable to administer on campus. Middle and Upper School applicants can register for the ISEE At Home via ProProctor.  Your child may have the option to take the ISEE at his/her current school. ESD is working with ERB/ISEE on a safe administration plan for the ISEE Primary 2, 3 and 4 for 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade applicants. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify. 

The ISEE test must be taken and ESD designated to receive scores (our school code is 447503) by or on February 6, 2021.

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.

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.

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.

ESD is approximately 20% racially and ethnically diverse as self-reported by families, specifically defined as students of color defined as Asian/Asian American, Black/African American, First Nation/Native American, Latinx/Hispanic American, Middle Eastern American, Multiracial American, and other.  

Speak with a family of diversity.

Learn more about our Campfire Program.

We offer 33 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.