Firat Education · ISEE Resources

Which Houston Schools Require the ISEE?

By Ibrahim C. Firat, MBA · IECA Professional Member and past Board President

How Houston schools handle entrance testing

Independent Schools

Most Houston independent schools use the ISEE as their primary admissions test for students applying to upper elementary, middle school, and high school. Because so many of the city's leading independent schools require the ISEE, it is the exam most families should plan to take when applying to multiple Houston private schools.

Catholic Schools

Houston's major Catholic college-preparatory high schools also use the ISEE for freshman admissions. Schools such as Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, St. Agnes Academy, St. Thomas High School, and St. Pius X High School all require the ISEE for incoming ninth-grade applicants. Transfer applicants may have different testing requirements, so families should always verify the current admissions policy for their student's grade level. Most parish Catholic elementary and middle schools use their own admissions process, which may include placement testing, developmental assessments, report cards, teacher recommendations, interviews, or classroom observations instead of the ISEE.

Schools That Accept the SSAT

Although some schools accept the SSAT, it is far less common in Houston than the ISEE. Families applying only to Houston-area private schools will typically find that preparing for the ISEE is sufficient. The SSAT is more commonly encountered at boarding schools and independent schools outside the Houston area.

Early Childhood and Lower Grades

For Pre-K, kindergarten, and the earliest elementary grades, most schools do not use the ISEE. Instead, they administer a developmental readiness assessment or an individually administered cognitive test, such as the WPPSI, along with classroom observations and parent interviews. See our Admissions Tests & Assessments guide for a complete breakdown by age and grade level.

Houston schools and the ISEE

The ISEE is used by many of Houston's most selective independent and Catholic private schools. While testing requirements vary by grade level, and younger applicants often complete developmental assessments instead of the ISEE, the schools below represent many of the Houston private schools that commonly require or accept the ISEE as part of their admissions process. This is not a complete list, so always verify the current testing requirements for the schools on your child's application list.

Independent Schools

• The Awty International School
• Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
• The Emery/Weiner School
• Episcopal High School
• The Kinkaid School
• Presbyterian School
• The Regis School of the Sacred Heart (older grades)
• River Oaks Baptist School (older grades)
• Saint Thomas' Episcopal School
• St. John's School
• St. Mark's Episcopal School
• The Village School

Catholic College-Preparatory High Schools

• Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
• St. Agnes Academy
• St. Thomas High School
• St. Pius X High School

Schools That Typically Use Other Admissions Assessments

Not every Houston private school uses the ISEE. Many parish Catholic schools and some independent schools use their own admissions process, which may include report cards, teacher recommendations, interviews, developmental screenings, classroom observations, or school-created placement assessments instead of the ISEE. Examples include:

• St. Anne Catholic School
• St. Cecilia Catholic School
• Western Academy
• Many other parish Catholic elementary and middle schools

Can one ISEE score be used for multiple schools?

Yes. Because so many Houston private schools use the ISEE, most families only need to prepare for one admissions exam, even when applying to multiple schools. Wondering when your child should take the ISEE? See our ISEE Timeline and Testing Guide for recommended testing dates by grade level.

How to confirm a school's requirement

Three reliable ways: read the school's admissions page for the grade your child is entering, call or email the admissions office directly, or start a Firat Assessment and Roadmap and we will map each school's testing requirement for your child's specific list and timeline.