Three entry points, three jobs
Kindergarten, Grade 6, and Grade 9 should not share one strategy.
| Entry | Where openings come from | What schools can evaluate | The child's job | The parent's job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | A designed intake at many PK–12 or elementary schools, but not at St. Mark's, which begins in Grade 1. | Developmental readiness, group participation, language, current-school input where applicable, and family-school fit. | Attend a visit or observation without being coached into a performance. | Check age cutoff, day length, aftercare, aid eligibility, and whether the learning model fits the child now. |
| Grade 6 | A major transition at some schools; attrition-only or small at others. Greenhill publishes only 5–8 typical spaces in Grade 6 and 4–6 in Grades 7–8 grade in 6–8. | Records, teacher recommendations, testing where required, interview/visit behavior, readiness for greater independence. | Explain how they learn, participate genuinely, and complete student work in their own voice. | Ask whether Grade 6 is a real intake; audit executive-function, schedule, athletics, and transport. |
| Grade 9 | A designed intake at many K/PK–12 schools and the only normal entry at 9–12 schools such as Ursuline; not every campus adds the same number. | Multi-year transcript, recommendations, test or school assessment, writing, interview, interests, and contribution to the community. | Own the school choice, writing, interview, and honest account of interests. | Protect student voice; compare graduation requirements, course placement, support, cost, and late-day life. |
Single-gender, faith-based, specialized, Montessori/IB, and conventional independent schools are not interchangeable “options.” Include one only if its defining model is acceptable to the family and child—not because a spreadsheet needs a safety.
The Fall 2027 control sheet
One decision weekend does not mean one deadline.
| School / system | Application milestone | Other deadline | Decision / reply | Date status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhill | Part I Dec. 11; full application Jan. 25 | Aid application Jan. 25 | Decision March 12 | Current Fall 2027 page |
| Parish Episcopal | Application Jan. 8; supplements Jan. 22 | Testing Feb. 12; prospective aid page says Feb. 5 | Decision March 12; enrollment March 26 | Current, but note Parish's application page lists Feb. 12 for aid while its dedicated aid page lists Feb. 5—follow the earlier date and ask. |
| St. John's (PK3–8) | Lower/Middle application Jan. 8; supplements Jan. 22 | New-family aid Jan. 18 | Decision and aid March 12 at 4 p.m. | Current Fall 2027 page |
| Westwood | Priority application Jan. 8 | Visit days and parent interview follow complete file | Priority decision March 12 | Current headline dates; a lower section retains prior-cycle wording, so trust the dated headline and confirm portal. |
| Ursuline (Grade 9–12 girls) | Ravenna opens Sept. 4; closes Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. | Aid deadline matches application deadline | Decision March 12; agreement March 31 | Current Fall 2027 page |
| Cistercian (Grades 5–12 boys) | Application opens Oct. 1 | School publishes limited testing dates; documents due Jan. 15 | Decision March 12 after 4 p.m.; registration March 25 noon | Current Fall 2027 page |
| All Saints' Fort Worth | Opens Sept. 1; Upper School deadline Feb. 12 | Grade 9 requires ISEE; visit and documents required | Decision March 12 | Current Fall 2027 page |
| Prince of Peace Plano (PK3–8) | Opens Nov. 2; documents Jan. 29 | K–8 assessments Jan. 9/Feb. 6; family interviews Feb. 11/12 | Decision March 5; enrollment March 19 | Current Fall 2027 page |
| Trinity Valley | Application Jan. 15, 2027 | Finalsite checklist, testing, recommendation, and visit | Feb. 12, 2027 at 4 p.m. for on-time completed files | Rechecked Sept. 3: the page says 2027–28, but one completion sentence still says Feb. 1, 2026. Get the 2027 completion date in writing. |
Three anchors not in the table: Hockaday's application form closes December 14, 2026 with the file due January 29, 2027; St. Mark's Grade 1 form is due December 14 and needs both CATS and the virtual ATS assessment; and Jesuit Dallas takes freshman applications by January 8, 2027, with interviews on January 23 or 30 and decisions on March 12 at 5 p.m.
Open portals early, even when the substantive deadline is January or February. Submitting the form often unlocks the observation, interview, test code and teacher requests, and visits can fill before forms are due. Capture each school's timestamp, document deadline, aid deadline and reply date separately; an application receipt is not a complete-file receipt.
The year in phases
- Early fall: choose target grades and school models, open portals, reserve tours, and ask how each aid process works.
- October–November: visit, start parent and student writing, register one usable test, tell teachers, and open public or charter applications as they appear.
- December: submit the early private forms (Greenhill December 11, Hockaday December 14) and book observations and interviews before winter break.
- January: finish forms, records, tests, interviews, aid files and Dallas ISD rankings, and check every portal twice.
- February: resolve missing items and finish Fort Worth or rolling files. It is a recovery month, not a safe month to start a narrow Grade 6 or Grade 9 list.
- March–April: read decisions and aid together, protect reply deadlines, and hold one viable seat while any wait pool plays out.
The public and charter clock
Dallas ISD's primary Fall 2027 Choice window runs November 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. Families may rank up to five choices, no more than two of them magnets, and magnet eligibility and campus assessments add steps beyond submission. Offers generally arrive in March, and a district transfer FAQ gives ten days to respond, so put that beside the March 12 private decisions.
Uplift says its free charter application opens in mid-October, allows up to three network schools, runs a random lottery in early February and generally gives two weeks to accept. Fort Worth ISD's Gold Seal page still showed the 2026–27 window when checked, so wait for the 2027–28 catalog before acting.
When January slips
- Starting in mid-January: call before paying. Ask which grades still accept a file and whether it would be reviewed for a seat or only the wait pool. Greenhill says late PK/K files cannot be evaluated after decisions, while late Grades 1–12 may sometimes be reviewed for the wait pool.
- A teacher form is missing: confirm the email, ask the school to resend, and tell admissions when the current school will act. Greenhill allows an alternate adult form when a current school will not release teacher evaluations; that is its exception, not a market rule.
- The child is ill on test day: tell the test provider and the school at once and ask for the approved make-up route rather than booking a second test on your own.
- The aid file is late: finish the admission file anyway and ask the aid office whether funding remains. Do not sign a contract assuming a late grant will arrive.
A representative, not ranked, field
Use schools to test criteria, not to fill a prestige directory.
| School | Grades / model | K | 6 | 9 | What a parent should investigate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhill · Addison | Coed, nonsectarian PK–12 | Designed intake | Small published typical opening | Larger published intake | Different seat dynamics by grade; ISEE for older applicants; what tuition includes. Continue with the full Greenhill parent guide below. |
| Hockaday · North Dallas | Girls, independent PK–12 day school | Yes | Apply in 5–11 pathway | Apply in 5–11 pathway | Why an all-girls model fits; division event, aid workflow, and bus route. |
| St. Mark's · North Dallas | Boys, nonsectarian Grades 1–12 | No K entry | Possible, not presented as guaranteed major intake | Apply through 5–11 pathway | Exact openings, required testing/interview, all-boys model, and workload. |
| Parish Episcopal · North Dallas | Coed Episcopal, PK3–12 on two campuses | Lower pathway | Middle pathway | Upper pathway | Which campus, Blackbaud checklist, testing, Episcopal identity, and cross-division logistics. |
| St. John's · East Dallas | Coed Episcopal, PK3–8 | Yes | Yes | No | East Dallas commute, Finalsite checklist, evaluation/testing by grade, and high-school transition. |
| Westwood · Addison | Coed Montessori / IB, toddler–12 | Full-day visit | Visit day(s) | Visit day(s) | Continuity between Montessori and IB, handwritten student work, small-grade openings, and additional fees. |
| Cistercian · Irving | Boys, Catholic, all-honors Grades 5–12 | No | Eligible | Eligible | All-honors structure, faith and community life, testing capacity, commute, and bus. |
| Ursuline · North Dallas | Girls, Catholic, Grades 9–12 | No | No | Primary entry | Catholic identity, Ravenna, entrance testing and essay, laptop and non-tuition costs. |
| Winston · North Dallas | Coed specialized K–12 for students with learning differences | Yes | Yes | Yes | Whether the student matches whom Winston serves; required record review/visit; aid excludes K. |
| Prestonwood Christian · Plano | Coed Christian PK–12 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Mission alignment, rolling/space timing, fee stack, and FACTS aid conditions. |
| Fort Worth school | Grades | K / 6 / 9 | Current evidence | Parent question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Worth Country Day | JK–12 coed independent | All three | K has an early-decision option limited to certain community applicants applying exclusively; 2027–28 aid dates are posted. | Does early decision fit our eligibility and willingness to apply exclusively? |
| Trinity Valley | PK–12 coed independent | All three | Finalsite Enrollment with grade-specific testing, recommendations, and visits; public dates still show the prior cycle. | When will 2027 consortium dates replace the visible 2026 timeline? |
| All Saints' Episcopal | Early Childhood–12 coed Episcopal | All three | Current 2027 page lists Grade 9 ISEE, classroom visit, records, writing, and March 12 decision. | What differs at Grade 6, and when will Fall 2027 aid dates publish? |
| Fort Worth Academy | Independent elementary/middle school | Confirm K and 6; no Grade 9 | Named by TVS as a consortium partner; this guide does not infer a current calendar from another school. | What is the exact Fall 2027 grade range, process, and consortium schedule? |
Testing without folklore
There is no single “Dallas test.”
Requirements change by school and entry grade. St. Mark's, for example, requires CATS cognitive assessment and an ISAAD/ATS virtual achievement assessment for first-grade applicants; older applicants follow different requirements. Greenhill directs Grades 2–11 to the ISEE. All Saints' requires the ISEE for Grade 9. Prince of Peace schedules its own K–8 assessment dates. Read the applicant's grade-specific checklist—not a neighbor's memory.
| Tool / format | Where evidence shows it | What it can add | Parent response |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATS | Young-child cognitive assessment at some Dallas independents; explicitly required by St. Mark's for Grade 1. | A standardized developmental/cognitive data point. | Book early; ask about fee relief and accommodations; do not coach a young child. |
| ATS / ISAAD achievement assessment | St. Mark's describes a one-time virtual assessment shared with participating schools for Grade 1. | An achievement measure schools can receive without repeat tests. | Select recipients carefully and follow the school's current registration instructions. |
| ISEE | Greenhill Grades 2–11; All Saints' Grade 9; other requirements vary. | One academic snapshot across verbal, quantitative, reading, and math domains, with level set by entering grade. | Use ERB's official level guidance, reasonable familiarity, and documented accommodations. |
| School evaluation / class visit | Kindergarten at TVS and Westwood; grade-specific processes at St. John's and Prince of Peace. | How the child participates in a real or simulated school setting. | Describe it neutrally as a school visit; send a rested, fed child; disclose relevant needs. |
| Records, writing, interview | Central to Grade 6 and 9 processes across the schools here. | Longitudinal performance, voice, context, and community readiness. | Keep student work student-owned; explain context briefly instead of manufacturing polish. |
Ask the testing provider and school before registering. A current-school plan does not automatically transfer into a private admission test, and approval can require documentation. Never wait until the last available session.
One family ledger, several portals
The platform is a container, not the policy.
| System | Documented use | What it may hold | Common parent mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravenna | Ursuline application; Hockaday references Ravenna Financial Aid on its aid page. | Application, events, checklist, recommendations, or aid depending on school. | Assuming one login means one common deadline. |
| Blackbaud | Parish application and supplements. | Forms, parent/student responses, recommendations, records, decision. | Submitting the preliminary form but missing later checklist items. |
| Finalsite Enrollment | St. John's and Trinity Valley. | Application, fee, events, checklist, evaluations, records. | Treating a school-branded portal as proof the file is complete. |
| Clarity | Parish, St. John's, Trinity Valley, All Saints', FWCD, Winston. | Income, assets, debts, tax verification, explanations, school selection. | Waiting for the admission deadline when aid is earlier. |
| FACTS | Ursuline and Prestonwood financial aid; also widely used for tuition management. | Grant-and-aid data and supporting documents. | Confusing tuition billing with completed aid review. |
Build the ledger outside every portal
- School, campus, entering grade, gender/faith/model eligibility, application URL, and account email.
- Form deadline, supplement deadline, records release date, test/visit date, aid deadline, decision, and reply.
- Required recommenders, whether requests must wait until a specified date, and current-school release policy.
- Submitted timestamp, receipt, missing-item note, contact, and dated answer.
Download the final application and checklist. Portal checkmarks can change; your archive should not.
Interviews and visits
Both sides are deciding whether the relationship can work.
| Entry | Likely format | Useful preparation | What harms the process |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Observation, classroom/group visit, developmental task, and/or parent conversation. | Normal sleep and breakfast; explain who will meet them; let the child play and respond naturally. | Rehearsed answers, anxiety-heavy “testing” language, or correcting the child in front of staff. |
| Grade 6 | Student interview or visit day plus parent material. | Practice a two-way conversation: current interests, a challenge, how they ask for help, and one real question. | Adult-authored talking points or a resume speech the student cannot sustain. |
| Grade 9 | Student interview, shadow/visit, writing, and academic record review. | Read the school's program; identify two genuine attractions and one uncertainty; be ready to discuss choices and contribution. | Prestige flattery, invented passion, or parents dominating a student-owned process. |
Westwood explicitly schedules a parent-only interview about educational philosophy after applicant visit day(s). St. John's describes interviews, evaluations, recommendations, and testing as grade-dependent parts of holistic review. Ursuline names transcript, recommendations, entrance scores and essay, application/parent statement, and student interview. These are not traps; they are evidence about fit and readiness.
Offers, wait pools, and replies
The decision letter answers whether you may enroll—not whether you should.
| Result | Do next | Do not infer |
|---|---|---|
| Admit | Read aid and contract; calculate full cost; verify transport/support; use revisit to resolve decisive questions; listen to the child. | That admission proves fit or affordability. |
| Wait pool | Follow instructions, state honest interest, send one meaningful update if invited, and protect an enrolled option. St. John's says its pool is unranked and can move into early August; Greenhill's is also unranked, needs its form by March 25, and can produce an offer as late as August. | That frequent calls improve position, or that “wait pool” means an ordered list. |
| Deny | Give the child a brief dignified explanation, thank recommenders, and focus on the viable next community. | That the child lacks worth, capacity, or future success. |
| Aid gap | Ask about appeal and submit material corrections or changed facts; compare net annual cost and participation. | That an admission offer creates money the school or family does not have. |
Our candid read
What families and schools are each trying to learn.
Parents are trying to learn: Will my child be known, challenged at the right level, supported without stigma, and able to belong? Will we still like our family life after paying the bill and driving the route?
Schools are trying to learn: Can this student thrive in the program we actually deliver? Will the family work with our mission, expectations, and constraints? Can we build a balanced class from more qualified applicants than spaces?
Our interpretation: DFW's variety is its advantage and its trap. Families can choose among coed, single-gender, Episcopal, Catholic, Christian, nonsectarian, Montessori/IB, conventional independent, and specialized learning-differences programs. Those are genuinely different educations. The disciplined family chooses a coherent model and workable life—not the largest collection of recognizable names.
| Parent shorthand | More accurate read | Better action |
|---|---|---|
| “Grade 6 is an entry year everywhere.” | Some schools add students; others publish only small or attrition-driven openings. | Ask for the last three years of approximate Grade 6 openings, clearly labeled as historical. |
| “March 12 means the process is coordinated.” | Decision dates cluster; deadlines, tests, platforms, aid, and reply dates do not. | Maintain a school-by-school ledger. |
| “The bus solves the commute.” | A particular route, stop, start time, activity schedule, and fee may or may not solve it. | Request Fall 2027 route detail and test the backup drive. |
| “Support is support.” | Schools range from conventional accommodations to programs built for learning differences. | Match the child's actual service needs to named staff, frequency, cost, and limits. |
| “Private-school aid is one formula.” | Platforms assist analysis; each school sets policy, budget, eligibility, and award. | Apply on time and compare net cost plus uncovered participation. |
Sources and further research
Where to verify and keep reading
We favor direct links to the exact page or document a family may need next. Access dates matter because admissions, tuition, leadership, and programs change.
- Apply
Greenhill School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 timeline and grade-specific pathways
- Frequently Asked Questions
Greenhill School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Typical openings, late applications, testing, and transportation
- Understanding Tuition and Fees
Greenhill School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 planning baseline and included costs
- Visit
Greenhill School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Interview, visit, and Fall 2027 event guidance
- Apply
The Hockaday School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2027–28 application and division events
- Tuition Assistance
The Hockaday School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Need-based aid policy; page contains some prior-cycle document dates
- Tuition and Fees
The Hockaday School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Published cost page; verify Fall 2027 amount
- New Families
The Hockaday School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Bus availability and onboarding; current-family operational page
- How to Apply
St. Mark’s School of Texas · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 requirements, CATS/ATS, interviews, and decision date
- Admission Welcome
St. Mark’s School of Texas · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Grade range, stated mission, and access-and-affordability context
- Tuition and Financial Aid
St. Mark’s School of Texas · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Cost and aid policy; verify displayed cycle
- Inquire and Apply
Parish Episcopal School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Blackbaud process, deadlines, testing, and decisions
- Affording Parish
Parish Episcopal School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Clarity dates, policy, and cost-beyond-tuition support
- Tuition and Fees
Parish Episcopal School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Published tuition and fee detail
- Deadlines and Important Dates
St. John’s Episcopal School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 events and application deadlines
- Admission Process and FAQs
St. John’s Episcopal School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Finalsite Enrollment, testing, review, wait pool, and decisions
- Tuition Assistance
St. John’s Episcopal School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Clarity deadline and decision date
- Tuition
St. John’s Episcopal School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Published cost baseline
- Steps to Admission
The Westwood School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 priority date, visits, records, and interviews
- Tuition and Fees
The Westwood School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition by level and additional fees
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Westwood School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Testing, openings, and aid statements; some general dates are superseded by the current process page
- Admissions
The Westwood School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · School-stated Montessori and IB model
- How to Apply
Cistercian Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 dates and requirements for boys entering Grades 5–11
- Financial Aid
Cistercian Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · School aid policy; verify displayed cycle and forms
- Tuition
Cistercian Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Published tuition page; verify Fall 2027 amount
- Bus Info and Sign-Up
Cistercian Preparatory School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 bus sign-up; not a Fall 2027 route promise
- How to Apply
Ursuline Academy of Dallas · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Ravenna dates, review components, and reply date
- Admission FAQs
Ursuline Academy of Dallas · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Aid, fees, testing, and TEFA statements
- Tuition and Financial Assistance
Ursuline Academy of Dallas · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 cost baseline and 2027–28 aid information
- Admission Welcome and FAQs
Fort Worth Country Day · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Kindergarten early decision, testing windows, and transportation
- How to Apply
Fort Worth Country Day · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Grade-specific application process; confirm 2027 dates in portal
- Tuition and Financial Assistance
Fort Worth Country Day · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 costs and Fall 2027 aid deadlines
- Fort Worth Independent Schools Joint Admission Consortium Policies
Fort Worth Independent Schools Joint Admission Consortium · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Revised August 2025; use as policy context and reconfirm Fall 2027 dates
- Apply for Admission
Trinity Valley School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Grade-specific Finalsite Enrollment process; visible dates remain 2026 entry
- Admission FAQs
Trinity Valley School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fort Worth consortium and testing cooperation
- Apply for Financial Aid
Trinity Valley School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Clarity process; displayed guide is 2026–27
- Tuition and Fees
Trinity Valley School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Published cost page; verify cycle
- Application Process
All Saints’ Episcopal School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 deadlines, visits, ISEE, records, and decisions
- Affording All Saints’
All Saints’ Episcopal School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Clarity policy; Fall 2027 dates not yet posted
- Visit
All Saints’ Episcopal School · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Admission Process
The Winston School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Specialized-school inquiry, record review, visit, and decision sequence
- Visit Winston
The Winston School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Admission coffee and school-day observation
- Tuition
The Winston School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and student-life fees for K–12
- Tuition Assistance
The Winston School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Clarity process and grade eligibility; displayed dates are 2026 entry
- Admission
Shelton School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Specialized admission starting point
- Texas Education Freedom Accounts Information
Shelton School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · School participation and date-sensitive state-program guidance
- Apply
Prestonwood Christian Academy Plano · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Mission-specific admission starting point
- Tuition and Fees
Prestonwood Christian Academy Plano · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 cost baseline
- Tuition Assistance
Prestonwood Christian Academy Plano · Accessed August 31, 2026 · FACTS process, January 31 timing, and program conditions
- Admission Dates
Prince of Peace Catholic School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 application, observation, interview, decision, and enrollment dates
- Admission Process
Prince of Peace Catholic School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · PK3–Grade 8 application context
- ISEE by ERB for Families
ERB · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Official test levels and family registration guidance
- Collaborative Academic Testing Service
CATS · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Dallas-area early-grade assessment provider
- Ravenna
Ravenna Solutions · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Application and event platform used by some schools
- Clarity for Families
Clarity · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Financial-aid application platform used by several schools
- FACTS Grant and Aid
FACTS · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Financial-aid platform used by several faith-based schools
- Texas Education Freedom Accounts
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Official state source; eligibility, providers, and amounts can change
- Applying to Grades 9–11
Greenhill School · Accessed September 3, 2026 · ISEE registration and completion dates
- Grades 1–4 application
The Hockaday School · Accessed September 3, 2026 · Lower-grade testing and observation
- Apply
Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas · Accessed September 3, 2026 · Freshman deadlines, ISEE sitting, and interview dates
- Magnet application process
Dallas ISD · Accessed September 3, 2026 · Ranking rules and eligibility
- Enrollment FAQs and tips
Dallas ISD · Accessed September 3, 2026 · Fall 2027 Choice window
- Student transfer FAQ
Dallas ISD · Accessed September 3, 2026 · Offer response window
- Start here
Uplift Education · Accessed September 3, 2026 · Charter application and lottery sequence
- Gold Seal programs
Fort Worth ISD · Accessed September 3, 2026 · Still showed the 2026–27 window when reviewed