This guide covers how admission works: which grades open real places, which tests each school uses, what goes in the file, how interviews work, and how to weigh offers. For when each step happens, use the companion Houston admissions timeline, which holds the month-by-month plan and every school’s deadlines.
Three equal entry-point plans
Kindergarten, Grade 6, and Grade 9 are not one funnel.
The same school can be a realistic expansion opportunity in one grade and an availability-dependent application in another. A fair plan starts with published intake and requirements; it does not turn “applications accepted” into an invented seat count.
Kindergarten: eligibility, observation, and early deadlines
| School | Published K evidence | Parent implication |
|---|---|---|
| St. John’s | 42 places, usually 21 girls and 21 boys; age five by September 1 and not six by June 1; WPPSI-IV and a group evaluation. The application closes in late summer. | This is an unusually early gate with a published capacity constraint. The school says test preparation may compromise accuracy and can disqualify an application. |
| Kinkaid | Natural entry; age five by July 1 and not six before June 1. WPPSI through CATS, group visit, and ATS achievement assessment. | There are separate appointment and fee obligations; completing the application is not completing the evaluation. |
| AOS | Publishes approximately 12–14 qualified K admits; the process has an application, a school evaluation, a WPPSI report, and a supplemental file, each with its own date. | Track each piece separately. Published count describes planned qualified admits, not odds. |
| ROBS | Application and a later supporting file; required new-family event and child visit. The school says grade-specific testing detail will be published later in fall. | Testing is unknown—not waived. Ask before booking an outside assessment. |
| Village / BISH | Village publishes a K observation within a priority/rolling process; BISH is rolling subject to space. | Rolling does not mean unlimited. Ask whether the grade has space before spending time on the file. |
Grade 6: expansion evidence and a student-owned file
| School | Published Grade 6 evidence | Parent implication |
|---|---|---|
| St. John’s | Natural entry with approximately 50–55 places; a priority date protects interview availability before the final application deadline; ISEE required. | Priority is operationally important even though a later final deadline exists. |
| Kinkaid | Natural entry; ISEE, student essay, interview, recommendations, and two prior years plus fall transcript. | The student voice and current classroom record matter alongside testing. |
| AOS | Grades 5 and 6 are the main middle-school entries; AOS publishes approximately 14–16 qualified candidates across those entry grades. | The count is not a Grade 6-only promise. Ask how the two grades divide in this cycle. |
| Presbyterian / ROBS | Both serve Grade 6 and publish application routes; neither public page supplies a Grade 6 seat count. | “Served” is not “expansion.” Ask how many new students entered Grade 6 in the last completed cycle. |
| Awty / Village / BISH / Cooper | All publish Grade 6 or its international equivalent as an application grade; capacity is not publicly stated. | Confirm program track, grade equivalence, testing rule, and actual availability before comparing curricula. |
Grade 9: more real intake—and more child-authored work
| School | Published Grade 9 evidence | Parent implication |
|---|---|---|
| St. John’s | Natural entry with approximately 60–65 places; the same priority-then-final structure as Grade 6. | The larger published intake still requires a student interview, questionnaire/writing, recommendations, and one current-cycle ISEE score. |
| Kinkaid | Natural entry; ISEE, interview, student essay, records, and recommendations, with the application and supporting materials due on separate dates. | Build a workback plan that protects schoolwork and the teenager’s authorship. |
| Episcopal / St. Thomas / Houston Christian | Each is a high-school entry route. EHS requires ISEE; St. Thomas requires ISEE for freshmen; Houston Christian requires SSAT. | Do not assume one test registration serves every high-school list. |
| Duchesne | Girls’ Grade 9 route includes family interview, ISEE, recommendations, and an optional portfolio; the public deadline block is mixed-cycle. | Use the requirements, but verify every Fall 2027 due date. |
| Awty / Village / BISH / Cooper | All publish an upper-secondary application route; Awty’s testing can depend on program, while Village and BISH use international grade/program structures. | Confirm track, diploma destination, language expectations, and grade equivalence—not just age. |
Dates and deadlines
The dates live on the timeline page.
Houston’s Kindergarten deadlines start in late summer, most Grade 6 and Grade 9 applications close in early December, and most decisions arrive in early March. The Houston timeline has the month-by-month plan and each school’s exact dates.
The school-by-school reality check
Representative evidence—not a ranking and not a directory.
These schools illustrate Houston’s different grade structures, missions, locations, and processes. Inclusion is not endorsement; omission is not a judgment. “Capacity unknown” means exactly that.
| School / geography | K · 6 · 9 reality | Process note | Assessment / conversation |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John’s · Inner Loop | Natural entries at all three; publishes about 42 K, 50–55 Grade 6, 60–65 Grade 9 places | Very early K deadline; Grades 6/9 priority date for interviews before the final deadline | K WPPSI and group evaluation; Grades 6/9 one current-cycle ISEE, student interview, writing, recommendations, records |
| Kinkaid · Memorial | Natural entries at K, 6, 9 | Separate K testing appointments; Grades 6/9 application and materials due on different dates | K WPPSI, group visit, achievement assessment; Grades 6/9 ISEE, interview, student essay, recommendations, records |
| Awty · Spring Branch | Serves all three; capacity not public; program track matters | Preliminary application in Ravenna, then remaining requirements | Statements and visits; ISEE published for International Program Grades 6–12, not automatically every track |
| Presbyterian · Inner Loop | K and 6 served; 9 not served | Personalized portal checklist; common reply date | Testing, child visit, recommendations, and transcripts vary by grade; follow assigned checklist |
| ROBS · Inner Loop | K and 6 served; 9 not served; capacity not public | Application, then a separate supporting file | Required event, child visit, varying interviews; detailed 2027 testing not yet published |
| AOS · Inner Loop | K about 12–14 qualified admits; Grades 5/6 main middle entries, about 14–16 across both; 9 not served | Application, K evaluation, WPPSI report, and supplemental file each have their own date | Grade-specific evaluation, interview, test, records, and recommendation steps |
| Duchesne · Memorial | Girls at K, 6, 9; capacity not public | Requirements current enough to use; displayed deadline block mixes cycles and must be verified | K-range cognitive testing/classroom visit; Grades 6/9 ISEE, interviews, records, and recommendations |
| Episcopal · Bellaire | K/6 not served; Grade 9 high-school entry | Application, supporting file, and a student interview that must be booked before slots fill | One current-cycle ISEE, student interview, records, recommendations |
| St. Thomas · Inner Loop | K/6 not served; boys’ Grade 9 route | Later application window than most Grade 9 schools | Freshman ISEE, statement/resume, recommendations, middle-school records |
| Houston Christian · Spring Branch / west | K/6 not served; Grade 9 route | Interviews scheduled after the application is in | SSAT plus family and student interview after application |
| Village · West Houston | K, 6, 9 served; capacity not public | Priority round, then rolling if space; priority date shown without a cycle year | K observation; older applicants interviewed; records, recommendations, and testing as requested |
| BISH · Katy | K, international Grade 6/9 equivalents served; capacity not public | Rolling, subject to availability; no common Fall 2027 cutoff published | School-specific evaluation; confirm grade equivalence, program, and support before applying |
| John Cooper · The Woodlands | K, 6, 9 served; capacity not public | Finalsite application; public decision dates are still prior-cycle | K cognitive test and observation; grade-specific testing, records, recommendations, and interview |
Testing without folklore
The correct test depends on both grade and school.
| Stage | What official pages show | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | St. John’s uses WPPSI-IV and a group evaluation; Kinkaid uses WPPSI, a group visit, and a separate achievement assessment; AOS lists WPPSI and a K evaluation; other schools may use observation or school-directed evaluation. | There is no Houston-wide K test. Do not book an assessment until the school names the instrument, provider, date window, and score-release rule. |
| Grade 6 | ISEE is required at St. John’s and Kinkaid. Awty publishes ISEE for the International Program in Grades 6–12. ROBS says its detailed testing information is forthcoming. | A test used by one school, grade, or Awty program is not automatically required by another. |
| Grade 9 | ISEE appears at St. John’s, Kinkaid, Episcopal, St. Thomas, and Duchesne. Houston Christian publishes SSAT. International schools may use program-specific placement or admissions evidence. | “Standardized testing” is not one interchangeable registration. Confirm test, level, date range, retake rule, and delivery deadline. |
| Accommodations | ERB says ISEE accommodations must be approved before registration, remain valid for 15 months, and are not flagged on reports. SSAT has a separate official accommodations process. | A classroom accommodation does not automatically carry to ISEE/SSAT, and test approval does not prove a school can provide the same support after enrollment. |
St. John’s explicitly warns that preparation can affect the accuracy of its K evaluation and may jeopardize an application. The useful parental work is sleep, routine, truthful explanation, and following directions—not coaching a five-year-old toward a rehearsed performance.
Interviews and visits
The meeting is both evaluation and due diligence.
Houston schools use different formats: parent conversation, family interview, student interview, child visit, group readiness activity, or some combination. St. John’s makes its Grade 6 and 9 meeting priority deadline operationally important; Kinkaid includes student interviews in Grades 6 and 9; Houston Christian interviews both family and student after application; ROBS says the interview format varies.
Tours, open houses, parent meetings, student interviews, observations, and shadow days have different jobs. St. John’s says a tour is not required and reserves class visits for admitted students. Awty makes tours available after application and requires interviews for selected grades. EHS requires a student interview. Attendance at events can be optional while the child-facing interview remains mandatory.
| Participant | Useful preparation | Unhelpful performance |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergartner | A simple account of where they are going; ordinary practice separating from the caregiver; rest and food; permission to be quiet at first. | Memorized adult language, practiced test items, or making the visit carry the family’s emotional stakes. |
| Grade 6 student | Two or three honest examples: a class they enjoy, something difficult they worked through, how they join a group, and a real question. | A consultant-polished speech or a list of activities disconnected from the student’s own interests. |
| Grade 9 student | Specific reflection on learning, community, time management, a mistake, and why this program—not simply this name—makes sense. | Answers that sound borrowed from the website or that assign every weakness to the current school. |
| Parent | A concise, consistent picture of the child; material support needs; family logistics; and questions about the student’s actual day. | Status signaling, overclaiming fit, speaking for an older child, or hiding needs the school must understand to answer honestly. |
Questions that sound like a thoughtful parent—not a brochure quiz
- What surprises families during the first semester at this entry grade?
- How do teachers notice that a new student is not yet finding a place?
- What part of the weekly schedule do families most often underestimate?
- Which support can the school provide consistently, and where does it rely on outside providers?
- What are the real late-day transportation choices after practices or rehearsals?
- When severe weather changes dismissal, how and when are families notified?
The application file
One child, many portals, no universal checklist.
HAIS publicly lists common recommendation forms for early childhood–Kindergarten, Grades 1–5, and Grades 6–12 English and mathematics, but viewing or submitting forms may require login.Schools still control the complete file. In this sample alone, families encounter Ravenna, Finalsite-style checklists, proprietary school portals, SSS, Clarity, Blackbaud Financial Aid Management, and school-specific systems.
Build a portal inventory before delegating anything: account owner, login email, applicant name as it appears on records, school code, payment, recommender, and the person who confirms receipt. For two-household families, decide who monitors each account and how both adults see time-sensitive notices.
| Component | Best owner | Control that prevents errors |
|---|---|---|
| Household and parent statements | Parent or guardian | Use the school’s exact question; keep facts consistent across admission and aid; disclose custody and contracting households accurately. |
| Student writing / questionnaire | Student | Parents may help with schedule and proofreading, but should not replace language, judgment, or story. |
| Recommendations | Current school | Request only through the school’s required channel; allow time; do not coach or seek a private preview. |
| Records | Current school / registrar | Track which years, current fall grades, standardized records, and midyear update are required. |
| Testing | Parent schedules; student completes | Match instrument, level, allowed cycle, report recipient, accommodation approval, and due date. |
| Aid file | Every required adult household | Open it with admission; calendar tax documents, noncustodial requirements, verification, and school supplement separately. |
| Portal audit | One named adult | Record “received” status weekly and save confirmations; never assume a sent request became a complete file. |
From the school’s side, a complete and authentic file is easier to evaluate than a maximally packaged one. Kinkaid asks older applicants for student writing, several recommendations, multi-year records, testing, and an interview; St. John’s accepts only one current-cycle ISEE score. These rules reduce ambiguity only when families follow them literally.
Recommendation sets differ too. Kinkaid’s Grades 6 and 9 files call for English, mathematics, administrator, and special-interest recommendations. Awty asks secondary applicants for English, mathematics, and second-language recommendations plus an administrator form and three reporting periods. St. John’s has parents upload specified report cards and requires forms to arrive from recommenders.
Ask teachers once, with a concise school list and one clear deadline table. Do not script praise or send gifts while the forms are pending. When to ask is on the timeline page.
Cost and aid basics
Admission and aid are two files with two outcomes.
“Need-blind,” “need-aware,” and “aid available” describe different policies, and none promises that the eventual grant makes attendance workable. Submit every required household, tax, business, and custody document. When current finances differ from the tax return, add the evidence rather than delaying the standard file.
Tuition, fees, aid systems, and contracts are compared school by school in the Houston financial-aid and decisions guide. Aid deadlines are on the timeline.
Offers, waitpools, and reply dates
The common reply helps—but the contract still controls.
HAIS membership materials refer to a common reply.Some schools use a different reply date and rolling programs follow their own logic, so read every offer letter and enrollment agreement. Decision and reply dates, and how they line up with HISD, are on the timeline page.
| Compare | Verify before accepting |
|---|---|
| Program | Actual grade/program placement, entry transition, language or diploma track, schedule, and access to the opportunities discussed |
| Contract | Deposit, binding date, withdrawal liability, refund insurance, enrollment conditions, and required fees |
| Net cost | Family contribution, covered extras, one-time charges, aid renewal, and what happens if circumstances change |
| Support | Named service, frequency, provider, schedule, capacity, documentation, and cost |
| Daily life | Morning and late-day commute, care coverage, activity transport, sibling logistics, and severe-weather backup |
| Child response | What felt energizing, concerning, or hard to picture—without asking the child to manage adult prestige anxiety |
Awty describes an unranked waitpool that can remain active until school begins.That is one school’s policy, not a Houston-wide probability model. For any waitpool, follow the school’s channel, state continuing interest truthfully, send only permitted material updates, and hold another workable place by its deadline. No public source supports reliable odds.
A workable Houston list depends on more than admissions odds.
Admissions odds are only one constraint. Early Kindergarten gates, grade-specific capacity, geography, fees, transportation, and the fit between a child’s needs and a school’s support boundary all shape the list. A famous option that breaks the household at 7:10 every morning is not a stronger option.
Our confidence is high in the current dates, requirements, and 2026–27 prices linked to exact official pages, and high in the conclusion that K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 require separate plans. Our confidence is deliberately low where schools have not published seat counts, Fall 2027 testing, 2027–28 tuition, aid timing, bus routes, or refreshed decision dates. Those gaps are reported as questions—not filled with folklore.
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.
- Houston Area Independent Schools
Houston Area Independent Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Association overview and member-school context
- Facts at a Glance
Houston Area Independent Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Association membership and accreditation context
- Frequently Asked Questions
Houston Area Independent Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026 · School-specific admissions and assessment guidance
- Mission
Houston Area Independent Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Membership Application
Houston Area Independent Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Common-reply expectation for member schools
- Common Recommendation Forms
Houston Area Independent Schools · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Public listing of grade-banded forms; form access may require login
- Apply to Kinkaid
The Kinkaid School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 entry grades, dates, evaluation, ISEE, and interview requirements
- Application Forms
The Kinkaid School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Grade-specific recommendations, transcripts, and supplements
- Tuition Schedule
The Kinkaid School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and exclusions
- Financial Aid Process
The Kinkaid School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 SSS process and January 8 deadline
- Admission FAQs
St. John's School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Entry grades, published seat counts, deadlines, and ISEE policy
- Kindergarten Admission
St. John's School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 K process, age rule, WPPSI, and group evaluation
- Middle School Admission
St. John's School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Grade 6 process and published intake
- Upper School Admission
St. John's School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Grade 9 process and published intake
- Open Houses and Tours
St. John’s School · Accessed September 3, 2026 · Visit access and non-evaluative tour policy
- Admission Calendar
St. John's School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 testing and admitted-student dates
- Tuition and Fees
St. John's School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and grade-specific extras
- Financial Aid
St. John's School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Need-based SSS process and award context
- Apply to Awty
The Awty International School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 application opening and deadlines
- Admissions FAQs
The Awty International School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 materials, notification, reply, visit, waitpool, and bus rules
- Admissions Calendar
The Awty International School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Current events and International Program ISEE requirement
- Tuition and Fees
The Awty International School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition, fees, and transportation price
- Financial Aid
The Awty International School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Need-based Blackbaud process; displayed dates are prior-cycle
- Admission
Presbyterian School of Houston · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 notification and reply dates
- Apply
Presbyterian School of Houston · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Personalized checklist and assessment structure
- Tuition and Financial Assistance
Presbyterian School of Houston · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition, included costs, care, Fall 2027 aid date, and TEFA status
- How to Apply
River Oaks Baptist School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 application, materials, events, and unpublished testing detail
- Tuition and Fees
River Oaks Baptist School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition, inclusions, device, and care costs
- Financial Assistance
River Oaks Baptist School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 deadline, covered costs, and award context
- Student Support
River Oaks Baptist School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Division support teams, learning plans, accommodations, and intervention
- How to Apply
Annunciation Orthodox School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 dates, published intake, and assessments
- Tuition
Annunciation Orthodox School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition, fees, and inclusions
- Affording AOS
Annunciation Orthodox School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Need-blind aid framework; displayed deadlines are prior-cycle
- Apply
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Grade requirements and age rules; deadline block is mixed-cycle
- Admissions Events
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Live Fall 2026 visit schedule
- Tuition and Fees
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and grade-specific extras
- Tuition Assistance
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 aid deadline and award dates; page contains an opening-date conflict
- Apply Now
Episcopal High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Grade 9 application, interview, ISEE, notification, and reply dates
- Tuition and Fees
Episcopal High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition, food, laptop, and new-student fee
- Financial Aid
Episcopal High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Clarity deadline and aid policies
- Academic Support
Episcopal High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Published support and accommodation limits
- Apply
St. Thomas High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Grade 9 application and supporting-file dates
- Prepare
St. Thomas High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · ISEE, recommendation, decision, and reply requirements
- Affordability
St. Thomas High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 Blackbaud dates
- Enrollment Steps
St. Thomas High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and additional charges; freshman camp figures conflict on-page
- Apply
Houston Christian High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 application, SSAT, interview, aid, decision, and reply dates
- Tuition Information
Houston Christian High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition and required technology charge
- Indexed Tuition
Houston Christian High School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Aid framework and prior-cycle dates; Fall 2027 deadline comes from current Apply page
- Admissions
The Village School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Priority admission, grade-specific evaluation, and rolling availability
- Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid
The Village School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 K, Grade 6, and Grade 9 tuition
- School Bus
The Village School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Current service areas, typical schedule, and transportation fees; route table contains a time typo
- Admissions
British International School of Houston · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Rolling, availability-based process
- Tuition and Fees
British International School of Houston · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 grade-equivalent tuition, fees, and learning-support cost policy
- Financial Aid and Scholarships
British International School of Houston · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Displayed deadlines are prior-cycle
- Apply
The John Cooper School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Fall 2027 application and K evaluation dates; decision block is prior-cycle
- Admission FAQs
The John Cooper School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Testing, records, recommendations, and interview context
- Tuition and Financial Aid
The John Cooper School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · 2026–27 tuition, extras, and Fall 2027 Clarity date
- Cooper at a Glance
The John Cooper School · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Location and financial-aid context
- ISEE Family Portal
ERB · Accessed August 31, 2026
- ISEE Quick Facts
ERB · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Official accommodation approval, validity, and reporting rules
- SSAT Testing Accommodations
Enrollment Management Association · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Official accommodations process
- Traffic Map
Houston TranStar · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Incidents, road closures, high water, radar, and roadway flood risk
- Route Builder
Houston TranStar · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Sensor and historical travel-time planning
- METRO
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Trip Planner
METRO · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Flood Warning System
Harris County Flood Control District · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Rainfall, bayou levels, and inundation monitoring
- Storm Center
Harris County Flood Control District · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Official storm and road-safety guidance
- Newsroom and Alerts
ReadyHarris · Accessed August 31, 2026
- Make a Plan
City of Houston Office of Emergency Management · Accessed August 31, 2026 · Household emergency and communication planning