First Grade Application Process

List of 4 items.

  • Applicant Guidelines

    All first grade applicants must be in kindergarten or primer in the fall of 2023 and have a date of birth between March 2017 and August 2018.

    Please Note: All applications received after the due date will be accepted and considered on a space-availability basis.
  • Forms to Submit and Deadline

    Submit the following to St. Mark's by December 11, 2023:
    To reduce the cost associated with applying to our school, St. Mark’s will no longer charge application fees. St. Mark’s will also provide testing fee waivers for those who need financial assistance. Please contact Alicia Alvarez for more information. 
  • Observation & Testing

    Candidate Observation, Admission Testing Solutions Achievement Testing (sponsored by the Independent Schools Association of Dallas) and the Collaborative Academic Testing Service cognitive ability assessment are separate events. 

    Observation:
    Once an application is submitted, you will have the opportunity to select an observation date. On-campus observations will be held January 6 and January 20, 2024. Applicants will need to be present for one of the two dates. 

    Testing:
    The Independent Schools Admission Association of Dallas (ISAAD) has collaborated with Admission Testing Solutions to offer virtual achievement testing for first grade candidates applying to participating ISAAD schools. Candidates need only register once and should only test one time in December 2023 or January 2024. The cost of the test is $175. 

    First grade applicants should complete the ISAAD testing no later than January 20, 2024. 

    Online ISAAD Test Registration Instructions: 
    1. Go to this registration link.
    2. Click on your preferred date and add to cart.
    3. Cart window will pop up on screen. Click "OK."
    4. Click on the shopping cart in the upper right corner. Then click "Checkout" or "Continue Shopping" if you would like to add an additional child. If checking out, please confirm the test date listed is correct. 
    5. Check out by making an account with an email & password, or if you already have an account, click "Sign In" and enter your email and password. 
    6. Enter your child's first & last name and birthdate and click the box giving permission for the testing session to be recorded for proctoring purposes. 
    7. Select the check box(es) for the school(s) to which you want your child's test scores sent. You can make changes later if necessary. 
    8. Enter your payment information and click "Complete Purchase" or enter a waiver code. Click "Apply" to submit. 
    9. You will then see a screen that says Purchase Complete!
    10. A confirmation email will be sent for each completed registration
    11. For questions, please contact admin@admissiontestingsolutions.com.

    Collaborative Academic Testing Service Cognitive Ability Assessment:

    A cognitive ability assessment is required for first grade applicants. The assessment is conducted by Collaborative Academic Testing Service (CATS). Please visit CATS to register. The cost of the assessment is $325.

    First-grade applicants should complete the assessment no later than January 8, 2024. 

    A note from Collaborative Academic Testing Service: As the testing season progresses, CATS will become short on testing slots so that rescheduling is often not possible before application deadlines. Winter weather, illness, and holiday travel all interfere with appointments during Winter months. Applicants' performance on the tests is evaluated relative to other students within a narrow chronological age band, so waiting until later in the school year does not improve one's chance of achieving higher scores. Please click here to read more about the CATS assessment. 

    Please contact Alicia Alvarez with questions regarding testing.
  • Records and Evaluation Forms

    School Records and Current Teacher Evaluation are due to St. Mark's by January 8, 2024:
    • Request your son's current school records via the Records Release Request in the application checklist.
    • Request your son's Current Teacher Evaluation via the online form in the application checklist.

Second - Fourth Grade Application Process

List of 3 items.

  • Forms to Submit and Deadline

    Submit the following to St. Mark's by November 17, 2023:
    To reduce the cost associated with applying to our school, St. Mark’s will no longer charge application fees. St. Mark’s will also provide testing fee waivers for those who need financial assistance. Please contact Alicia Alvarez for more information. 
  • Observation & Testing

    Candidate Observation, the Independent School Entrance Exam and the Collaborative Academic Testing Service cognitive ability assessment are separate events. 

    Observation:

    Once an application is submitted, you will have the opportunity to select a date and time. On-campus observations will be held December 2 and December 9, 2023. Applicants will need to be present for one of the two dates. 

    Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE):

    All applicants to Second, Third and Fourth grades are required to take the ISEE Primary Exam. Please visit ISEE by ERB to register for the ISEE Primary once; you may request the scores be sent to all the schools in which you are applying. The St. Mark's ISEE code is 441805. 

    The ISEE Primary should be completed by December 18, 2023. 

    Collaborative Academic Testing Service Cognitive Ability Assessment:
    A cognitive ability assessment is required for Second, Third and Fourth grade applicants. The assessment is conducted by Collaborative Academic Testing Service (CATS). Please visit CATS to register. The cost of the assessment is $325.

    The CATS Assessment should be completed by December 18, 2023. 

    A note from Collaborative Academic Testing Service: As the testing season progresses, CATS will become short on testing slots so that rescheduling is often not possible before application deadlines. Winter weather, illness, and holiday travel all interfere with appointments during Winter months. Applicants' performance on the tests is evaluated relative to other students within a narrow chronological age band, so waiting until later in the school year does not improve one's chance of achieving higher scores. Please click here to read more about the CATS assessment.  

    Please contact Alicia Alvarez with questions regarding testing.
  • Records and Evaluation Forms

    School Records and Current Teacher Evaluation are due to St. Mark's by December 11, 2023:
    • Request your son's current school records via the Records Release Request in the application checklist.
    • Request your son's Current Teacher Evaluation via the online form in the application checklist.

Fifth - Eleventh Grade Application Process

List of 4 items.

  • Forms to Submit and Deadlines

    Submit the following to St. Mark's by January 8, 2024:
    • Application Form submitted online
    • Remarks from Parents 
    • Student Interest Form
    • Student Essay
      To reduce the cost associated with applying to our school, St. Mark’s will no longer charge application fees. St. Mark’s will also provide testing fee waivers for those who need financial assistance. Please contact Alicia Alvarez for more information. 
    • Records and Evaluation Forms

      School Records and Mathematics and English Teacher Evaluations are due to St. Mark's by January 12, 2024:
      • Request your son's current school records via the Records Release Request in the application checklist.
      • Request your son's Current Teacher Evaluation via the online form in the application checklist.
    • ISEE Testing

      The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) for grades 5-11 is available to take either at home or in person. Please note that it is the parent's responsibility to register their son to take the ISEE test at ERB: ISEE. When registering for the exam, please add St. Mark's School of Texas (school code 441805) as a recipient of his scores.

      The ISEE should be completed by January 22, 2024.

      Please contact Alicia Alvarez with questions regarding testing.
    • Interview

      Once the initial application is submitted, you will have the option to choose the interview option that works best for you and your son:

      • On-Campus Afternoon Interview
      • Shadow School Visit with Interview
      • Virtual Interview
      There is no preferred interview method and Campus Visits are optional. Regardless of whether your son visits St. Mark's this fall, he will have the opportunity to experience life as a Marksman on campus should he receive admission in March.

      Please contact Korey Mack with questions regarding interviews.

    Application Dates & Deadlines

    Grade 1
    Applications due Dec. 11
    Observations on Jan. 6 or Jan. 20

    Grades 2-4
    Applications due Nov. 17
    Observations on Dec. 2 or Dec. 9

    Grades 5-11
    Applications due January 8

    Admission decisions released: Friday, March 8
     
    All applications received after the respective due date for the applying grade will be accepted and reviewed, but an admission decision may not be rendered until after March 8.
    St. Mark's School of Texas does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
    SAO

    St. Mark’s School of Texas

    10600 Preston Road
    Dallas, Texas 75230
    214-346-8000

    About Us

    St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.

    St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.