St. Albans requires an SSAT, ISEE or HSPT score for grade 9, and the score is due by January 13, 2027. This guide covers how to choose among the three tests, when to take one, and what else goes into the application so the pieces arrive on time for fall 2027 entry.
The testing requirement
Applicants to grade 9 must submit scores for the SSAT, ISEE or HSPT by January 13, 2027. The school accepts any one of the three, so there is no need to take all of them. Pick the test your son is most comfortable with and prepare for that one.
For grades 6 and 7, the school asks for SSAT or ISEE scores by the same January 13 date. The grade 10 and 11 page is inconsistent about whether testing is optional, so we are not stating a rule for those grades. If you are applying outside an entry year, ask the Admissions Office.
Applicants whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to send TOEFL scores along with SSAT or ISEE scores.
When to take the test
The school says to register in the fall and take the test no later than early January, so that scores reach the school by January 13. That leaves little slack. Treat the first sitting as the one you plan around, and treat a second sitting as a backup rather than the plan. Check the test provider's own calendar for dates and registration deadlines, since those change each year.
When you register, enter the school code. It is 6256 for the SSAT and 090165 for the ISEE. Limited fee waivers are available for both tests, and the Admissions Office can point you to the right steps.
Test scores and the rest of the file
Scores are one piece of a file that also includes the following.
- The application form. Families apply through Ravenna. The fee is $80, or $120 for international applicants, with waivers available on request.
- A seven-question questionnaire. The applicant types his own answers, and the school says no outside source should be used. Answers are due January 13, 2027.
- Two teacher recommendations. Parents request forms in Ravenna for the current math and English teachers. These are due January 13, 2027.
- Transcripts. Parents submit a Transcript Request form for the current year (first and second quarter) and the previous school year.
- The shadow visit. The applicant spends a day at the school, with Admissions, a tour, classes and lunch with a student ambassador. The school treats this as the interview.
How to use the questionnaire well
The questions are inside Ravenna and were not public when we checked, so the best preparation is to practice writing short, specific answers. Use one real moment from the last year instead of a list of achievements. Write it in his own voice, and let him revise it a few days later. A parent can read for clarity, but the school asks that the answers be his.
Preparing for the visit day
The visit lasts from 9:10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A student ambassador hosts lunch, and your son will sit in on classes. Help him prepare two or three stories about things he has built, read or fixed. Practice explaining an interest out loud, then let him ask his own questions about classes, chapel and daily life. Visits run on select days from October through early February, and you book them through Ravenna.
A sample order of work
1. Create the Ravenna account and book the visit. 2. Choose one test and register for a fall date. 3. Request the two teacher recommendations and the transcript forms. 4. Draft the questionnaire answers well before January 5. 5. Submit the application by January 5, 2027. 6. Confirm that scores, transcripts, recommendations and the questionnaire are all in by January 13.
Boarding applicants
Boarding is a small program. The school describes about 30 Upper School students living in the Lane-Johnston Building, with five dorm faculty and a supervised study hall each night. Boarding tuition is $84,497, compared with $59,938 for day students. We did not find a separate boarding application on the pages we reviewed, so ask the Admissions Office how boarding is requested.
Fees and waivers
The application fee is $80 for domestic applicants and $120 for international applicants. The Admissions Office can supply a waiver code. Test fee waivers are limited, so ask early. If your family plans to apply for aid, note that the Clarity application costs $60 and is due January 20, 2027 for applicant families.
What is not public
St. Albans does not publish typical test scores, an admit rate or the number of applicants and seats on the pages we reviewed. We do not guess at those numbers here. A decision letter says the applicant is offered admission and invited to visit for a day, placed on a waiting list, or that the school is unable to offer admission. Decisions arrive February 26, 2027, and families reply by March 12.
Next steps
Our preparation page goes deeper on each piece, and the timeline lists every date. If you want written help thinking through your own situation, EduAvenues high school admissions is a starting point.
Sources
StAlbansPrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by St. Albans School.