APPLICATION PROCESS

All prospective students who would like to receive our school viewbook and curriculum guide, receive invitations to our open houses and regional receptions, and apply to Santa Catalina must submit this form.

For applicants to grades 9, 10, and 11

Admission Testing:

The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is the preferred admission test for Santa Catalina School. It is important to register in advance at ssat.org. You may submit the ISEE in lieu of the SSAT. Applicants applying to grade 11 have the option of submitting PSAT or SAT scores.

International students
In addition to submitting the standardized testing listed above, nonnative English speakers are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT). Note: Santa Catalina does not accept SLEP, TOEFL Junior, or any other English-proficiency evaluation during the regular admission season. We use Duolingo English Test (DET) during the rolling admission season on a case-by-case basis and as a supporting piece of English proficiency documentation.

School Testing Codes
Please use the following codes when registering for a test in order to have your results sent directly to Santa Catalina:

SSAT: 7132
ISEE: 054087
PSAT: 052045
SAT: 052045
TOEFL: 8102

Note: Santa Catalina accepts the submission of multiple tests taken in the same academic year and will consider the highest composite score.

Character Skills Snapshot:

Applicants must also take the Character Skills Snapshot, which measures your daughter's view of her character skill development and is meant to complement more traditional cognitive assessments such as the SSAT. For test takers who are registered to take the SSAT, this assessment is free of charge. If not registered to take the SSAT, the fee is $35. The Snapshot is online and taken when and where convenient for the applicant.

Our personalized visit day is designed for parents and students to experience our community’s culture and teaching environment in real time. We want you to experience how learning is enhanced in a classroom comprised of dynamic, motivated, and supportive young women who not only engage and have fun with each other, but with our dedicated and talented faculty. During the visit, the parent(s) and student will attend a class (parents go to one and the student goes to another), attend our all-school assembly, tour campus with a current student, and interview with an admission representative. Lunch is also available but optional.

Regular Admission (October 1-February 1)
Visits are available on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

We also offer visits on two holiday weekends, which include the ability to take the SSAT, attend our open house, and schedule your personalized visit day. These weekends are over Veterans Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Because we are on a boarding school calendar, school is in session over these weekends.

Note: Some visits may be scheduled in the first two weeks of February due to overflow and in observance of the Chinese New Year vacation schedule.

Rolling Admission: March 10-August 1
Rolling admission is dependent upon space availability.

We look forward to receiving your application. Please click here to begin. Applying online will allow you to work on your application throughout the admission season, save your work as you go, and track which application materials the Admission Office has received.

The items that will be submitted through the online application are the Applicant Information Form (includes application fee and an optional photo), Applicant Questionnaire, Parent Questionnaire, and Recommendations.

In addition to Santa Catalina's online application, we accept the following alternatives: SSAT Standard Application Online (SAO) and Application for Bay Area Independent High Schools. Those who submit one of these applications will be invited to set up a Santa Catalina application account to track application progress and view their admission decision on March 10.

It is important to give your school and teachers sufficient notice (a minimum of 2 weeks) regarding your request to have recommendations sent to the Santa Catalina School Admission Office by February 1. Teacher recommendation forms can be submitted electronically via the Santa Catalina online application or you may download the forms below and distribute them accordingly, with a stamped envelope addressed to:

Santa Catalina School
Admission Office
1500 Mark Thomas Drive
Monterey, CA 93940

Download or submit via online application:
School Recommendation (head of school or school counselor)
English Recommendation (current teacher only)
Mathematics Recommendation (current teacher only)
Personal Recommendation (optional)

Recommendations are confidential and should not be submitted to Santa Catalina by the applicant or her family.

Requesting Transcripts
At minimum, we require transcripts from your current year’s semester or trimester and all grades from the prior academic school year. In order to have your records released to our school, submit a Transcript Release Form to your current school’s registrar. Please make sure that the form has been signed by a parent or legal guardian before giving it to your registrar. Transcripts must be sent to us directly from your school.

Note: Transfer students will need to submit all high school records. Where there are multiple schools involved, a Transcript Release Form will need to be submitted to each school’s registrar. Please give each school ample notification prior to the February 1 deadline.

Download:
Transcript Release Form

Applicants who have submitted a complete application and supporting materials by the February 1 deadline will receive an admission decision on March 9 via their Santa Catalina online admission account. A letter will also be sent by mail. Accepted applicants must inform Santa Catalina of their enrollment decision by April 10.

Tuition assistance information will be included with the mailed decision letter package.