Admission

Inquire!

Thank you for expressing interest in St. Margaret's Episcopal School! We look forward to getting to know you and your family. Please contact us at admission@smes.org or (949) 661-0108 ext.1248 if you have any questions or if we can be helpful in any way.

As a first step, please complete the Inquiry Form below to receive helpful email updates about the St. Margaret’s Admission process. After submitting an inquiry, an inquiry packet will be sent to your home with information about St. Margaret’s and our application steps. 

Again, thank you for your interest in St. Margaret’s. We are delighted to be working with your family!

Admission FAQ's

List of 6 items.

  • What are the important Admission Deadlines to be aware of when applying to St. Margaret’s?

    • Motivated Middle and Upper School applicants have the option to pursue Early Admission Review. If a family is eager to participate in Early Review, all Forms and Application Steps (Interview and ISEE Assessment) would need to be completed by Monday, December 1st.  Families completing the Early Review process would receive their Admission Decision by December 10th.

    • Applicants for all grades (Early School through Grade 11) must complete all Application Steps by the standard Application Deadline of February 1. Families submitting all Forms by February 1 would receive their Admission Decision by early March. Please visit our Apply page for more information about our application process.

  • Does St. Margaret’s have date of birth guidelines within their Admissions Process for Early School and Kindergarten?

    Yes we do. This year, all applicants for Early School and Kindergarten will need to align with the following:

    • Applicants for Early School 3’s: need to be 3 years old prior to July 1.
    • Applicants for Early School 4’s: need to be 4 years old prior to July 1.
    • Applicants to Kindergarten: need to be 5 years old prior to July 1.


    **For families with younger children eager for the St. Margaret’s Early School Program and turning three years old during the summer and fall months (July-October), there is the possibility to consider a three-year Early School commitment. Please be in touch with the Admission Office to find out more about this unique offering.

  • Are there specific application steps for Relocating Families to be aware of?

    Yes. For families considering St. Margaret’s living beyond Orange County, CA, we do require an in-person campus visit or in-person applicant interview during the St. Margaret’s Application Process. This step would be necessary in order to complete one’s Application.

    **Students should also have at least two full years of an English-based curriculum prior to applying. 

  • Does St. Margaret’s have a strong financial aid program?

    Yes. Each year, St. Margaret’s offers over 5 million dollars in need-based grants to eligible families from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Interested families must complete the online Clarity financial aid application by the Financial Aid Deadline of February 15th. All financial aid application steps are listed here on the Tuition and Financial Support page. Families meeting the February 15 financial aid deadline will be given priority review.

  • What are the primary entry points for New Student Admission?

    Early School, Kindergarten, Grade 6 and Grade 9 are the most sought-after entry years. Many students also consider applying at other grade levels, as well, although space may be limited. The Office of Admission works closely with all families as they make plans to consider St. Margaret’s and apply.

  • Does St. Margaret’s offer transportation or bus options for families?

    Yes. This 2025-26 school year we have five individual bus routes. Bus service is provided to and from Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Irvine and Rancho Santa Margarita. Each spring, families make plans to re-enroll in the bus route program.

Admission Application Timeline

Early Childhood and
Lower School		 Middle School and
Upper School
September- November
Inquire, Research Website, Attend Events!
Online Application available Sept. 2
Financial Aid Application (currently enrolled families) Nov. 15
December
  • Submit Form I of the Application
  • Register for Assessment
  • Delegate Online Teacher Comment Form(s)
  • Submit Form I of the Application
  • Register for In-Person Interview
  • Register for ISEE
  • Delegate Online Teacher Comment Form(s)
January
  • Complete Assessments (Early and Lower School) 
  • Submit all Online Application Forms
  • Complete Applicants Interview
  • Submit ISEE Scores
  • Submit all Online Application Forms
February Application Deadline: February 1
Financial Aid Application: February 15
March Decisions released the first week of March

Upper School Parent

“Our children thrive and are well-supported at St. Margaret’s. It is a great community for both students and parents.”

For Relocating Families

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School proudly supports a diverse community with families from around the world. Please note that we are a day school and all students must reside with immediate family members or legal guardians in Orange County. 

For English Language Learners:
Please be aware that St. Margaret’s does not offer an ESL (English as a Second Language) program. All students must have fluency with reading, writing, and speaking English. Students should have had at least two years of an English-based curriculum prior to applying.


Notable Admissions Process Requirements


In-Person visit required:
Every candidate must visit St. Margaret’s campus in person for their interview, assessment, or playgroup in order to complete their application.

Required assessments:
All applicants for grades 2 through 11 need to sit for the ISEE Entrance Exam. (Please note that we do not accept the TOEFL.)

All application forms must be submitted by the St. Margaret’s application deadline of February 1st. For more information about our admissions process, please visit our Admissions Steps page.

St. Margaret’s is a SEVP-certified school: if your child requires a Form I-20 student visa, an offer of enrollment must be finalized with the tuition deposit paid.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

31641 La Novia Avenue
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 661-0108
 
Translation? ¿Traducción? 翻译?:

An Independent Preschool Through Grade 12 College-Preparatory Day School in Orange County California

Non-Discrimination Policy
St. Margaret's Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, hiring and athletic policies or in other school-administered programs.