Frequently Asked Questions

Most families start seriously visiting schools in the fall of 7th grade and narrow down their list by early 8th grade, since applications are typically due in January of 8th grade for the following fall. Starting a year ahead gives you time to attend open houses, schedule shadow days, and register for entrance exams without rushing.

Often earlier than families expect — as soon as 8th grade begins, especially if your child attends a private middle school, high schools may already be reaching out directly with information sessions and event invitations. That fall is also when most schools open campus tours, hold open houses, and publish entrance-exam dates. Applications themselves usually open in the fall and close in mid-January, with decisions released in late winter or early spring.

Most schools start posting campus tour and open house dates in August, with the full season’s calendar generally up by September or shortly after — so if you check a school’s site in the summer and see nothing yet, that’s normal, not a sign you’re behind. Admissions itself (applications opening, the portal going live) tends to follow a few weeks behind the visit calendar rather than launching at the same time. Each school’s SchoolPodium profile shows its dates as soon as that school publishes them.

An open house is a single event where the whole family visits together — tours, presentations, and a chance to meet staff. A campus tour is usually shorter and held during a regular school day. A shadow day is for the student alone, spending part or all of a real school day paired with a current student. Each school on SchoolPodium lists which of these it offers under Visits & Events on its profile.

There’s no fixed number, but most families apply to 2–4 schools after visiting and comparing several more. Applying to a range that includes a comfortable financial fit and at least one backup gives you real options once decisions and financial aid offers come in.

The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is a standardized admissions test used by most private and independent schools, including nearly all Catholic high schools in Greater Houston. It measures verbal, quantitative, and reading skills, and gives schools a consistent way to compare applicants coming from many different middle schools.

The ISEE runs in three testing seasons — Fall (Aug–Nov), Winter (Dec–Mar), and Spring/Summer (Apr–Jul) — and a student can register once per season, for up to three attempts in a school year. It’s common to take it twice: once in the fall to get a baseline and see real scores, then again in winter if there’s room to improve before a January deadline. Check each school’s own admissions timeline for its specific score deadline.

Yes — you choose which schools receive a score report, and typically choose after you’ve already seen the results, not at registration. Each school only sees the specific report(s) you send them; they don’t automatically see whether your child tested more than once or what any other school received. A report is sent whole (you can’t send just the Math section, for example), but if you send reports from more than one test date, many schools will consider the highest score from each section across those reports — that policy is set by each school, so it’s worth confirming directly with their admissions office.

Not every school requires the same exam — some accept the HSPT or CLT instead of, or in addition to, the ISEE. Compare each school’s requirement directly rather than assuming — it’s listed under Admissions on every profile.

It’s not required, but many families use a prep course or tutor in the months leading up to the test, often starting over the summer before 8th grade. Some schools publish their own recommended prep timeline on their admissions page.

Most applications ask for a transcript, one or two teacher recommendations, and ISEE (or equivalent) scores. An interview is common but handled differently by each school — some interview only the student, some interview both parents and the student together, and some don’t require an interview at all. Exact requirements vary by school — each profile’s Admissions section lists precisely what that school asks for.

No — deadlines vary by a few weeks across schools, and some offer separate priority and regular deadlines. Comparing deadlines side-by-side is one of the most common reasons families use SchoolPodium, since missing one date can mean missing a decision cycle entirely.

At schools with a priority deadline, yes — applying by that earlier date can mean earlier consideration for merit scholarships or financial aid, since some of that funding is limited. Regular-deadline applicants are still fully considered, just later in the cycle.

Most schools use a need-based aid model: your family submits an application (often through FACTS or a similar service) documenting household income and expenses, and the school determines an aid award separately from the admissions decision. Aid is usually renewed each year, not guaranteed for all four years automatically.

Financial aid is based on demonstrated financial need. A merit scholarship is awarded for academic achievement (or sometimes a specific talent) regardless of financial need. Not every school offers merit scholarships — each profile’s Tuition & Financial Aid section states which apply.

Nearly every school has some combination of a one-time enrollment deposit, mandatory freshman fees (technology, retreats, activities), and optional costs like AP exam fees or athletics fees. SchoolPodium’s Tuition section separates these into what’s required for an incoming freshman versus what’s optional, so the number you see is closer to a real first-year cost.

This comes down much more to your student’s own comfort and learning style than any universal advantage either way — both formats are common and well-established among Greater Houston’s Catholic high schools. A shadow day is often the best way to gauge fit, since it shows the actual daily rhythm of the school.

Beyond academics, ask about typical daily schedule, how much homework is normal, how counselors are assigned, what a freshman’s first semester looks like, and what support exists for students who are struggling in a class. Facts like class size and student-teacher ratio are useful starting points, but visit conversations surface what those numbers actually feel like day to day.

Most schools release decisions in late winter or early spring, typically through an online portal or by a set date and time on the school’s calendar. Each school’s Admissions Timeline lists its specific decision date once published.

It’s a payment due shortly after acceptance to hold your student’s spot, usually non-refundable once paid. It’s separate from tuition and is credited toward your first year’s cost, not an additional charge.