Admission

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Thank you for your interest in St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. Our application is now open for Round Two consideration on a space‑available basis. Some grade levels may have filled, and some may have limited openings, so we encourage you to contact the Admission Office to confirm availability in your child’s grade before starting an application. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 949.661.0108 x1248 or email admission@smes.org.

If there is availability in your child’s rising grade, we invite you to create a Finalsite account and submit all required materials by the Round Two application deadline: April 15, 2026. Once FORM I of the application is submitted, an individualized checklist of required application components will automatically appear in your Finalsite account.

All campus visits including tours, interviews, and assessments, will be scheduled after all forms have been received.

We look forward to getting to know your family and exploring St. Margaret’s together!

Application Steps

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  • Early School

    1. Submit FORM 1 and Application Fee
    2. Submit Parent/Guardian Statement and Developmental Information & Enrollment Preference Form for Early School Playgroup and Assessment experience
    3. Attend Playgroup and Assessment experience
    4. Submit Transcript Request to Current School (if currently attending preschool)
    5. Delegate Teacher Comment Form (if currently attending preschool)

    This year, all applicants for Early School 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.

    **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.

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  • Lower School

    ** Please know, all Applicants to Kindergarten need to be 5 years old prior to July 1.

    1. Submit FORM 1 and Application Fee
    2. Submit Parent/Guardian Statement
    3. Submit Lower School Student Interest Form (Grades 2-5)
    4. Kindergarten & Grade 1 Applicants:  Attend Playgroup and Assessment experience either in December or January
    5. Grade 2 – Grade 4 Applicants:  Attend in-person ISEE assessment at St. Margaret's in January
    6. Grade 5 Applicants: Register for ISEE to take at home and attend 5th Grade visit experience in January
    7. Submit Transcript Request to Current School
    8. Delegate Teacher Comment Form

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  • Middle School

    1. Submit FORM 1 and Application Fee
    2. Submit Parent/Guardian Statement and Student Statement
    3. Register for ISEE
    4. Submit Transcript Request to Current School
    5. Delegate Teacher Comment Form(s)
    6. Register for Applicant Interview (in-person interview)

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  • Upper School

    1. Submit FORM 1 and Application Fee
    2. Submit Parent/Guardian Statement and Student Statement
    3. Register for ISEE
    4. Submit Transcript Request to Current School
    5. Delegate Teacher Comment Form(s)
    6. Register for Applicant Interview

Standard Admission Dates and Deadlines

Form 1 and Application Fee
December 15, 2025

Complete Application 
(All forms, assessments, and interviews)
February 1, 2026

Financial Aid Applications for New Families
February 15, 2026

Birthdate Guidelines

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.

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.