How to Apply

The deadline to apply for the 2025-2026 academic year was January 20, 2025.

Applications for 2026-2027 will go live October 1.

Submit an inquiry to be included in admissions communications.

Step 1: Apply

Submit an online application, including a $125 application fee by January 15, 2026. Please note that Cistercian uses its own entrance exam and not the ISEE.

If the application fee presents a hardship for your family, please contact Lisa Richard, Registrar.

Record Release and Current Teacher Evaluation Forms

Within the application, you will be asked to supply email contacts for your son’s current school:

Release of Records

Please enter the name and email address of the person at your child’s current school who is responsible for sending transcripts, grades, or progress reports; the school will receive an email that contains a link to submit the relevant documents for the most recent two years directly to Cistercian. Records are due January 23, 2026.

The requested records include:

• Complete grades for the first two quarters or one trimester of the current school year, as well as complete grades for the most recent two school years
• Standardized test scores for all testing that has been done (i.e. Iowa tests, ERBW, MAPS, STAAR, HSPT, PSAT, etc.)
• Attendance Records
• Behavior Report

Current Teacher Evaluations

Please enter both the name and email address of your son’s current English and current math teacher. A confidential teacher evaluation form will be sent to each teacher automatically. You can confirm Cistercian’s receipt of the evaluation forms in the application status.

Step 2: Admissions Exam

Cistercian utilizes its own entrance exam and not the ISEE. There is no additional fee for this entrance exam.

Your son will be scheduled for the entrance exam based on his application grade according to the schedule below. If you need to change to the other date for any reason, please let us know. We are happy to accommodate such requests, but these are the only two test dates available.

• Saturday, January 31 (Forms I and II, Grades 5 and 6)
  8:30 a.m. – approximately noon
• Saturday, February 7 (Forms III – VII, Grades 7 – 11)
  8:30 a.m. – approximately noon

If your son is taking the ISEE for entrance to another independent school, you are welcome to send his scores to Cistercian by email. However, the ISEE will not take the place of the Cistercian entrance exam requirement.

Admissions Status Tracking

After submitting the application, you will be able to track your son’s application status and monitor when Cistercian receives the required school records and teacher evaluations. Please use the same username and password you used to submit the application to access your account.

Admission Decision

Decision letters will be emailed after 4:00 p.m. on March 13, 2026.

For admitted students: To secure your seat for the 2026–2027 school year, the non-refundable registration fee must be paid by Friday, March 27, at 3:00 p.m.

A Note About Immunization Records:
Due January 15, 2026

Like many schools in the Diocese of Dallas, Cistercian does not accept exemption affidavits for any reason. Submit your son’s current and up-to-date immunization records to the school prior to admissions testing. Students without complete immunization records as outlined by the Texas Department of State Health Services will not be considered for admission.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at admissions@cistercian.org or by phone at 469-499-5400.