How to Apply: The Admission Checklist

The admission application for the 2025-2026 school year is now open.

Munnerlyn Campus
904.396.7104

Beaches Campus
904.246.2466

St. Mark's Campus
904.388.2632

Early Learning Program - (Ages 1 - 2)

The Early Learning Program is only offered at ESJ’s St. Mark’s Campus.

Early Learning Program (ELP) 1 must be one year old before September 1
Early Learning Program (ELP) 2 must be two years old before September 1

HOW TO APPLY

Step 1: Submit application and application fee.

- New Families:
  - To access the Admission Portal and begin your application, you must have a username and password.
  - If you do not yet have a username and password, please complete our online inquiry form.
- Current ESJ Families:
  - To submit an application for another child, visit the online Admission Portal and login using your My ESJ credentials (Admission Portal > Manage Candidate Application > Add a New Application).
- Application Fee – $50 per applicant, non-refundable

Step 2: Visit Campus

Tours: We encourage you to schedule an individual campus tour and experience our learning environment.
Events: Visit our Discover Episcopal page for upcoming visit opportunities.

Step 3: Complete Process, Receive Notification, Confirm Acceptance

- January 31: Deadline for all checklist items to be complete
- February 14: Admission notifications sent
- February 21: New enrollment contracts and deposits due
- Applications completed after January 31 will be evaluated on a rolling basis as space is available by grade level.

Lower School (Pre-K 3 - Grade 5)

Admission decisions are made by Episcopal’s Admission Committee based on the following criteria:

Pre-K 3 - Kindergarten:
- Pre-K 3: three years old before September 1
- Pre-K 4: four years old before September 1
- Kindergarten: five years old before September 1
- Children must be completely potty trained prior to the start of school.
- Developmental assessment
- Class visit
- Teacher observation
- Transcript from current school (if applicable)
Grades 1 - 5:
- Class visit
- Grade level assessment
- Teacher observation
- Transcript from current school

HOW TO APPLY

Step 1: Submit application and application fee

- New Families:
  - To access the Admission Portal and begin your application, you must have a username and password.
  - If you do not yet have a username and password, please complete our online inquiry form.
- Current ESJ Families:
  - To submit an application for another child, visit the online Admission Portal and login using your My ESJ credentials (Admission Portal > Manage Candidate Application > Add a New Application).
- Application Fee – $100 per applicant, non-refundable

Step 2: Visit Campus

- Tours: We encourage you to schedule a campus tour and experience our learning environment.
- Events: Visit our Discover Episcopal page for upcoming visit opportunities.
- Class Visit: All applicants schedule a day to learn and play in our classrooms. Class visits allow us an opportunity to better know your child.
- Assessment: Developmental and grade level assessments will be completed during a scheduled assessment day.

Step 3: Request Information from Current School (Grades 1 - 5)

- Teacher observations and transcripts are valuable tools that enable our admission committee to better understand your child as a learner.
- Applicable forms are available through the Admission Portal and requests can be made after the completion of the first marking period.

Step 4: Submit Financial Aid Application (if applicable)

- To apply for financial aid online, go to the School and Student Services Application (SSS) website. Additional details are available here.

Step 5: Complete Process, Receive Notification, Confirm Acceptance

- January 31: Deadline for all checklist items to be complete
- March 5: Admission notifications sent
- March 19: New enrollment contracts and deposits due
- Applications completed after January 31 will be evaluated on a rolling basis as space is available by grade level.

Middle and Upper School (Grades 6-12)

Step 1: Submit application and application fee

New Families:
- To access the Admission Portal and begin your application, you must have a username and password.
- If you do not yet have a username and password, please complete our online inquiry form.
Current ESJ Families:
- To submit an application for another child, visit the Admission Portal and login using your My ESJ credentials (Admission Portal > Manage Candidate Application > Add a New Application).
Application Fee – $50 per applicant, non-refundable

Step 2: Schedule Interview

Instructions for scheduling the student interview are available in the Admission Portal.

Step 3: Schedule ISEE

Each applicant is required to take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). Dates, locations, pricing, and test registration instructions are all online at www.iseetest.org. Episcopal's School Code is 102049.
Students taking the ISEE with accommodations must submit documentation directly to ISEE for approval prior to registering for the test. Accommodations requests should be submitted at least six weeks prior to your desired test date.
SSAT scores are also accepted if ISEE is unavailable.
Additional standardized test scores (OLSAT, WISC, PSAT, SAT, ACT, Iowa, Stanford, etc.) may be uploaded if available, but are not required.

Step 4: Schedule Tour, Class Visit and Other On Campus Opportunities (optional)

Prospective students and families are welcomed and encouraged to visit campus in different ways throughout the admission process:
- Tours: We encourage you to schedule an individual campus tour and experience our beautiful 56-acre campus.
- Events: Visit our Discover Episcopal page for upcoming visit opportunities.
- Class Visit: Applicants may schedule a day to spend time with a student host in our classrooms. Class visits are available most days October - April. Please call the Admission Office to schedule (904.396.7104).

Step 5: Request Information from Current School

Teacher Observations, report cards, standardized test scores, and attendance and discipline records are valuable tools that enable our admission committee to better understand your child as a learner.
Applicable forms are available through the Admission Portal and requests can be made after the completion of the first marking period.

Step 6: Submit Financial Aid Application (if applicable)

To apply for financial aid online, go to the School and Student Services Application (SSS) website. Additional details are available here.

Step 7: Complete Process, Receive Notification, Confirm Acceptance

January 31: Deadline for all checklist items to be complete
March 5: Admission notifications sent
March 19: New enrollment contracts and deposits due
Applications completed after January 31 will be evaluated on a rolling basis as space is available by grade level.

Submit Inquiry Form

Return to Admission Portal

Admission and Enrollment Policies

Episcopal seeks to enroll exceptional students who can contribute their gifts and talents to our community and who desire to become their best selves while participating in our rigorous academic program.
In accordance with the resolutions of the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, Episcopal does not accept religious exemptions for vaccinations.
Admission and Financial Aid are separate processes. Application for financial aid in no way affects the decision for admission. Click here for more information about financial aid.
In case of separate households, a student must be enrolled under one of the options in ESJ's Enrollment Policy for Separate Households.
Members of the Episcopal community are held to respect the dignity of each student, faculty, and staff member regardless of personal beliefs. Episcopal School of Jacksonville does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, creed, religion, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Enrollment is contingent upon successful completion of the current school year.

Admission and Enrollment FAQ

How do I know when my child’s application is complete?

You can check the status of your child’s application by logging into the admission portal and clicking on Manage Application. The application is considered complete when every required checklist item has a green checkmark next to it.

What admission decisions does Episcopal offer?

Decision options include:

Accept - The student is offered a space at ESJ that the family may accept or decline by the stated deadline.
Regret - The Admission Committee is not able to offer a space to the student.
Waitlist - Due to space limitations in particular grade levels, the student is waitlisted and may be offered a space if one becomes available.
Defer - The Admission Committee requires additional information before making a final determination. In many cases, the committee requests updated grades or a final report card from the current school year. Please note that space is not guaranteed when a deferral decision is made.

Does my child need to take a prep class for the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)?

Episcopal does not recommend extensive preparation for the ISEE. This assessment provides a reliable snapshot of a student’s current academic performance and is predictive of future success. We recommend that students get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast on the day of the test.

If your child receives accommodations in school, we recommend that they take the ISEE with those accommodations. Please note that requesting testing accommodations from ISEE can take four to six weeks to process, so we encourage you to begin the registration process early. For submission details, please contact ISEE directly.

Does Episcopal offer sibling discounts?

An Episcopal education is an investment in your child’s future. The Board of Trustees works diligently to keep tuition as affordable as possible while maintaining exceptional programming and opportunities across all four pillars at Episcopal. As a result, tuition rates remain the same for all students, and there is no sibling discount.

Can incoming students reclass at Episcopal?

In some cases, reclassing may be beneficial for a student, and Episcopal is open to discussing this option with applicants. Our admission team will conduct a thorough review of the reasons for reclassing and assess its feasibility at ESJ. Families should be aware that for students in grades six through twelve, reclassing may impact athletic eligibility per the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) standards.

Does Episcopal offer accommodations for students with diagnosed learning differences?

Yes, Episcopal accommodates students with learning differences and disabilities in accordance with federal and local law. However, your child may not receive the types of accommodations or related services that your child may be entitled to receive at a public school as public schools have different obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA does not apply to private schools. The Admission & Enrollment team and the Student Services team are happy to have a conversation with you about the accommodations that your child may need and receive at our school.

2024-2025 Admission Timeline

Beginning in September:

Schedule a campus tour or attend an Open House

September 3:

Application Opens

September 16:

Financial Aid Application Opens

Beginning in October:

Schedule a class visit

January 31:
Application Deadline

March 5:
Admission Decision Notifications

March 19:
Enrollment Deadline

Applications submitted after the Application Deadline will be evaluated on a rolling basis as spaces become available.