The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is the most popular standardized test required for admission to most Houston-area private schools. This page details test dates and locations for the 2026-2027 application season. Parents must register directly with the test administrator at ERBLearn.org. General Academic is Houston’s leading ISEE tutor; click here to learn about our test prep offerings.

Students can take the test once during the Fall dates and once during the Winter dates. We recommend students take a first test in late October-early November, and then take a second test in December (or early January depending on application deadlines).

Testing Periods

Students may take the ISEE up to three times (once in each defined period) in order to secure their best possible score (scroll down for dates):

  1. August – November
  2. December – March
  3. April – July (usually for transfers only)

We recommend registering for both a November and January test date so that students can treat the November test as a practice run.

Submitting Scores

Only submit your ISEE scores to a school if you’re 100% confident that those are the best scores that you want them to see.

Do not choose a school to automatically receive your scores at registration (unless you don’t care about them seeing possibly low scores).

Most Houston schools require that you submit your best ISEE scores to them by mid-to-late January. Click here to learn more about important dates for Houston students.

Testing Sites

Where your child takes the ISEE doesn’t matter.

Students can take the ISEE at a school even if they don’t apply to that school.

​Your top choice schools do not penalize you for not taking the ISEE at their school, so choose the date that works best for your needs.

Do note that these dates are always limited availability, particularly with the school hosted tests. Some dates may fill up all their spots if you wait too long to sign up.

Some schools only offer closed testing dates. These testing opportunities are only available for students who are currently enrolled or who have submitted an application to that school. Closed testing sites are denoted on the calendar with two asterisks (**).

Registration Fee

The ISEE is usually offered on paper for a basic fee of $165 when hosted by a school, and $225 when hosted by Education Specialists, LLC.

Prometric testing centers are generally where you’ll find computer based tests for a price of $250 and are self-scheduled anytime. Since the start of the Pandemic, students can also schedule an at-home test with a virtual proctor.

Parents must register online at ERBLearn.org.

​Dates on this page were accurate as of August 3, 2026.
Includes test dates from August 2026 through March 2027.

Applying to grades 9-12

​August to November Testing Period

August 19

  • Education Specialists, LLC

August 22

  • Westbury Christian School

August 24

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 2

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 11

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 12

  • Westbury Christian School

September 14

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 19

  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

September 23

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 29

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 3

  • Westbury Christian School

October 7

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 12

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 17

  • St. Francis Episcopal School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

October 20

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 28

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 31

  • Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

November 3

  • Education Specialists, LLC

November 7

  • The John Cooper School
  • Westbury Christian School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

November 9

  • Education Specialists, LLC

November 14

  • St. John’s School
  • St. Thomas High School
  • St. Agnes Academy
  • The Joy School
  • St. Pius X High School

November 15

  • The Joy School

November 18

  • Education Specialists, LLC

November 23

  • Education Specialists, LLC

​December to March Testing Period

December 5

  • The John Cooper School
  • The Kinkaid School**
  • The Awty International School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy
  • Westbury Christian School

December 12

  • The Joy School

January 9

  • Houston Christian High School
  • St. Thomas High School
  • The John Cooper School
  • Incarnate Word Academy
  • St. Francis Episcopal School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy
  • Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
  • Westbury Christian School
  • The Joy School

January 10

  • The Joy School

January 16

  • St. Pius X High School

January 23

  • Houston Christian High School

February 6

  • The Woodlands Christian Academy
  • Westbury Christian School

March 20

  • Westbury Christian School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

Applying to grades 7 & 8

​August to November Testing Period

August 19

  • Education Specialists, LLC

August 22

  • Westbury Christian School

August 24

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 2

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 11

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 12

  • Westbury Christian School

September 14

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 19

  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

September 23

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 29

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 3

  • Westbury Christian School

October 7

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 12

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 17

  • The Woodlands Christian Academy
  • St. Francis Episcopal School

October 20

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 28

  • Education Specialists, LLC

November 3

  • Education Specialists, LLC

November 7

  • The John Cooper School
  • Westbury Christian School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

November 9

  • Education Specialists, LLC

November 14

  • The Joy School
  • St. John’s School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

November 15

  • The Joy School

November 18

  • Education Specialists, LLC

November 23

  • Education Specialists, LLC

​December to March Testing Period

December 5

  • The John Cooper School
  • The Kinkaid School**
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy
  • Westbury Christian School

December 12

  • The Joy School

January 9

  • The Joy School
  • The John Cooper School
  • St. Francis Episcopal School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy
  • Westbury Christian School

February 6

  • Westbury Christian School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

March 20

  • Westbury Christian School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

Applying to grades 5 & 6

August to November Testing Period

August 9

  • The Covenant Preparatory School

August 19

  • Education Specialists, LLC

August 22

  • Westbury Christian School

August 24

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 2

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 11

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 12

  • Westbury Christian School

September 14

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 19

  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

September 23

  • Education Specialists, LLC

September 26

  • Grace Academy

September 29

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 3

  • Westbury Christian School

October 7

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 15

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 18

  • St. Francis Episcopal School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

October 22

  • Education Specialists, LLC

October 30

  • St. Francis Episcopal School

November 1

  • Westbury Christian School

November 4

  • Westbury Christian School

November 8

  • The John Cooper School
  • Presbyterian School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

November 12

  • Education Specialists, LLC

November 15

  • The Joy School

November 19

  • Education Specialists, LLC

​December to March Testing Period

December 6

  • The John Cooper School
  • The Kinkaid School**
  • St. John’s School
  • Westbury Christian School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

January 10

  • The John Cooper School
  • St. Francis Episcopal School
  • Westbury Christian School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

February 7

  • Westbury Christian School
  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

March 7

  • Westbury Christian School

March 21

  • The Woodlands Christian Academy

Author

  • Jane Isik

    Jane Isik is a manager at General Academic. She is a Houston native and a University of Houston graduate.

    View all posts