St. Agnes Academy Memphis admissions for 9th grade runs through one required test: the ISEE Upper Level. Most families I work with don't realize how much that single score affects not just whether their daughter gets in, but what classes she starts in and whether she qualifies for merit scholarships. This guide covers every piece of the SAA application — deadlines, score targets, the two-attempt testing strategy, essay expectations, and a prep timeline built for 8th graders aiming for the Class of 2027.
St. Agnes Academy ISEE Upper Level: Fast Facts for the 2027 Entry Cycle
- Test required: ISEE Upper Level (administered by ERB)
- SAA school code: Verify at st-agnes.org each cycle — ERB codes can change
- On-campus test date: Historically mid-November or mid-January — verify annually at st-agnes.org
- ISEE registration opens: August 1 each year through ERB at erblearn.org
- Application deadline: December 15 (priority); seat reservation required by December 31
- Teacher recommendation forms due: January 15 (English teacher + Math teacher)
- Decisions released: Mid-February for December applicants; rolling thereafter
- Enrollment contract due: March 1
- Application fee: $75 (online)
- Test format: 4 scored multiple-choice sections + 1 unscored essay (choice of 2 prompts); approximately 2 hours 50 minutes of testing time
- No calculator permitted; no penalty for wrong answers
- Transcripts reviewed: 6th grade, 7th grade, and first semester of 8th grade
Does St. Agnes Academy Memphis Require the ISEE Upper Level — or Will Another Test Work?
St. Agnes Academy accepts the ISEE Upper Level for all 9th grade applicants from public and independent schools. No other standardized test — not the HSPT, not the SSAT, not the PSAT 8/9 — substitutes for the ISEE in this admissions process.
There is one exception worth knowing about. If your daughter currently attends a parochial school, she may be able to submit Pre-ACT 8/9 scores instead. Confirm this directly with the SAA admissions office before you register for anything, because the eligibility rule depends on the school your daughter attends now — not the school she is leaving.
For the large majority of Memphis-area 8th graders applying from public middle schools or independent schools, the ISEE Upper Level is the only path. Register through ERB at erblearn.org, and enter the SAA school code when registering — verify that code at st-agnes.org each cycle, since ERB codes can change year to year.
The ISEE Upper Level covers four scored sections: Verbal Reasoning (40 questions, 20 minutes), Quantitative Reasoning (37 questions, 35 minutes), Reading Comprehension (36 questions, 35 minutes), and Mathematics Achievement (47 questions, 40 minutes). A 30-minute unscored essay — with a choice between two prompts — closes the exam. Total testing time is approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, plus two short breaks.
The Two-Attempt Strategy for St. Agnes Academy ISEE Upper Level Prep
St. Agnes Academy accepts up to 2 ISEE results per applicant. Most Memphis families don't know this until it's too late to plan around it.
ERB requires the first exam be completed before December 1 if your daughter intends to sit twice. That makes October or early November the target window for a first attempt. After that sitting, she reviews her score report, identifies the sections where she lost the most ground, and focuses the remaining weeks of prep on those specific areas before a second attempt.
Both score reports go to St. Agnes. Admissions sees both. There is no superscore — the school reviews each full report separately. A clear improvement from attempt one to attempt two can actually work in your daughter's favor: it shows she identified a weakness, worked on it, and raised her score. That is exactly the kind of academic persistence SAA's holistic review is designed to recognize.
Treating the two-attempt window as a deliberate strategy — rather than a backup plan — is one of the clearest advantages available to SAA applicants. Use it on purpose.
ISEE Upper Level Score Targets for St. Agnes Academy Memphis
St. Agnes does not publish a minimum cutoff score. Admissions is holistic, meaning your daughter's ISEE results are weighed alongside her 6th, 7th, and first-semester 8th grade transcripts, two teacher recommendation forms, and the overall student application.
That said, stanine scores give you the most actionable target to prep toward. The ISEE stanine scale runs from 1 to 9. A stanine of 5 is on-grade-level average. Community-observed data from competitive Catholic all-girls schools in this region suggests entering classes typically post stanines of 6 to 8 across all four scored sections.
I've seen the biggest admissions and placement impact come from stanine gains in Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement. These two sections test multi-step word problems, quantitative comparisons, and applied reasoning — not just computation. A stanine of 7 or above in those sections also positions your daughter for direct Honors math placement in 9th grade, which matters for how quickly she can access AP-level coursework.
Scaled scores on the ISEE run from 760 to 940 per section. Percentile ranks compare your daughter against same-grade students who tested in the prior three years. A percentile rank of 70 or above in each section is a reasonable competitive baseline for SAA applicants.
St. Agnes Academy ISEE Scholarships: Why Your Score Is Also a Financial Decision
St. Agnes Academy explicitly states that high ISEE scores make incoming freshmen eligible for merit scholarship consideration. A strong test result is not just an admissions ticket — it can reduce your tuition cost for all four years of high school.
The school does not publish a stanine threshold for scholarship eligibility. Based on community-observed data, a reasonable target is stanine 7 or above across multiple sections — particularly in Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement, where score differentiation among applicants tends to be greatest.
Scholarship applications and financial aid at SAA run on their own timelines, separate from the admissions decision that comes in mid-February. Review the financial aid section at st-agnes.org alongside the standard admissions calendar. The practical point: every stanine point your daughter gains in ISEE prep has a financial dimension, not just an academic one.
How to Prep for the ISEE Upper Level for St. Agnes Academy: STEM Sections and the Essay
Most Memphis families focus all their prep time on math drills. That is necessary — but it is not enough. St. Agnes admissions reads the ISEE essay for every single applicant as part of holistic review. The essay is unscored by ERB, but it is sent directly to SAA admissions. Students are given a choice between two prompts and have 30 minutes to respond in writing.
The Dominican Sisters of Peace mission that shapes St. Agnes places a real emphasis on intellectual inquiry, ethical reasoning, and articulate communication. Your daughter's timed essay is the one moment in her entire application where her voice appears without a teacher's interpretation or a grade attached to it. Admissions staff read for clear organization, the ability to take a position and defend it with specific examples, and writing fluency under pressure.
For Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement, the most effective prep mirrors what the test actually asks: no-calculator multi-step problems, quantitative comparisons that require estimation and logic rather than algorithm-following, and data interpretation. I've watched students improve their stanine scores by 1 to 2 points in six to eight weeks of focused section-specific practice. That jump can move a student from College Prep placement to Honors placement — and into scholarship eligibility range.
STEM Critical Thinking practice tests are built around the exact problem types the ISEE rewards in those two sections. And our Essay Writing Practice Tests give your daughter timed, single-prompt reps with the same 30-minute constraint she will face on test day.
St. Agnes Academy 9th Grade Application: Transcripts, Teacher Recs, and Deadlines
The ISEE score is one component of a multi-part application. Here is what St. Agnes reviews alongside it.
- Transcripts: 6th grade, 7th grade, and first semester of 8th grade. A consistent pattern of strong academic performance is typical of entering SAA classes.
- Teacher recommendations: Two forms — one from your daughter's 8th grade English teacher and one from her 8th grade Math teacher. Both are due January 15. Request these forms early in the fall; teachers at good middle schools have long recommendation queues starting in October.
- Student application: Online, $75 fee, priority deadline December 15.
- Seat reservation: Your daughter's ISEE exam must be scheduled — seat reserved — by December 31, even if the actual test date falls in January.
- Work habits and personal profile: Reviewed as part of the overall holistic application.
Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis, but the December 15 priority deadline is the window that guarantees a mid-February decision. Applications submitted after December 15 are reviewed on a space-available basis. At a school with consistent enrollment demand, that is a real risk. Submit everything before the priority deadline.
Once admitted, your daughter receives an enrollment contract due by March 1. An incoming freshman orientation — has historically been held in March — gives new students a chance to meet the community before summer. Verify current-year orientation details at st-agnes.org, since the format and timing can shift between cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions: St. Agnes Academy Memphis ISEE Upper Level Admissions
Q: Does St. Agnes Academy require the ISEE Upper Level for 9th grade entry?
A: Yes. St. Agnes Academy Memphis requires the ISEE Upper Level for most rising freshmen. Students from public or independent schools must take the ISEE — no other standardized test substitutes for it. Students currently attending a parochial school may be able to submit Pre-ACT 8/9 scores instead. Confirm this option directly with the SAA admissions office before you register, since eligibility depends on your daughter's current school, not the school she is leaving.
Q: Can my daughter take the ISEE twice for St. Agnes Academy?
A: Yes. SAA accepts up to 2 ISEE results per applicant. The first exam must be completed before December 1 per ERB policy — making October or early November the target window for a first attempt. Both full score reports go to St. Agnes; neither is withheld, and there is no superscore combining best sections. A visible, meaningful improvement from attempt one to attempt two can reflect well on your daughter's preparation and persistence during holistic review.
Q: Do high ISEE scores help with scholarships at St. Agnes Academy?
A: Yes. St. Agnes explicitly states that high ISEE scores make incoming freshmen eligible for merit scholarship consideration. The school does not publish a minimum stanine threshold, but community-observed data suggests stanine scores of 7 or higher across multiple sections — particularly in Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement — strengthen a scholarship application. Your ISEE prep is both an admissions strategy and a four-year tuition planning strategy.
Q: When should we start ISEE Upper Level prep for St. Agnes Academy?
A: Most competitive Memphis families start ISEE Upper Level prep 3 to 6 months before their target test date. For the SAA on-campus November exam, that means starting no later than August of 8th grade. If your daughter plans to test twice — with the first sitting before December 1 — start structured prep in June or July. That gives her time to take the first exam, review her score report section by section, and focus remaining practice on her specific weak areas before the second attempt.
Q: What ISEE stanine score does St. Agnes Academy typically expect?
A: No official minimum stanine is published. Community-observed data from competitive Catholic all-girls schools in this region suggests entering classes typically post stanines of 6 to 8 across all four scored sections. A stanine of 7 or above in Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement supports direct placement into Honors-track math in 9th grade — which shapes how quickly your daughter can access AP coursework in later years.
Q: Does the ISEE essay matter for St. Agnes Academy admissions?
A: ERB does not score the ISEE essay, but St. Agnes reads every essay as part of its holistic review. Students choose between two prompts and have 30 minutes to respond in handwriting. The Dominican Sisters of Peace mission values intellectual inquiry and clear ethical reasoning — qualities your daughter can demonstrate even in a timed response. Admissions staff evaluate organization, argument quality, and voice. A weak or off-topic essay can undercut an otherwise strong application, especially when several applicants post similar stanine scores.
Q: How does the ISEE score affect freshman course placement at St. Agnes?
A: St. Agnes uses ISEE section scores alongside 7th and 8th grade transcripts to place incoming freshmen in Honors, AP-track, or College Prep courses before the first day of class. A strong stanine in Mathematics Achievement can place your daughter directly into Honors math in 9th grade, accelerating her path to AP coursework by 10th or 11th grade. The ISEE shapes her entire first-year academic trajectory — not just her admission to the school.
Q: When is the on-campus ISEE date at St. Agnes, and how do I register?
A: St. Agnes hosts an on-campus ISEE testing date that has historically fallen in mid-November or mid-January — the exact date shifts each year. ISEE registration opens August 1 through ERB at erblearn.org. Enter the SAA school code when registering so scores route directly to admissions; verify the current school code at st-agnes.org or by calling the admissions office, since ERB codes can change between cycles. Students may also test at any ERB-approved site if the campus date does not work with your schedule.
Get Your Daughter Ready for St. Agnes Academy Memphis ISEE Admissions
The two sections that carry the most weight in SAA admissions and placement decisions are Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement. I've seen students gain 1 to 2 stanine points in six to eight weeks when they practice with timed, no-calculator problems that actually match what the ISEE asks — not just textbook math review.
At stemcriticalthinking.com, our STEM Critical Thinking Practice Tests are built around the multi-step word problems, quantitative comparisons, and data interpretation questions that the ISEE Upper Level rewards with high stanine scores. These are the problem types that unlock Honors placement and move your daughter into scholarship eligibility range at St. Agnes Academy.
And because SAA admissions reads every ISEE essay, our Essay Writing Practice Tests give your daughter timed, single-prompt argumentative writing practice — with the same 30-minute constraint she will face on test day. Timed reps in the weeks before the exam build the kind of calm that a one-time practice session never does.
Your daughter has one application window for the SAA Class of 2027. Cover both parts of what St. Agnes actually evaluates.
