If your child is in eighth grade and Harker is on your list, the application for fall 2027 comes down to one date: January 5, 2027. This guide walks through what Harker asks for in Grade 9 entry, in the order most families will meet it. Everything below comes from Harker's own admission pages, which we link at the end. Harker updates those pages, so check them before you act.
Start with the entry point
Grade 9 is one of Harker's main entry points. Harker says it admits about 50 to 55 students into Grade 9. It also accepts applications for other grades, except Grade 12, and offers enrollment as spaces open. Harker enrolls new students only in the fall. It does not take mid-year transfers, and an offer of admission cannot be deferred to the next year. If you decline, you may reapply the following year.
Every family applies through Ravenna, Harker's online portal. Application and event registration open September 1. The application fee is $100 and nonrefundable, with a fee waiver for families applying for financial aid.
What goes into the file
For Upper School entry, Harker lists these parts.
- A student essay and a list of activities and interests. Harker describes these, along with the interview and activity session, as a way to see "the authentic you." Your student should write them, in their own words.
- An interview and activity session. Harker's pages confirm this is part of the Upper School file. They do not say the date, length or format, so register in Ravenna and watch for the details there.
- A parent video. Families record a short video through a video platform linked from Ravenna. The exact questions are shown inside the application, so we cannot tell you what they are.
- Three recommendation forms. Harker asks for the current English teacher, math teacher, and principal or counselor. Harker says these are the only three it accepts, so a coach or club advisor will not substitute.
- Entrance exam scores. Harker accepts the ISEE or the SSAT. The next section covers this one in detail.
- School records. These must come directly from your child's school through Ravenna: a first-semester or trimester grade report from 2026-27 and full-year transcripts from 2025-26. Quarter grades do not count.
Harker also points to an Upper School application checklist for exam requirements, so read that checklist alongside this guide.
Testing: the ISEE or SSAT
Harker takes scores from either the ISEE or the SSAT. Your student should take the exam after August 1, 2026, and the scores need to reach Harker by January 5, 2027. Harker considers only the first set of scores it receives, so choose one test and one sitting. Harker lists school codes for sending scores: 054148 for the ISEE and 3711 for the SSAT. Check these against the live page before you register.
What does Harker do with the score? It says readers review every application first without seeing test scores. Results are one part of the file and are "not valued more than other components like interests, character and love of learning." Harker also says very high scores will not guarantee admission and that it accepts a range of scores. It does not publish a minimum or a typical score.
On preparation, Harker is direct. It strongly discourages enrolling in a test prep program or spending excessive time preparing. Its advice is to get familiar with the exam through the test organization's website and sample test, then sleep well and eat breakfast. If your family has been told otherwise, ask Harker's admission office at admission@harker.org.
How Harker decides
Harker says its committee takes a holistic view, and that no single piece decides the outcome. It looks at academic and non-academic factors, including character and a wish to take part in the community. Harker notes that new students arrive from more than 100 different schools, and that it does not prefer applicants from heavily academic feeder schools. It also says it considers the commitment of families, alumni and faculty or staff who want their children to attend.
Harker does not publish how many students apply or its admit rate. Be wary of any site that quotes one without a Harker source.
Events: how many should you attend?
Harker recommends attending at least one admission event, and says attending more is welcome but will not affect how your application is evaluated. For the Upper School, the events listed are an October overview held online, a November open house on campus, a student campus visit from September to November, campus tours from September to December, and a November parent panel online. A financial aid information session is held in December. Registration in Ravenna is required, and exact dates appear there once registration opens.
The dates to put on your calendar
| Date | What happens | | --- | --- | | September 1 | Application and event registration open | | January 5, 2027 | Application deadline, including exam scores and financial aid documents | | March 12, 2027, 4 p.m. | Decisions released in Ravenna | | March 19, 2027, noon | Signed contract and deposit due | | June 15, 2027 | Tuition balance due |
Decisions come in three forms. An acceptance invites you to enroll. A wait pool placement means your child meets Harker's qualifications but no space is open; the pool is not ranked, and it does not carry into the next year. A regret means Harker is not the right fit at this time, and your child can apply again for a later grade.
A simple plan
In September, open your Ravenna account and register for one event. By October, ask the three teachers for recommendations and give them the deadline in writing. Choose the ISEE or the SSAT and book the exam with room to retake in case of illness, remembering that Harker uses only the first scores. In November and December, let your student draft the essay and the activities list, and plan the parent video as a family. Early in January, check Ravenna that every item shows as received.
Where to go next
If you want a second set of eyes on your student's plan, the EduAvenues high school admissions page explains how we help families with private school applications. Questions that only Harker can answer, such as the interview format or video prompts, belong with the admission office.
Sources
HarkerPrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Harker School.