Admissions Process

Applications for the the 2026-2027 school year are open! See the information below to apply.

Need a change? We are still considering applications for the 2025-2026 school year on a rolling basis, with limited spaces available. Contact us at 310-643-7377 or email us at admissions@vistamarschool.org for more information.

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Applying to Vistamar

Vistamar uses the Standard Application Online (SAO)— to learn more about using the SAO and begin your application, click here.

Set up your account as a "Parent/Guardian" account in the SAO -- this webpage provides additional information on why you should set up your account in this manner.

Supporting Materials: For the 2025-2026 school year, all supporting materials must be received as soon as possible.

Testing: Vistamar School is test-preferred. Any family that would like to have their student take the ISEE or SSAT may submit those scores for consideration. Families that choose not to have standardized test scores considered will be asked to sit for Vistamar’s Virtual Writing Assessment (VWA).

Please feel free to contact us throughout the admission season if you have any questions about applying.

Email: admissions@vistamarschool.org or Phone: 310-643-7377

Application Process Steps

Step One: Submit the Inquiry Form

Future Applicants: Please fill out the online inquiry form. This step will add you and your family to our admissions database. It will let us know of your interests and ensures you receive important communications from the Admissions Office. Please note: If you have already completed the inquiry form, you are in our database and do not need to fill out the form again.

Step Two: Visit Vistamar

The best way to get to know Vistamar School is to visit our innovative campus and see for yourself what we are all about.

We offer in-person options to attend an Open House, a Discover Vistamar Day, a parent/guardian coffee or a shadow day during the fall admissions season. These events provide prospective students and parents the opportunity to learn more about Vistamar’s curriculum, faculty, administration, student life, college acceptances, athletics, extracurricular activities, and more. Information on these sessions is listed on the events page of our website.

Step Three: Apply Online

Vistamar School uses the Standard Application Online (SAO) To begin your application for the 2026-2027 school year, click here. Make sure to select "Vistamar School" from the school list.

While the deadline to submit an application for the 2025-26 academic year has passed, Vistamar School will consider applications beyond the deadline in Rolling Admissions. There are limited spaces remaining.

*There is a one-time application fee of $125. If you would like to request a fee waiver, more information is included below.

As mentioned above, please set up your SAO account as a "Parent/Guardian" account. See this webpage for more information.

The Character Skills Snapshot is not required as part of the application process. We will accept the report if a family chooses to submit it. Click here to submit the snapshot.

Step Four: Schedule Your VWA or Standardized Test

Vistamar School is test-prefered for students applying for fall 2026-2027 consideration. Applicant families are welcome to submit the ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT but are not required to do so. If you do elect to submit standardized test scores, all test results must come to Vistamar School directly from the testing company. We will not accept scores from an applicant’s family or consultant.

If a student elects to forgo taking any of the listed exams, they will be asked to sit for the Vistamar Writing Assessment (VWA). The VWA can be administered either online or in person.

Step Five: Supplemental Forms

In addition to the application, each student is required to submit transcripts and three letters of recommendation -- one from an Administrator, one from an English teacher, and one from a Math teacher. The standard recommendation forms that Vistamar and all members of the LAIS (Los Angeles Independent Schools) Consortium use are available below.

We will also accept the forms requested through your SAO portal.

These forms can be submitted between December 2024 and late-January 2025. For rolling admissions applications, please submit these forms as soon as you apply.

Step Six: Schedule Your Interview

After you have submitted your Student Profile, Parent Statement, and Student Essays on the SAO, we will contact you to set up an in-person or virtual interview with a member of the Vistamar Admissions Committee.

We will interview you and your parent(s) or guardian(s) on the same day. At least one parent or guardian is expected to attend the interview with you. Interviews typically last 45 minutes to an hour at Vistamar.

Rolling Admissions

Vistamar considers transfer applications for the next school year on a case-by case basis. Students applying for 2025-2026 during our Rolling Admissions phase (after the application deadline of January 24, 2025) are also considered on a case-by-case basis. Unfortunately, Moderated Tuition, our version of Financial Aid, is not available to families applying during this phase. Please email us for additional details.

Decision notification letters for the 2025-26 school year were emailed on March 14, 2025 to each candidate who completed their file.

Should you apply after the January 24, 2025 deadline, the Admission Committee will make decisions on a rolling basis depending on space availability.

Timeline for Fall 2026 Application Season

The application season runs from August 2025 - March 2026

Applications for the 2026-2027 school year opened on August 1, 2025.

Timing is below for the 2026-2027 application year.

Application Deadline	January 23, 2026
Admission Notification	March 13, 2026
Admission Response	March 20, 2026

Transfer Applicant Deadlines

Vistamar School is accepting transfer applications for the upcoming (2025-2026) school year on a limited basis. We have space in grades 9 and 10, with limited space in grades 11 and 12. The application deadline listed above for incoming 9th graders is the same for transfer students. Transfer students interested in Moderated Tuition will need to apply using Clarity, however, due to budget limitations, Moderated Tuition is offered to returning families and new 9th grade families who apply by the priority deadline. See details above.

Vistamar runs on a trimester system and students considering a mid-year entry should check with their school registrar to make sure they can receive quarter or trimester credit.

Rolling Admissions for Transfer Applicants

Please review the entry point dates and deadlines below. The steps to apply are in the center column.

Entry Point 1 - 2nd Trimester start, first week of December 2025

All applications and supplemental materials must be in no later than the first week in November.
Decisions rendered by mid-November.

Entry Point 2 - Midyear start, first week of January 2026

All applications and supplemental materials must be in no later than the first week of December.
Decisions rendered by mid-December.

Entry Point 3 - 3rd Trimester start, mid-March 2026

All applications and supplemental materials must be in no later than mid-February.
Decisions rendered late-February.

Admission Testing Information

We have extended our current test optional policy to applicants for fall 2026 and rolling admissions applicants. Any family that would like to take the ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT may submit those scores for consideration. Families that choose not to have standardized test scores considered can sit for Vistamar’s Virtual Writing Assessment.

If students wish to have standardized test scores considered, applicants for grade 9 and 10 can submit either the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) or SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test). For students taking the HSPT, we will accept those scores as well. Applicants to grade 11 can submit their the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) results.

Fees associated with each test (aside from Vistamar's Virtual Writing Assessment) are directly determined by the test administrator. If you need assistance paying for a test please email admissions@vistamarschool.org

All test results, should you choose to sit for a test, must come to Vistamar School directly from the testing company. We will not accept scores from an applicant’s family or consultant.

The standardized test results are just one factor we consider in gaining a clear academic picture of each applicant. If your student takes the test more than once, we hope you will send us all of the results as more data helps us make an even more informed admissions decision.

Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)
You can register with Educational Records Bureau (ERB) online at www.iseetest.org to take the test.

Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT)

When registering online to take the exam, make sure to list our school code, “7976.” You can register with the Enrollment Management Association (EMA) online at www.ssat.org .

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)

Vistamar requires that each 10th and 11th grade applicant who has taken the PSAT report their scores to Vistamar. If a student has not taken the PSAT, they can submit the ISEE, SSAT, or sit for Vistamar’s Written Assessment.

Supplemental Forms

In addition to the application, each applicant is required to submit their transcripts and letters of recommendation. Recommendations can be returned via:

EMAIL: (preferred): As a PDF file ONLY to admissions@vistamarschool.org
MAIL: Vistamar School, "Attention Admissions, " 737 Hawaii Street, El Segundo, CA 90245
FAX: 310-643-7371

Supplemental Q&A's:

Should I also fill out the personal recommendation? The Vistamar School Personal Recommendation is optional
Who can fill out my administrative recommendation? This recommendation can be completed by a principal/head of school, vice-principal/assistant head, (academic) dean or advisor.
What should I do if my school will not fill out recommendation forms? Please contact the Admissions Office via email: admissions@vistamarschool.org and plan to submit Vistamar School's Personal Recommendation form.

Form Downloads

Admissions FAQs

How do I sign up for a Discover Vistamar (Visit and Shadow) Day?

Does Vistamar have support for students with Learning Profiles?

Applicants currently receiving or anticipate to receive educational support from Vistamar School need to email current (within the last 3 - 5 years) pertinent educational or neuropsychological testing to admissions@vistamarschool.org. The testing should document a diagnosis with corresponding accommodations.

We offer the accommodations of 50% extended time as well as use of a laptop for notes and in-class essays based on a documented diagnosis with designated accommodations.

Can I submit my application and supplemental forms early?

Yes. We encourage students and families to submit their application as early as September 2024 prior to the mid-January 2025 priority deadline.

Supplemental Forms from the student’s current school, however, are not due until late-January, 2025. We will accept those forms as early as December 1, 2024.

We recommend these forms be submitted to us as close to January 31st as possible so we can have the most recent and up-to-date information regarding the student. Once we have received all the pieces of an application, we can begin the evaluation process.

How do I apply for Moderated Tuition (Financial Aid)?

We at Vistamar are deeply committed to working with qualified students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to assist with tuition costs. To do this, we’ve developed a robust, need-based program we call Moderated Tuition. Many schools refer to these programs as financial aid, but Vistamar’s program is preferable because it serves a wider variety of family circumstances including families who have moderate need. Click here to read more.

Is an Admission Interview Required?

Yes. After your online application has been submitted, we will contact you to set up an interview with a member of the Vistamar Admissions Committee.

Interviews will be held from October through Mid- February. You and your parent(s) or guardian(s) will be interviewed individually on the same day. At least one parent or guardian is expected to attend the interview with you and you can plan on spending no more than one hour at Vistamar.

Does Vistamar School have a bus or transportation service?

YES.

Here are the key details about our transportation service:

Our program serves families who come from areas such as Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, West LA, Palms, Torrance/Palos Verdes, Inglewood, Fox Hills, and Long Beach.

Families are responsible for covering the cost of transportation one-way or round trip.

Vistamar partners with families who are participating in Moderated Tuition on an individual basis to help make the program affordable.

For more information about the transportation service, click here

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