January 2021

A student learns how to shape a mold in her Winterim class Technology and Techniques For Prosthetic Design.

Our admission team takes great pride in crafting each Harpeth Hall class, and we value the diversity of experiences and interests each applicant brings. We look forward to considering your daughter in the context of her academic, personal, and community experiences.

One aspect of the application that can seem daunting is the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). Parents and students may wonder how much the ISEE weighs in the application review. The good news is the test is not everything. Let’s break it down with a glimpse into the work we do.

Most important to know: the ISEE is only one piece of Harpeth Hall’s holistic application review. The admission committee reviews the ISEE within the context of a student’s entire file including her application essay, interview, transcript, and teacher recommendation(s). Every applicant has the opportunity to help us identify her particular areas of strength, her unique interests and characteristics, and her ability to thrive in a challenging academic environment.

As educators, our admission committee is well versed in interpreting an applicant’s score report. When we consider a student’s ISEE scores, we keep several factors in mind:

No student is expected to know the answer to every question.
Students in multiple grades take each test level. For example, students currently in 4th and 5th grades take the Lower Level ISEE. Naturally, there will be material on the test that is unfamiliar to students.
Our expectations for student comprehension vary depending on when in the school year the test is taken.
A student’s scores are compared only to other independent school applicants who tested for the same grade during the past three years. Your student is not compared to students applying to a different grade who are taking the same level of the test.

We deeply appreciate the energy, care, and thought your family brings to this process. Every application tells an important story. We thank you for your sharing your daughter’s story with us and are eager to discover her talents and aspirations.