Lick-Wilmerding High School Admissions Consulting
A Test-Free, AP-Free Independent Day School in San Francisco Built Around “Head, Heart, and Hands”
Cardinal Education is an independent educational consulting company. We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any private or public school, including Lick-Wilmerding High School.
As Seen On
About the School
About Lick-Wilmerding High School
Lick-Wilmerding High School is a nonsectarian, independent day school in San Francisco, serving grades 9 through 12. Founded in 1895 as the California School of Mechanical Arts through a trust from James Lick, the school later merged with the Wilmerding School of Industrial Arts and the Lux School for Industrial Training, moving to its current Ocean Avenue campus in 1956. LWHS describes itself as “a private school with public purpose,” developing the head, heart, and hands of its students. The school does not offer AP courses by design and has adopted a Test-Free Policy, meaning no ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT is required or considered for admission.
Fast Facts
Location
755 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112
Type
Private, Nonsectarian, Independent Day School
Grades
9-12
Total Enrollment
560 students (~140 per 9th grade class)
Average Class Size
17
Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
College Enrollment
98-100% attend four-year colleges or universities each year
Application Deadline
January 5, 2027, 11:59 PM
Beyond the Numbers
Advanced Coursework
No AP courses by design; a 1-to-1 laptop program in Grades 4-6 feeds into a rigorous high school STEAM curriculum.
College Counseling
A dedicated college counseling team supports every student
Sports Offered
13 interscholastic sports (plus a Flag Football club), 42 teams
Student Demographics
73% of students identify as students of color
Accreditation
WASC accredited; NAIS, NACAC, and POCIS member
LWHS’s accreditation and its 13 competitive sports are both worth understanding before applying, alongside the academic program itself. For a complete, step-by-step breakdown of the admissions process and student life, see our Ultimate Admissions Guide for Lick-Wilmerding High School.
Lick-Wilmerding’s Admissions Calendar and Events
Application Opens
Late August 2026 (Ravenna access opens)
Application Deadline
January 5, 2027, 11:59 PM (Parts I & II, including the $100 fee)
Recommendation Request Deadline
January 5, 2027
7th/8th Grade Transcripts Due
January 22, 2027
Decisions Mailed
March 11, 2027
Decisions Available on Ravenna
March 12, 2027, after 4:00 PM
Enrollment Agreements Due
March 18-19, 2027
Open House (1)
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 1:00-4:30 PM (in-person)
Open House (2)
Saturday, October 3, 2026, 1:00-4:30 PM (in-person)
Open House (3)
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1:00-4:30 PM (in-person)
Casa Abierta (en español)
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 10:00-11:30 AM (in-person, conducted in Spanish)
Shadow Visit Registration (Round 1)
Opens August 26, 2026, after 6:30 PM (for visits between September 8-October 29)
Shadow Visit Registration (Round 2)
Opens October 14, 2026, after 6:30 PM (for visits between November 2-December 3)
LWHS also runs in-person Open Houses and shadow visit registration windows each fall.
What Makes Lick-Wilmerding’s Admissions Process Unique?
LWHS does not require or consider the ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT under its Test-Free Policy, and it offers zero AP courses by design, a genuinely unusual combination for a school this academically rigorous. In place of a test score, every applicant completes a required “Cub Conversation,” an informal, unscored conversation with an LWHS faculty or staff member. Combined with three separate recommendation letters and two full application parts, the file leans almost entirely on records, recommendations, and real conversation rather than a single benchmark number.
Top Tips for Applying
- Don’t look for a test to prepare for; LWHS’s Test-Free Policy means the ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT are not considered even if submitted.
- Request your three recommendation letters (Principal/Counselor, 8th grade English, 8th grade Math) by early November, well before the January 5 delegation deadline.
- Register for the required Cub Conversation as soon as Ravenna access opens in late August.
Best Practices for Families
- Attend an Open House or register for a shadow visit before finalizing your application materials.
- Submit 7th and 8th grade transcripts via the signed Transcript Release Form well before the January 22 deadline.
- Treat the Cub Conversation as a genuine, low-pressure conversation; no preparation is required or expected.
What the Lick-Wilmerding Application Requires
To apply to Lick-Wilmerding, you will need to submit the following:
- 01Testing Policy
LWHS has adopted a Test-Free Policy. No ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT is required, and none will be considered even if submitted.
- 02Recommendations
Three required forms: a Principal/Counselor Recommendation, an 8th Grade English Teacher Recommendation, and an 8th Grade Math Teacher Recommendation, delegated through Ravenna by January 5, 2027.
- 03Transcripts
Applicants submit 7th and 8th grade transcripts via a signed Transcript Release Form, uploaded to Ravenna by January 22, 2027.
- 04Interviews
Every applicant completes a required “Cub Conversation,” an informal interview with an LWHS faculty or staff member. No preparation is required, and sessions are offered weekday afternoons from September through January.
Apply to LWHS with the Best Consultant in San Francisco
Because LWHS evaluates applicants without any standardized tests and without AP courses to differentiate a transcript, the strength of an application often comes down to the recommendation letters, the transcript itself, and how a student presents in the Cub Conversation. Cardinal Education’s consultants help families choose the right recommenders, prepare thoughtfully for the Cub Conversation, and manage every deadline in between.
Asian American families should also see our dedicated guide to Lick-Wilmerding admissions for Asian American families.
“Cardinal Education really understood how competitive and specific Lick-Wilmerding’s admissions process is, and their guidance made all the difference. We’re so grateful they helped our daughter get into a school that truly fits who our family is.”— A Lick-Wilmerding parent
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lick-Wilmerding require the ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT?
Does Lick-Wilmerding offer AP courses?
What is Lick-Wilmerding’s acceptance rate?
How big is the Asian American population at Lick-Wilmerding?
Is an interview required to apply to Lick-Wilmerding?
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