How to Get Into Eastside Catholic School: A Guide for Prospective Families

Admission tips from Cardinal Education’s Seattle-area private school admissions consultants.

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Quick Answer for Busy Parents

Getting into Eastside Catholic School takes a genuinely well-rounded application: solid academics, a required entrance exam (ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT), a strong student interview, and evidence of character and service that fit the school’s Catholic, community-oriented identity.

Because a large share of each incoming 9th-grade class already comes up through Eastside Catholic’s own middle school, outside applicants at that entry point are often competing for a smaller number of open seats than the school’s overall size suggests. Families who apply early, in the September, February window, and who present a specific, well-documented picture of who their child is, not just a resume, tend to fare best.

Why Do Families Choose Eastside Catholic School?

Founded in 1980 by a group of parents who wanted a Catholic college-preparatory option on Seattle’s Eastside, Eastside Catholic moved to its current 50-acre Sammamish campus in 2008 and now serves more than 800 students in grades 6 through 12. Families are drawn to the combination of academic rigor, including AP coursework and a dual-enrollment partnership with the University of Washington, and a faith-based culture built around service and leadership rather than pure competition.

Eastside Catholic is also home to the Options Program, an inclusive special education initiative that integrates high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities into the mainstream school community through peer mentorship. It’s a distinctive feature that shapes the broader campus culture, and Niche currently ranks Eastside Catholic #3 among Catholic high schools in Washington and 15th out of 411 Washington high schools for athletes.

Eastside Catholic School At a Glance

Academic Snapshot

Eastside Catholic is accredited by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) and approved as a Catholic school by the Archdiocese of Seattle. The school also holds membership in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS), and the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE).

How Hard Is It to Get Into Eastside Catholic School?

Eastside Catholic does not publish an official acceptance rate, and estimates from third-party aggregator sites vary too widely to be reliable. What families can count on is this: because Eastside Catholic promotes most of its own middle schoolers into 9th grade, the number of seats genuinely open to outside high school applicants is often smaller than the school’s overall enrollment would suggest, and 9th grade is typically the most contested external entry point.

The admissions committee runs a holistic review, weighing transcripts and entrance exam scores alongside interviews, essays, and recommendation forms. Families most often compare Eastside Catholic against other Eastside-area independent and Catholic options such as Eastside Preparatory School, Bellevue Christian School, and other Seattle-area Catholic high schools.

Top Tips for Getting Into Eastside Catholic School

• Apply early. Submitting well ahead of the February 1 deadline — especially before the school’s Open Houses in October and November — signals genuine interest and gets your file reviewed before space tightens.
• Showcase service. Given the school’s Catholic identity, highlight consistent, meaningful community service or leadership roles.
• Demonstrate fit. Speak directly to how your family aligns with Eastside Catholic’s combination of academic rigor, faith, and community.

Best Practices for Prospective Families

• Attend a “Crusader for a Day” shadow visit so your child experiences the campus culture firsthand and completes their interview in a comfortable setting.
• Attend an Open House or Parent-to-Parent Gathering to build a genuine, sustained connection with the community before applying.
• Prepare your child’s current teachers with context well ahead of the Teacher Evaluation deadline so their forms are detailed, not generic.

Common Questions Parents Ask About Eastside Catholic’s Admissions

Does Eastside Catholic require an entrance exam?

Yes. Every applicant must submit scores from one of three accepted exams: the ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT.

Do we need to be Catholic to attend?

No. Eastside Catholic welcomes students of all faith traditions, though every student takes religious studies courses and attends school Masses.

Are there sibling or legacy advantages?

Sibling and legacy connections are considered, but only after academic and character factors have been evaluated, they are not a guarantee of admission.

Can international students apply?

Yes. International applicants must demonstrate advanced English proficiency, though tuition assistance is not available to international students.

The Eastside Catholic School Admissions Process

1. Submit the Preliminary Application. Create an account in the Finalsite Enrollment portal, complete the initial demographic forms, and pay the non-refundable $50 application fee.
2. Complete the Student Essay. Your child answers the provided essay questions as part of the online application.
3. Schedule the Student Interview. Book a “Crusader for a Day” visit or a standalone virtual or in-person interview.
4. Register for an Entrance Exam. Sign up for the ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT and have official scores sent directly to the school.
5. Request Teacher Evaluations. Delegate confidential evaluation forms to current teachers, ideally 4–6 weeks before the deadline.
6. Submit the Confidential School Report and Transcripts. Your student’s current school submits records from the current year and prior two academic years.

Eastside Catholic’s Admissions Calendar

Eastside Catholic School Admission Requirements

Enrolling at Eastside Catholic involves several distinct pieces, each designed to help the admissions committee see the applicant beyond a transcript and test score.

Parent Statement

The parent statement is your opportunity to contextualize your child’s life, highlight strengths that don’t show up on a transcript, and explain any academic anomalies. Eastside Catholic wants to partner with engaged parents who understand its mission, vivid, specific storytelling works far better than a restated resume, and emphasizing your family’s commitment to service and spiritual or ethical growth tends to resonate.

Teacher Evaluation Form vs. Confidential School Report

Eastside Catholic requires two distinct pieces of third-party input, and it’s easy to conflate them. The table below breaks down how they differ.

Transcript

Eastside Catholic requests records from the current year and the previous two years to assess academic trajectory, looking for consistent A/B performance in core subjects and evidence the student is appropriately challenging themselves. A minor dip isn’t automatically disqualifying, but it helps to show a clear upward trend heading into the application.

Student Essay

This is often a student’s first experience with high-stakes reflective writing. Eastside Catholic wants authenticity and self-awareness over polish — a genuine, specific story beats an essay that tries to sound impressive.

Entrance Exam

One entrance exam is required for admission, merit-based scholarship consideration, and class placement. Eastside Catholic accepts the ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT; there is no publicly stated minimum score, but strong results validate a strong transcript and can support placement in Honors or AP tracks.

Student Interview

Typically completed during a “Crusader for a Day” visit, though standalone virtual or in-person interviews can be arranged. Admissions officers ask about favorite subjects, books, extracurricular passions, and how the student handles adversity, they’re listening for genuine engagement, not rehearsed answers.

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Common Questions About Interviews & Campus Visits

Is the interview a deciding factor?

No single element decides admission on its own, but a strongly positive or negative interview can meaningfully sway the committee.

What if my child is naturally shy?

Admissions officers are trained to draw out quieter students, they’re looking for genuine engagement and thoughtfulness, not extroversion.

Do parents get interviewed too?

Parent conversations are often part of the process, formally or informally, as the school is also assessing mission fit and partnership.

How long does a Crusader for a Day visit last?

A typical shadow day runs through the morning and includes lunch, wrapping up in the early afternoon.

What Is Student Life Like at Eastside Catholic School?

The campus culture centers on what the school calls its “Touchstones”, servant leadership, mutual respect, and high expectations. Because middle and high schoolers share a campus, there’s a strong sense of continuity and mentorship between grades. Faith is present in daily life through theology classes, all-school Masses, and campus ministry, in a way the school describes as inviting rather than dogmatic. High schoolers complete 100 hours of community service over four years (25 per year) as a graduation requirement.

Academics

High schoolers have access to more than 40 Honors and AP courses, from AP Calculus BC to AP Art History. Eastside Catholic’s partnership with the University of Washington, “UW in the High School”, lets students earn official UW credit in subjects like math and world languages without leaving campus, alongside a Seattle University Matteo Ricci dual-credit humanities option.

Activities & Clubs

Dozens of student-led clubs give students room to explore beyond academics. Competitive academic clubs include Robotics, Model United Nations, and DECA, which regularly send students to state and national competitions. Affinity and cultural groups, including an Asian Heritage affinity group, a National Chinese Honor Society chapter, and a Black Student Union, sit alongside service organizations tied to campus ministry that run food drives and community tutoring.

Athletics

Eastside Catholic fields one of the stronger athletic programs in Washington State, competing in the Metro League and regularly contending for state titles, particularly in football and basketball, including back-to-back 3A state football championships in 2018 and 2019. Niche currently ranks the school 15th out of 411 Washington high schools for athletes overall, and 5th out of 97 within King County specifically.

Middle School athletics run on a smaller scale, with 5 sports currently offered: Cross Country, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, and Track.

Arts

The visual and performing arts program includes studio art, ceramics, photography, graphic design, and AP Studio Art, alongside concert band, jazz band, choir, and orchestra. The theater program stages dramatic plays in the fall and full musical productions in the spring, with real opportunities in lighting, sound, and stage management for students who don’t want to be on stage.

Summer Programs

Eastside Catholic runs a summer program for current and prospective students; families can find current session offerings and dates directly on the school’s site.

Eastside Catholic School Famous Alumni

1. J.T. Tuimoloau: A dominant defensive end who led EC to back-to-back 3A state football championships. A five-star recruit, he went on to win a national championship at Ohio State before the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round (45th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.
2. Gee Scott Jr.: A four-star recruit at Eastside Catholic who converted from receiver to tight end at Ohio State, winning a national championship in 2024. He signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent, spent time with the Washington Commanders and the UFL’s Columbus Aviators, and signed with the New York Jets in June 2026.
3. Hunter Bryant: A four-star tight end who helped EC to back-to-back state titles before starring at the University of Washington, where he earned first-team All-American honors. He played one NFL season with the Detroit Lions and now serves as team chaplain for the UW football program.
4. Matt Boyd: An Eastside Catholic pitcher who went on to a long MLB career, most recently with the Chicago Cubs. He earned his first All-Star selection in 2025 and was named to Team USA’s roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Considering Eastside Catholic School?

The single hardest thing about Eastside Catholic’s process isn’t any one requirement; it’s the timing squeeze created by how many seats are already filled by the school’s own middle schoolers before outside applications are even reviewed. That makes an early, well-prepared file more valuable here than at schools with open enrollment at every grade level. Our admissions consultants help families build a Confidential School Report and Teacher Evaluation strategy around a child’s real strengths, prepare for whichever entrance exam fits their testing style, and apply with enough lead time to make a difference.

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• Eastside Catholic School Athletics: An Insider’s Guide to the Crusaders
• HSPT Prep for Eastside Catholic School: Best Guide to Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions

Cardinal Education completely helped us in the testing and essays process, giving our son the exact confidence he needed. He was accepted to Eastside Catholic School, and we couldn’t be more grateful!

— Parent of an 8th grader