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Everything Families Need to Know About Applying to This PreK–12 Day School in Addison, TX.
Quick Answer for Busy Parents
Greenhill School is a selective, nonsectarian, PreK–12 day school in Addison, Texas, serving approximately 1,400 students with a 5:1 student-teacher ratio and an acceptance rate of approximately 25%. Testing requirements scale by division: PreK through 1st grade applicants complete the CATS assessment, while Grades 5–12 applicants submit ISEE scores. Admission is need-blind, with no merit or athletic scholarships. Regular admission deadlines generally fall in December and January, with late applications accepted on a rolling basis through March.
Why Do Families Choose Greenhill School?
Founded in 1950 by Bernard Fulton, Greenhill School was the first co-educational, non-denominational PreK–12 school in Dallas. Greenhill is currently led by Head of School Lee Hark, who joined the school in 2018. The school describes its mission around four core values: excellence, integrity, compassion, and courage, and structures its program around four pillars: academics, arts, athletics, and Design & Innovation. Greenhill holds accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and membership in the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC).
Greenhill School at a Glance
| Category | Detail |
| Total Enrollment | Approximately 1,400 students, PreK–12 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 5:1 |
| AP Courses Offered | 20 across the curriculum |
| Faculty Holding Advanced Degrees | 61% |
| Acceptance Rate | Approximately 25% (PrivateSchoolReview.com) |
| Student Diversity | Nearly half of students identify as students of color, from 100+ zip codes |
How Hard Is It to Get Into Greenhill School?
Greenhill is genuinely selective: PrivateSchoolReview.com reports an acceptance rate of approximately 25%, notably lower than the national private school average. Greenhill’s admissions process is need-blind, and the school does not offer merit or athletic scholarships, meaning every applicant is evaluated on the same terms regardless of financial circumstances. Given this selectivity, families may benefit from working with private school admissions consultants who understand Greenhill’s specific priorities.
Top Tips for Applying
- Confirm which assessment applies to your child’s entry grade: CATS for PreK–1st grade, ISEE for Grades 5 and up.
- Take advantage of a Shadow Visit if your child is a first-time applicant to Grade 5 or 9.
- Apply as early in the cycle as possible, given Greenhill’s approximately 25% acceptance rate.
Best Practices for Families
- Attend an Admission Preview or Parent/Guardian Visit appropriate to your child’s division.
- Understand that Greenhill’s admissions process is need-blind, part of the broader extracurricular and academic picture the school considers, with no merit or athletic scholarships offered.
- If applying later in the cycle, know that late applications are still accepted on a rolling basis through March; post-start-year admission is not offered.
Greenhill School Admission Process
- Submit an application through Greenhill’s Finalsite Enrollment portal.
- Complete the required assessment: CATS (PreK–1st grade) or the ISEE (Grades 5–12).
- Submit Parent and Student Questionnaires through the application portal.
- Attend an Admission Preview or Parent/Guardian Visit for your child’s division.
- For first-time applicants to Grades 5 and 9, consider scheduling a Shadow Visit.
- Receive an admissions decision.
For general guidance on assembling a strong private school application, see our full application walkthrough.
Admissions Timeline
Greenhill’s regular admission deadlines generally fall in December and January, depending on division. Admission Previews are typically held in the fall, with Parent/Guardian Visits continuing into January. Late applications are accepted on a rolling basis through March, though post-start-year admission is not offered. Families should confirm exact current-cycle dates directly with the admissions office, since deadlines can shift from year to year.
See our guide to private school open houses and tours for how to make the most of an Admission Preview or Parent/Guardian Visit.
Application Requirements
Testing Policy
PreK, Kindergarten, Primer, and 1st grade applicants complete the CATS (Collaborative Academic Testing Services) assessment. Middle and Upper School applicants (Grades 5–12) submit ISEE scores.
Essays & Questionnaires
Applications include a Parent Questionnaire and Student Questionnaire, both available on Greenhill’s Finalsite Enrollment application portal.
Shadow Visits
Greenhill encourages Shadow Visits for first-time applicants to Grades 5 and 9, giving prospective students a chance to experience a full day in the division they’re applying to.
Ready to Build Your Child’s Greenhill Application Strategy?
Our consultants help families prepare for the ISEE and put together a genuinely competitive application.
Student Life at Greenhill School
Academics
Greenhill offers 20 AP courses across the curriculum, supported by an experience-based learning approach and leading teaching practices. The school organizes its academic identity around four pillars: academics, arts, athletics, and Design & Innovation.
Design & Innovation
Greenhill’s Design & Innovation pillar is anchored by the Rosa O. Valdes STEM + Innovation Center, a 67,400-square-foot facility that opened in 2024 and has since received multiple AIA design awards, reflecting a personalized learning approach. The program creates connections between Greenhill and the broader Dallas-Fort Worth community in leadership, design, engineering, and innovation.
Athletics
Greenhill athletics competes in the Southwest Preparatory Conference across 15 interscholastic sports: baseball, basketball, cheering, cross country, dance, field hockey, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Families can pair these outcomes with academic coaching support to balance athletics and academics.
“A friend of ours raved about Cardinal Education, so we figured it couldn’t hurt to give them a try for Greenhill. Turns out that was one of the best decisions we made. They helped us get past the surface-level stuff and figure out how to actually show who our daughter is. She got in, and we definitely don’t regret it.”
— Gloria, Parent from Greenhill
Ace the Greenhill School Admissions with Cardinal Education
Greenhill’s need-blind, selective process rewards families who apply early and understand exactly which assessment applies to their child’s entry point. Cardinal Education helps families build results-driven strategies for each stage of that process.
Considering Greenhill School?
Our consultants help families navigate Greenhill’s admissions process with clarity and confidence.
This guide covers the fundamentals. To learn how these factors apply specifically to Asian American applicants, see our dedicated Greenhill School guide for Asian American families.
Related Articles:
Inside the Rosa O. Valdes STEM + Innovation Center: Greenhill’s Design & Innovation Hub
Understanding Greenhill’s Primer Year: A Bridge Between Kindergarten and First Grade