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Quick Answer for Busy Parents
Notre Dame Belmont (NDB) is a private, all-girls Catholic college-preparatory school sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, serving 385 students in Grades 9-12. The HSPT is required for all incoming freshmen, administered on campus. The file also includes a required Shadow Visit, teacher recommendations, transcripts, and a family interview with the applicant and at least one parent or guardian. Applications are typically due in mid-December, with decisions released in mid-March.
Why Do Families Choose Notre Dame Belmont?
Founded in 1851 and located on the historic William Ralston Estate in Belmont since 1923, Notre Dame Belmont is currently led by Head of School Meredith Essalat, an NDB alumna from the Class of 1998. “A Notre Dame education is, at its core, rigorous academics,” Essalat has said, “but what differentiates Notre Dame is that it’s about the holistic person, developing compassion and empathy and having a vision for how you want to go out and impact the world.” NDB’s mission centers on developing responsible young women of active faith, strong intellect, and Christian leadership. NDB has been voted Best Private High School of the San Francisco Bay Area for three consecutive years, and holds accreditation from WASC.
Notre Dame Belmont at a Glance
| Category | Detail |
| Total Enrollment | 385 students, Grades 9-12 |
| Average Class Size | 19 students |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 10:1 |
| Honors & AP Courses | 21 Honors courses; 15 AP courses (36 total) |
| Faculty Holding Advanced Degrees | 82% |
| Accreditation | WASC |
Student Diversity at NDB
NDB’s own reporting describes a student body that is 67% White/Caucasian, 18.2% Asian, 10.7% Multi-Racial, 1.8% Black/African American, 1.8% Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and 0.5% American Indian/Alaskan Native, with 19% of students self-identifying as Hispanic and 4% as international students.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Notre Dame Belmont?
NDB does not publish an official acceptance rate, but the admissions process is thoughtfully structured: the HSPT is required for every incoming freshman, a Shadow Visit is expected before applying, and the file is rounded out with teacher recommendations, transcripts, and a family interview. Families researching NDB alongside other Bay Area Catholic and all-girls’ schools may benefit from working with private school admissions consultants who understand the school’s specific requirements.
Top Tips for Applying
- Schedule a Shadow Visit early in the September-November window, since these are required for all applicants.
- Register for the HSPT well ahead of the December test date to avoid the later make-up date.
- If applying for tuition assistance, submit the TADS application on time; also review what schools look for in applicants beyond a single test score.
Best Practices for Families
- Attend the Open House or a Tiger Talk to experience NDB’s community firsthand.
- Request recommendation forms from a current math and English teacher, plus a principal or counselor, well before the January deadline.
- Choose a family interview date that works for the whole family, since attendance from at least one parent is required.
Notre Dame Belmont Admission Process
- Submit an inquiry through School Admin Online.
- Sign up for and attend admissions events, including Shadow Visits, Tiger Talks, and the Open House.
- Complete the online application by the December deadline.
- Take the HSPT at NDB.
- Apply for tuition assistance through TADS, if needed, by early January.
- Submit recommendation forms and official transcripts.
- Complete the family interview, with the applicant and at least one parent or guardian.
- Await the admissions decision, released via mail and email.
For general guidance on assembling a strong private school application, see our full application walkthrough.
Application Requirements
Testing Policy
The HSPT is required for all incoming freshmen and must be taken at NDB, with extended time (50%) available for students who submit documentation for learning differences ahead of time.
Recommendations & Transcripts
Teacher recommendations are required, alongside official transcripts. Grades of D or F in 7th or 8th grade do not meet NDB’s admissions criteria. Families looking to strengthen grades before applying can turn to Cardinal Education’s tutoring and academic coaching programs.
Shadow Visit & Family Interview
A required Shadow Visit gives prospective students a chance to experience a day in the life of a Tiger, attending classes and touring campus. A 20-30 minute family interview is also required, with the applicant and at least one parent or guardian.
The EFS Program
Families seeking consideration for the Empowered for Success (EFS) program, which supports students with learning differences, submit documentation directly to the EFS Director alongside the regular application; no separate application is required.
Ready to Build Your Daughter’s NDB Application Strategy?
Our consultants help families prepare for the HSPT, Shadow Visit, and family interview.
What Student Life Is Like at Notre Dame Belmont
Academics
NDB’s curriculum spans English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies/History, World Languages, Spiritual Life, Visual/Performing Arts, and Physical Education, with academic concentrations in STEM, Mass Communications, Humanities, Social Justice, Arts, and Sports Medicine and Management, reflecting a broader educational philosophy. World languages offered include French, Spanish, Chinese, and American Sign Language. NDB recently opened a new STEM Wing, a 10,000-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art science labs and collaborative learning hubs, funded through the school’s Lasting Legacy Capital Campaign.
Honor Societies & Programs
NDB students may qualify for the National Honor Society (NHS), the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. NDB also participates in FIRST Tech Challenge robotics and Tri-School Productions, a shared theater program with Mercy High School Burlingame and Junípero Serra High School.
Athletics
NDB athletics compete in the West Bay Athletic League across 13 sports: cross country, tennis, flag football, golf, volleyball, water polo, wrestling, basketball, soccer, swimming, softball, track and field, and cheerleading, part of a broader extracurricular program.
Notable Alumnae
Notre Dame Belmont’s alumnae include Emma Chamberlain, a widely followed content creator and entrepreneur, and Angela Dimayuga, an executive chef and prominent voice in the culinary world, the kind of outcomes reflected in NDB’s results.
What Families Say
We weren’t totally sure how to show that our daughter had a unique voice without just forcing her into a dozen new extracurriculars she didn’t care about. Allen Koh helped her find a way to be confident in the passions she already had instead, and that changed everything. We’re really proud of how she took ownership of the whole process.
— Parent from NDB
Get Into Notre Dame Belmont with the Right Preparation
NDB’s HSPT-based, holistic process rewards families who prepare thoughtfully for the required test, Shadow Visit, and family interview. Cardinal Education helps families when choosing the right admissions consultant to guide each stage of that process.
Asian American families applying to NDB can find guidance tailored to their specific priorities in our dedicated Notre Dame Belmont guide for Asian American families.
Considering Notre Dame Belmont?
Our consultants help families navigate NDB’s admissions process with clarity and confidence.
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The EFS Program: How Notre Dame Belmont Supports Students with Learning Differences
The Tri-School Network: How Notre Dame Belmont Partners with Mercy Burlingame and Junípero Serra