How to Get Into Notre Dame High School: Top Admissions Guide for Parents

Quick Answer for Busy Parents

Notre Dame High School is a private, coeducational, Catholic day school in Sherman Oaks, CA serving grades 9-12. Admission requires the HSPT entrance exam, a required interview (student plus at least one parent), and teacher recommendations. The application opens September 8, the HSPT is administered in late January, and decisions are released March 5.

Why Do Families Choose Notre Dame High School?

Notre Dame High School (NDHS) is a Catholic, college-preparatory day school in Sherman Oaks, CA, in the tradition of the Congregation of Holy Cross. NDHS enrolls 1,270 students at a 14:1 student-teacher ratio and is accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA).

Students are not required to be Catholic to attend. The school offers 31 AP and 25 Honors courses, and 90% of faculty hold advanced degrees. The Class of 2025 posted mean scores of 1214 on the SAT and 27.9 on the ACT, and NDHS reports that 96% of graduates matriculate to 2- and 4-year colleges.

Students logged 57,991 hours of community service in a recent year, and the school supports 100+ clubs and activities alongside 11 college counselors on staff.

Accreditation & Recognition Snapshot

How Hard Is It to Get Into Notre Dame High School?

Notre Dame does not publish a current official acceptance rate. Admission weighs the HSPT, transcripts, teacher recommendations, and a required interview together. One detail that surprises many families: where you take the HSPT matters. On-campus test-takers at NDHS are considered first, and the school’s only merit scholarship, automatically awarded for a score of 95 or above, requires testing at NDHS specifically.

Top Tips for Applying

• Take the HSPT on the NDHS campus itself for both admissions priority and merit scholarship eligibility.
• Do not request transcripts until after the first semester of 8th grade is complete.
• Schedule the required interview promptly once the application is processed; both the student and a parent must attend.

Best Practices for Families

• Attend a campus tour or information session before applying to get a feel for fit.
• Request recommendations as soon as they become available on October 1.

Notre Dame Admission Process

1. Create an account in Blackbaud and complete the application ($130 fee).
2. Schedule a required interview (student and at least one parent attend) once the application is submitted, paid, and processed.
3. Request recommendations from current teachers and/or administrators, available starting October 1.
4. Request transcripts covering grades 6-8, only after the first semester of 8th grade is complete.
5. Take the HSPT entrance exam; the cost is included in the application fee, and registration is automatic.
6. Optionally apply for financial aid through Clarity, a separate process from admissions.

Admissions Calendar / Key Dates

Notre Dame Application Requirements

Application & Fee

Every applicant creates an account in Blackbaud and completes the application, along with a $130 non-refundable fee paid through the applicant’s own Blackbaud account.

Interview

Every applicant interviews, with the student and at least one parent required to attend. The interview is scheduled only after the application is submitted, paid, and processed by the NDHS Admissions Team. See our interview preparation guidance for how to prepare.

Recommendations

Applicants request that current teachers and/or administrators complete a recommendation form, a process initiated by the applicant from their own checklist starting October 1.

Transcripts

Requested through the Blackbaud portal, covering grades 6-8, but not before the first semester of 8th grade is complete. Schools without digital request capability can use a Transcript Release Form instead.

Testing (HSPT)

The HSPT cost is included in the application fee, with automatic registration once the application is submitted. Testing on the NDHS campus is strongly recommended, since on-campus test-takers are considered first. See our guidance on acing the HSPT and common HSPT questions for a preparation strategy.

Ready to Build a Standout Notre Dame Application?

Cardinal Education consultants can help with every step, from HSPT prep to the required interview.

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Student Life at Notre Dame High School

Academics

Notre Dame’s academic departments include English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Theology, Modern and Classical Languages, Communications, Computer Science & Engineering, Physical Education, and Visual and Performing Arts, spanning 31 AP and 25 Honors courses.

Athletics

Notre Dame fields 17 sports across 26 teams, including football, water polo, and lacrosse. See our overview of competitive sports in private school admissions for how athletics can factor into an application.

Clubs & Community

Notre Dame supports over 100 clubs and activities, 4 musical or drama productions per year, 134 lifetime California Scholastic Federation members, and 89 National Honor Society members. Students logged 57,991 hours of community service in a recent year. See our overview of extracurricular life in private school admissions for how this kind of activity can strengthen an application.

Diversity & Inclusion

Notre Dame maintains a DEI department that organizes student and parent affinity groups, communities built around shared identity, culture, or background, giving students a structured way to connect around common experiences.

What Families Say

Notre Dame felt like a school where tradition mattered a lot, and we weren’t totally sure how to show that our daughter would fit into that without just repeating what we thought they wanted to hear. Cardinal Education helped her find a way to be genuine about it instead, and that changed everything. We’re really proud of how she handled the whole process.

— Parent from Notre Dame

Get Into Notre Dame High School with the Best Admissions Consultants

Notre Dame’s HSPT-driven, interview-inclusive process rewards families who prepare early and thoroughly. Cardinal Education’s private school admissions consultants help families do exactly that, including Asian American families using our dedicated Notre Dame guide for AAPI applicants.

Ready to Apply with Confidence?

Cardinal Education helps families put together a genuinely strong Notre Dame application, start to finish.

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Related Articles

Notre Dame High School Admissions Timeline: Key Dates and Deadlines

The HSPT Merit Scholarship at Notre Dame High School: What a 95+ Score Can Unlock

Frequently Asked Questions