Upper School (Grades 9-12) Application Steps
Welcome! We are glad you are here. Below are the steps to apply for our Upper School. Please note that in order to be considered in the annual decision round, all steps must be completed by Friday, February 5, 2027. We offer Upper School Parent Visit Days (open houses) and Upper School Student Visit Days in October, November, December and January, and testing is offered in November, December, and January. Registration closes a couple of weeks prior to each testing date, so it is best to register before the hustle and bustle of the holidays. We hope to see you soon!
| Submit an Online Inquiry |
An Online Inquiry Form can be submitted below:
Online Inquiry Form |
| Attend an Upper School Parent Visit Day (Open House) |
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An Upper School Open House is the best way to see the school and learn about our programs. Upper School Open Houses are led by Emily Harper, Director of Middle and Upper School Admission. A campus tour is included, as well as a presentation. This is a parents-only event.
Current Porter-Gaud families are not required to attend a parent visit.
Dates:
- Thursday, October 22, 2026, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
- Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
- Friday, January 8, 2027, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
- Thursday, January 21, 2027, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Click here to register.
Out of town families who cannot make it to an Upper School Parent Visit Day are invited to attend an individual parent meeting with Emily Harper, Director of Middle and Upper School Admission.
To schedule, please contact Kathleen Beck at 843.402.4726 or kbeck@portergaud.edu.
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| Attend an Upper School Student Visit Day |
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As part of the application process, students applying to grades 5-11 are required to spend time on our campus. This day is designed to help our applicants get a feel for life as a Porter-Gaud student, and is an opportunity for us to get to know your child. We are happy to provide a school absence excuse.
Parents can register their child for a student visit day from the applicant's Online Checklist. This checklist is generated once an admission application is submitted. We require the application in order for a student to register and visit.
Keep in mind that dates fill quickly.
- Monday, October 19, 2026, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Monday, November 2, 2026, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 19, 2026, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Monday, December 7, 2026, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 19, 2027, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
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| Complete the Admission Application |
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After submitting, please allow one business day for our team to process the application. After processing, the system will generate your child's Online Checklist, from which you can complete additional required steps.
Complete the Admission Application
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| Review Tuition/Fees and Financial Aid |
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Take a moment to review our current Tuition and Fees, and familiarize yourself with the Financial Aid process if you plan to apply.
Please note that the tuition and fees will be updated to reflect the 2027-2028 school year in late January 2027.
Tuition and Fees Information
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| Submit Three (3) Teacher/Principal Recommendation Forms |
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After completing the admission application, parents can log in to the parent portal and click on 'View Checklist' to send our specific recommendation forms electronically to the current math teacher, English teacher, and principal.
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| Release of Records |
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We will post the link to the Release of Records Form on January 5, 2027. This form gives the school your authorization to send records to us. At that time, you will be able to print and fill out the form, then send it to your child's school (provided the second quarter is complete). We ask that parents do not send this form to their child's school until the second quarter has finished.
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| Register for Admission Testing |
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Prospective students sit for the ISEE admission test, which is offered at Porter-Gaud in the months of November, December, and January. For students not local to Charleston, testing options are available online using the registration link below. Note: We can accept the SSAT in lieu of the ISEE testing in some cases.
Registration for a test date is required and typically closes a few weeks prior to the testing date. Please register as soon as possible.
- Saturday, November 14, 2026 | 9:00 A.M. -12:00 P.M. - In-person on a computer
- Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. - In-person on a computer
- Saturday, January 9, 2027 | 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. - In-person on paper
- Saturday, January 23, 2027 | 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. - In-person on paper
Register for ISEE Testing
Once on ERB’s registration site, select “Create an Account” or “log in”. Select the testing format of your choice and filter by grade level. (If asked, Porter-Gaud's code is 410412)
Tips to Prepare for ISEE How to Understand the ISEE Score Report |
| Admission Decision and Dates |
- Last day to submit the admission application form: Friday, January 22, 2027
- Admission Materials Deadline (annual Decision Round): Friday, February 5, 2027
- Admission Decisions Communicated to Families: Friday, March 12, 2027
- Enrollment Deadline for Accepted Applicants: Friday, March 19, 2027
All applications received after the deadline will be considered on a rolling basis, provided space and financial aid funding (if applicable) remain available.
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