How to Get Into The Harker School
Key Dates and Information
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Grades: Transitional Kindergarten (TK)–12
- Application deadline: January 5, 2027
- Admissions tests:
- TK–Grade 2: Cognitive assessment (WISC-V or WPPSI-IV, depending on age)
- Grades 2–5: ISEE
- Grades 6–12: SSAT or ISEE
- Admissions decision: March 12, 2027, at 4 p.m. PST
Introduction
The Harker School (Harker) is a top college prep school in the Bay Area for students in grades K-12. Harker has an established history of academic achievement, and opportunities for student growth in and out of the classroom.
Applying to Harker is a big undertaking, so we have created this guide to help you navigate the application process. We outline important deadlines and application requirements, along with opportunities offered at Harker that you may consider mentioning in your application essay and interview.
In addition, we offer Admissions Assist courses, where you will learn what schools like Harker look for in applicants, strategies to ace the admissions interview, and tips for standing out in your application essays.
Application
Harker’s entry point grades include TK, kindergarten, Grade 6, and Grade 9. The number of openings in non-entry point grades depends on current student attrition, but interested students are encouraged to apply. Applicants to Grades 10 and 11 can submit an inquiry and will be invited to apply if there are any openings.
The following steps are required to apply to Harker:
- Submit an application through Ravenna
- Application fee: $100
- Deadline: January 5, 2027
- Complete the parent/guardian contribution through Kira Talent
- Submit student information and activities
- Request and submit teacher recommendations
- Required: current classroom teacher
- Request and submit transcript/report card (Grades 1–5)
- Schedule assessments and exams
- Grades TK–2: Cognitive assessment
- Grades 2–5: ISEE
- Deadline: Scores must be received by January 5, 2027
- Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
- Deadline: January 5, 2027
- Submit an application through Ravenna
- Application fee: $100
- Deadline: January 5, 2027
- Complete the parent/guardian contribution through Kira Talent
- Submit student activity and interest information
- Request and submit transcript/report card from current and previous year
- Request and submit recommendations
- Required: Current English teacher, current math teacher, and principal or counselor
- Take an admissions test
- SSAT or ISEE required
- Deadline: Scores must be received by January 5, 2027
- Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
- Deadline: January 5, 2027
- Submit an application through Ravenna
- Application fee: $100
- Deadline: January 5, 2027
- Complete the parent/guardian contribution through Kira Talent
- Submit student activity and interest form
- Submit student essay
- Complete the student interview and activity session
- Request and submit transcript/report card from current and previous year
- Request and submit recommendations
- Required: Current English teacher, current math teacher, and principal or counselor
- Take an admissions test
- SSAT or ISEE required
- Deadline: Scores must be received by January 5, 2027
- Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
- Deadline: January 5, 2027
Applicants to Grades 10 and 11 must first submit an inquiry and will be invited to apply if there are openings. Harker does not admit students into Grade 12. For more information about applying to Harker, please refer to their admissions page.
Admissions Interview
Applicants to Harker’s Upper School participate in a student interview and activity session as part of the admissions process. Applicants to the Middle School also participate in a student activity session. Parents or guardians complete an asynchronous virtual video interview through Kira Talent. The application deadline for the 2027–2028 school year is January 5, 2027.
The interview is your chance to connect directly with the admissions team at Harker, and share your reasons for applying. It is important to prepare so you can make the most of your limited time in the interview. Test Innovators’ Interview Prep course will help you approach the interview strategically, so you can focus your time and energy on the most important areas. Through our course, you’ll practice common interview questions, determine what to highlight in your interview, and gain confidence.
It is also a good idea to research Harker before your interview, so you can mention your specific reasons for applying. Read about Harker’s philosophy and mission, and consider what resonates with you. Take a look at their Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School academics and see if certain aspects of the curriculum stand out. Check out extracurricular opportunities like arts and athletics for Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School, and share how you would like to get involved. Learn about unique opportunities for Upper School students at Harker, such as their global education program and their business and entrepreneurship program. Let your interests shine through in your interview and application materials!
Admissions Tests
Applicants to Harker are required to take the following tests and assessments:
- Grades TK–2: Cognitive assessment (WISC-V or WPPSI-IV, depending on age)
- Grades 2–5: ISEE
- Grades 6–8: SSAT or ISEE
- Grades 9–11: SSAT or ISEE
Cognitive assessments are optional for applicants to Grades 3–5. Harker requires ISEE scores for applicants to Grades 2–5 and accepts either SSAT or ISEE scores for Middle and Upper School applicants. Test scores must be submitted by the January 5, 2027 application deadline. Harker recommends taking admissions tests after August 1, 2026.
Admissions tests provide an opportunity for you to showcase your strengths. It is important to prepare before test day, and Test Innovators can help. We are an official practice partner of the SSAT and the only official practice partner of the ISEE. We offer full-length practice tests, which give you familiarity with the format and content. After each practice test, you will receive a detailed score analysis, and a personalized plan to target areas that need improvement. You can also compare your practice scores to target scores for Harker and other schools, to give you a better idea of what you are aiming for.
When you are ready to start preparing for the admissions tests, check out our SSAT Prep Guide and ISEE Prep Guide.
Want to get a top score?
Take a small-group class to learn key strategies and boost your knowledge!
Financial Aid Application
Harker strives to make education accessible to all families who are a good fit for Harker, and encourages families with financial need to apply for financial aid. Harker’s admissions process is need-blind, which means that financial aid requests are not a factor in admissions decisions. Families applying for financial aid must complete the following steps:
- Submit the preliminary admission application through Ravenna and indicate that you intend to apply for financial aid.
- Receive the Harker-specific access code and instructions for the Clarity financial aid application.
- Submit an application through Clarity, along with the required financial documentation.
- Submit the financial aid application and required documents by January 5, 2027.
- If the 2026 federal tax return is not available by January 5, submit it through Clarity by February 16, 2027.
Clarity charges a $65 application fee, which is automatically waived for families who meet its income eligibility guidelines.
Financial aid decisions are communicated alongside admissions decisions in mid-March. Harker awards approximately $10 million in financial aid each year to help families afford tuition.Award decisions are communicated along with admissions decisions in March.
For more information about financial aid at Harker, please refer to their website.
Extracurricular Opportunities
Athletics
Harker students are able to participate in the following sports teams:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Cross country
- Flag football
- Football
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and field
- Volleyball
- Water polo
Sports offerings vary by division. Lower School athletics begin in Grade 4, while Middle and Upper School students have additional competitive and intramural opportunities.
To learn more about athletics opportunities at Harker, check out their Lower School, Middle School or Upper School athletics pages.
Arts
Harker students are introduced to performing arts and visual arts in Lower School, through both the Harker curriculum and the after-school programs. Students build upon their arts foundation in Middle School, with performing arts courses and activities including dance, drama, vocal and instrumental music, and musical theater, as well as visual arts opportunities. In Upper School, students can elect to take a variety of performing arts courses, such as architecture, ceramics, drawing, filmmaking, graphic arts, and photography. These opportunities allow students to explore their creative interests and develop their artistic skills.
For more information, visit Harker’s Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School programs and extracurriculars pages.
Clubs and Organizations
Harker clubs and organizations allow students to further explore additional interests. Middle School students can participate in clubs, after-school activities, speech and debate, STEM, and student research opportunities.
Upper School student clubs include Clean Technology Club, Quiz Bowl, Red Cross Club, Women in STEM, and other academic and interest-based organizations. Other Upper School extracurricular opportunities include speech and debate, business and entrepreneurship, STEM, journalism, student research, and community service.
Global Education
Harker has a robust global education program for students of all grade levels. Beginning in Lower School, students engage in global learning and exchange. Middle School students have global learning opportunities and educational travel opportunities, including exchanges with a sister school in Tokyo, Japan, language immersion in Costa Rica, and educational trips to Greece and Peru. Global education continues in Upper School, where students continue to build global awareness and can participate in international travel opportunities. Programs vary by year and may include experiences focused on history, language immersion, and the performing arts. Harker has offered trips to destinations such as Greece, France, and Scotland, along with other international experiences.
For more information about global education at Harker, visit their Global Education page.
Conclusion
Harker is a top school with great opportunities for students in the Bay Area. Test Innovators is here to ensure you are prepared for each step of the application process.
Preparation Resources:
- Enroll in our Admissions Assist courses for Middle School or Upper School
- Learn more about preparing for the SSAT
- Learn more about preparing for the ISEE
- Learn more about The Harker School
Originally published on September 30, 2022. Updated on August 20, 2024.
