Application Process

Required Steps

Application and Application Fee ($65)

The online application must be submitted no later than Friday, December 4, 2026.

Shadow Days and Interview

Be an Eagle for the day! Prospective students can spend the day visiting academic and arts classes and enjoying lunch with an Upper School Guide to experience McDonogh on a first-hand basis. All students are hosted in their current grade except ninth grade applicants, who will visit with the ninth grade. Visit dates are held several times a week from October to the middle of January. Visits generally begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. Shadow Day registration can be completed upon submission of the initial online application form.

If your child is spending the day with us, we will set up their admissions interview during a non-academic class during the visit day. It is important to us that we get to know your child and give them the opportunity to ask questions of us regarding McDonogh School.

Parent interviews are not required but are welcomed and can be arranged for the day of the Shadow Day or virtually over Zoom on a date after the Shadow Day.

Shadow Days are highly encouraged but are an optional piece of the application process. If you choose not to attend a Shadow Day, please call our office to arrange an interview appointment for your child, as an interview is a required piece of the application process.

Submit Transcript

Following the submission of the application, parents can electronically request transcripts and school records to be sent to McDonogh School via their parent portal. Please request transcripts to be sent after the first term of the current school year. Transcripts must be received no later than Friday, January 15, 2027.

Submit Common Referral Forms

Two teacher recommendations are required. We prefer one from your child's current English teacher and one from your child's current math teacher.

Following the submission of the application, parents can electronically request common referral/teacher recommendation forms to be sent to McDonogh School via their parent portal. Please submit this request to all pertinent teachers after the first term. Completed forms must be received by McDonogh no later than Friday, January 15, 2027.

Please be aware that the Common Referral Form is confidential and cannot be shared with parents or students.

Testing

Applicants should complete the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) or SSAT by Friday, January 15, 2027. The ISEE and SSAT may be taken at any school that serves as a test site.

At-home computer-based testing options are also permitted; simply request that the results be forwarded to McDonogh School. Our school code for the ISEE is 210750 and for the SSAT is 4757.

We encourage students to take the test in November or December, as winter weather can cause test cancellations.

Optional Application Materials

Essay

For students applying to grades 5 through 12, an optional essay is due by Friday, January 15, 2027. Students can access the essay prompts by signing into their admissions profile page and clicking on the student essay link. There they may choose one of several prompts and respond in 200–400 words.

Additional Student Materials

If your child would like to submit additional materials to help us better understand their passions or talents — for example, a short writing sample, a photo and description of community service work, artwork, or a link to a video of a musical performance — please have them do so. Materials can be submitted via a secure online portal by Friday, January 15, 2027.

Five-Day Boarding (Optional)

McDonogh's signature five-day boarding program offers a unique blend of structure, independence, and meaningful family time.

During the week, Upper School boarding students immerse themselves in campus life — participating in extracurricular activities, accessing academic resources, and engaging with our vibrant community. They develop the independence, resilience, and leadership skills colleges and employers highly value — all while spending time at home on weekends.

Learn More About Our Five-Day Boarding Program

Boarding Residency Requirements and Exemptions

Our five-day boarding program is designed for students who permanently reside within a 90-mile radius of our campus in Owings Mills, Maryland. Generally, only students who live within this radius qualify for boarding. Exemptions may be made if the applicant has a relative — by blood or marriage — within the 90-mile radius and that family member agrees to serve as a local host family on weekends and in cases of emergency.

Due to the nature of our five-day boarding program, students must return home on weekends, and sometimes more frequently due to holidays, weather events, or illness. To learn more about the exemption application process, please email admissions@mcdonogh.org.