Harvard-Westlake's 2026-27 admission cycle runs on a short list of fixed dates: the ISEE window opens August 1, 2026, the interview invitation guarantee deadline is November 13, 2026, the application and financial aid application are due January 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PT, and decisions are released March 12, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. PT. The cycle is for entry in fall 2027, and most families are applying to grade 7 or grade 9.
This timeline uses only dates that Harvard-Westlake states on hw.com. Where the school has not published a date for a step, the guide says so and tells you to check the school's admissions site rather than guess.
Who this timeline is for
Harvard-Westlake is an independent, co-educational college preparatory day school for grades 7–12 in Los Angeles. The Middle School campus is in Los Angeles and the Upper School campus is in Studio City. The school's FAQ says the main entry points are the seventh and ninth grades, so this timeline is built around families applying to those two grades. Other grades are considered only in limited circumstances, and the school's FAQ is the place to confirm them for your child.
The school labels the current cycle 2026-2027. Its FAQ states that all applicants for entry in fall 2027 must take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE).
The dates at a glance
- August 1, 2026: The ISEE window opens. The school asks for results from a single test taken between August 1 and the application deadline.
- August 24, 2026: Financial aid applications open for applicants and returning families.
- November 1, 2026: Recommendations should be completed between this date and the application deadline.
- November 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT: Interview Invitation Guarantee Deadline (7th and 9th grade applicants only).
- January 15, 2027, 11:59 p.m. PT: Admission application and financial aid application deadline. This is also the last day of the ISEE window.
- March 12, 2027, 5:00 p.m. PT: Admission and financial aid decision release.
Month by month
August 2026: testing opens and aid opens
The ISEE window is the first fixed date. The school's checklist says to submit score results from a single test taken between August 1 and the application deadline. A test taken before August 1 does not fit that window, so do not register for a summer date that falls earlier.
Register for the ISEE with the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) and list Harvard-Westlake as a score recipient using school code 052135. The FAQ says applicants may test in any format (paper or online), at any site, or online through ISEE At-Home.
Also in August, the school's tuition and financial aid page shows that financial aid applications open on August 24, 2026. If you plan to apply for aid, this is the start of that process. The school's admissions page also says the application for fall 2027 is available in August 2026. Check the school's admissions site for the exact opening date of the admission application, because the pages we reviewed do not give one.
September and October 2026: visit, test, and begin the application
The school has not published a dated admission calendar for these months on the pages we checked, so use them for the steps that have no fixed date but do have a hard end point.
- Attend optional events. The school invites applicant families to arts performances, athletics competitions, and community events. It also lists optional parent and guardian information sessions, which you register for at hw.com/visit. These are optional, and the dates change, so check the site.
- Take the ISEE. The test owner allows one attempt per testing season (Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer), up to three times a school year. The fall season runs August through November, which covers the most common testing months for this cycle. Testing level depends on the grade your child is applying to: Middle Level for grades 7–8 and Upper Level for grades 9–12.
- Start the online application. The application is at hw.com/apply. It asks for personal information, with an optional photo and optional name pronunciation, and for the application fee. The school waives the fee if you apply for financial aid.
The practical point: if you want the interview guarantee, the application form has to be in before November 13. Treat early October as your personal target so you are not working against that deadline.
November 2026: recommendations open, interview guarantee closes
November 1 is when recommendation forms should start being completed. On the application, you enter the email addresses of your child's current English teacher, current math teacher, and a current administrator, and the forms are emailed to them. The school asks that recommendations be completed between November 1 and the application deadline.
November 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the Interview Invitation Guarantee Deadline. The school states that submitting the Application Form by this date guarantees an invitation to interview, for 7th and 9th grade applicants only. Interviews for those grades are scheduled on weekdays during school hours, in person or via Zoom. The school asks families to make every effort to accept the appointed interview time and says it cannot guarantee an interview if you decline an offer or reschedule.
The Student Questionnaire, a set of short-answer questions, must be submitted at least two days before the interview. So the interview date drives your questionnaire date.
December 2026: finish the pieces that wait on others
The school does not publish a dated admission step for December on the pages we checked. Use the month to chase the items that depend on other people:
- Confirm that your child's three recommenders have received their forms.
- Email the Authorization for Release of Applicant's Record and Transcript form to the registrar or an administrator at your child's current school. The checklist lists this as the transcript step.
- Confirm the ISEE score report reached Harvard-Westlake under code 052135.
- If you are applying for aid, follow the instructions at hw.com/financialaid and gather the documents it lists.
January 2027: the deadline
January 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline for both the admission application and the financial aid application. It is also the end of the ISEE window. Because the school asks for results from a single test, a test taken after this date is outside the window.
Do not plan to finish on the deadline day. The tests, recommendations, transcript release, and aid documents all depend on third parties.
February 2027: waiting period
The school lists no admission event for February on the pages we reviewed. Check the school's admissions site for anything added to this cycle's calendar. If something in your file looks incomplete, contact the Admission Office through the school's admissions site.
March 2027: decisions
Admission and financial aid decisions are released on March 12, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. PT. Both outcomes arrive on the same day, so families who applied for aid learn the admission decision and the aid decision together.
Common mistakes
- Testing too early. An ISEE taken before August 1 does not meet the school's window.
- Missing the interview guarantee. The guarantee applies to the Application Form submitted by November 13, and the school states it for 7th and 9th grade applicants only.
- Declining or rescheduling an interview. The school says it cannot guarantee an interview afterward.
- Waiting on recommenders. The forms go to recommenders by email after you enter their addresses, so enter them early in the window.
- Forgetting the fee waiver. The school waives the application fee for families applying for financial aid.
FAQ
Does Harvard-Westlake accept the SSAT?
The school's FAQ says all applicants for entry in fall 2027 must take the ISEE. The pages we reviewed do not mention the SSAT.
When is the application due?
January 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PT, the same date as the financial aid application.
When do families hear back?
Decisions are released March 12, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. PT.
Is the interview guarantee available for every grade?
No. The school states it for 7th and 9th grade applicants only.
Do I need to apply for aid at the same time?
If you want aid for this cycle, yes: the financial aid application deadline is the same as the admission deadline, January 15, 2027. The financial aid application is a separate form from the admission application.
Next step
If you want help turning these dates into a plan for your child, the programs page shows what HarvardWestlakePrep by EduAvenues offers. The admissions overview, the timeline page, and the FAQ cover related questions.
Sources
- Harvard-Westlake 2026-2027 Application Checklist (PDF)
- Harvard-Westlake How to Apply
- Harvard-Westlake Frequently Asked Questions
- Harvard-Westlake Tuition and Financial Aid
- Harvard-Westlake home page
- About the ISEE (Admission.org)
HarvardWestlakePrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Harvard-Westlake School.