Cate School

Building an international school experience

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International Applicants

Cate welcomes the valuable perspective international students bring to our community and encourages students worldwide to apply for admission.

At Cate, you are classified as an international student if you need:

  • an F-1 student visa to study in the United States and a Form I-20 from Cate
  • or, regardless of your citizenship or visa status, your family’s main residence is located outside the United States

International and domestic applicants are considered in the same applicant pool and held to the same standards.

At this time, we are no longer accepting applications for the 2025–26 school year. Our admissions season has officially closed, and all available spaces have been filled.

We warmly welcome you to apply for the 2026–27 school year through Gateway; applications will be available in early fall.

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17%
International Students
16
Countries Represented
10%
F-1 Visa Holders

Please fill out the Inquiry Form to set up your Admission Portal account.

Our visit program is designed for prospective students and their families. You will experience a student-led tour, attend an all-school assembly, and have a chance to chat casually with faculty and tour guides. Visiting students will even have an opportunity to attend a class. The day ends with an interview with an admission committee member. Please expect to spend 3 hours on campus.

Our campus visits are reserved for prospective candidates applying for the 2025-26 academic year. We offer two arrival time slots for campus visits and interviews: 8:20 AM arrival or 9:30 AM arrival on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Cate also offers two Saturday visit days:

  • Saturday, November 16, 2024
  • Saturday, January 11, 2025

We offer campus visits when school is in session. To schedule your campus visit, please contact the Admission Office at 805-684-4127 ext. 217, admission@cate.org.

Application Requirements

Virtual interviews are reserved for students outside California.

To schedule a virtual interview, we require the following:

  • Complete Gateway to Prep Candidate Profile
  • Application Fee Paid
  • TOEFL or Duolingo (International Students). To qualify for a virtual interview, we require a minimum TOEFL score of 110, an IELTS score of 7.5, and a Duolingo score of 140.

In lieu of an interview, Cate School welcomes applicants to submit a personal video. Sharing a personal video is a helpful way to show us what makes you unique and why you are interested in attending Cate School.

Personal Video Submission Requirements:

  • Shoot from a close-up and show your face clearly.
  • Create a .mp4 video that does not exceed 3.5 minutes and is no shorter than 2 minutes.
  • State your name.
  • Where are you from?
  • What is your current grade?
  • What is your application status (boarding/day)?
  • Why are you applying to Cate School, and how will you contribute to our community?
  • Email Admission at admission@cate.org, attaching your video.
  • Email Subject Line: Personal Video Submission_FirstName_LastName

Please contact us at admission@cate.org or (805) 684-4127 ext. 217 if you have any questions.

To begin the application process, you must complete the Admission Inquiry Form to create your Cate Admission Portal account.

Cate School accepts the Gateway to Prep Schools Application.

Application requirements:

    • Candidate Profile
    • Short Responses, Essays, Parent Statement
    • Interview (In-person or virtual) or Personal Video Submission
    • Principal/Counselor Recommendation
    • Current English Teacher Recommendation
    • Current Math Teacher Recommendation
    • Standardized Testing (SSAT or ISEE)
    • Transcript Report (current and previous year grades)
    • Special Interest Recommendation (optional)
    • Language Testing Required for International Applicants (TOEFL, DuoLingo, IELTS)

We are not accepting a graded writing sample.

Standardized testing is required for all applicants. We accept the SSAT, ISEE, and PSAT. All tests must be taken within one year of the application deadline.

Please be sure to request, at the time the test is taken, that the test results be sent directly to Cate School. Required testing must be completed and submitted to the admission office by January 15.

SSAT: Visit SSAT or call (609) 683-4440. The Cate School code: 2170
ISEE: Visit ISEE or call (646) 503-2600. The Cate School code: 050485
TOEFL: Visit TOEFL or call (877) 863-3546 or (609) 951-1100. The Cate School code: 8529
IELTS: Visit IELTS USA or call (323) 255-2771.
DUOLINGO: Visit DUOLINGO

9th and 10th Grade Applicants: SSAT or ISEE

The average SSAT score for accepted students to Cate School has historically been in the 80th percentile, earning 2100-2400 on the Upper School Level SSAT. The average ISEE score range is 7-9, landing in the 77th percentile or above.

We do not have an SSAT or ISEE score cut-off, and we recognize that each applicant comes from a different background when it comes to test preparation. We aim to evaluate an entire applicant’s profile, with the SSAT being one part of the process.

11th Grade Applicants: PSAT

The average PSAT score for accepted students to Cate School: 1070 – 1520

Competitive PSAT Math Scores: 560-610
Competitive PSAT Writing & Reading Scores: 560-610
Competitive Overall PSAT Scores: 1070-1200 (top 25% of all PSAT test takers)

Best PSAT Math Scores: 620+
Best PSAT Writing & Reading Scores: 620+
Best Overall PSAT Scores: 1210-1520 (top 1% of all PSAT test takers)

We do not have a PSAT score cut-off, and we recognize that each applicant comes from a different background when it comes to test preparation. We aim to evaluate an entire applicant’s profile, with the PSAT being one part of the process.

All international applicants must demonstrate proficiency in oral and written English.

Are you required to submit language testing?
Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to take an English proficiency test.

  • If the applicant has attended an international school outside of the United States or a junior boarding school in the United States for two consecutive years or more, this requirement will be waived. This means that a student applying for the 9th grade must have attended an international school or junior boarding school for their 6th and 7th-grade years. If the student is a 10th-grade applicant, they must have attended an international school or junior boarding school for their 7th and 8th-grade years. And so on…

We require a minimum TOEFL score of 110, an IELTS score of 7.5, or a Duolingo score of 140. Only one type (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo) of English Proficiency Testing is required.

All tests must be taken within one year of the application deadline.

TOEFL: Visit TOEFL or call (877) 863-3546 or (609) 951-1100. Cate School code: 8529

IELTS: Visit IELTS USA or call (323) 255-2771.

DUOLINGO: Visit DUOLINGO

Cate School considers any form of intellectual and academic dishonesty a serious breach of community standards. Our admission process is aligned with our Academic Honor Code. We want to see student work written exclusively by the student to understand their voice, personality, and passions best. Further, an applicant’s use of artificial intelligence is not permitted under any circumstances. All essays, short answer questions, and any other material submitted by an applicant must be the work of the individual, unassisted by programs such as ChatGPT and GrammarlyGo.

We welcome applications for financial assistance from all families who apply to Cate, including international families. It is important to note that we offer need-based financial assistance, not scholarships, and limited funding is available.

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