8th Grade High School Application Process

PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING

Attend the High School Application Meeting on Back to School Night - Mr. Hoff and Mrs. Heffernan will explain the application process at Western Academy.

Middle School Transcript Form – You must complete the Middle School Transcript Release Form by December 1st.  This form indicates the schools to which your son is applying, and allows us to release his records from WA to those schools.  Please click HERE to access the form.  NOTE: If you have already submitted your form but want to add or remove any schools before December 1st, please email Mrs. Heffernan to make the desired changes. 

ISEE Prep Course— Many high schools now require the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) for admission to their schools.  While Western Academy doesn’t offer a prep course for the ISEE, TestPrep4Boys will hold an 8th grade ISEE Prep Course on Western’s campus on Saturdays in September for those interested. Richard Gosselin, a long time Western Academy tutor and former math teacher, will run the course.  Please click HERE for more information and to register. Mr. Gosselin can also be reached at (832) 257-2592. Check the high schools' websites for the registration deadlines.

Application—You will need to create an account/portal for each school’s online application.  The portal will list the required documents you need to apply and any other requirements for which the school(s) might ask.

Attend the High School Application Meeting on Back to School Night - Mr. Hoff and Mrs. Heffernan will explain the application process at Western Academy.

Letters of Recommendation Links – Each school requires recommendations from your son’s English/Writing and Math teachers, and some also require a school counselor recommendation (always Mr. Hoff). These recommendations are either done by hand (MOST SCHOOLS), or by electronic links (SCHOOLS BELOW). Please do not send ANY recommendation links before December 1st as teachers aren’t able to complete them before that date, and the links will expire. Please DO NOT send links to your son’s English teacher, Math teacher, and Counselor for the recommendation forms, unless noted below.

  • Strake Jesuit Preparatory High School – Send links for English, Math, and Counselor (Mr. Hoff).

  • St. John School – Send links for English and Math.

  • Houston Christian – Send links for English and Math.

  • Cathedral High School – Send links for English, Math, Counselor (Mr. Hoff), and Records Request (Mrs. Heffernan).

  • Second Baptist – Send links for English and Math.

Student Report Cards, Standardized Test Scores, and Immunization Records – A few high schools require parents to upload student record documents through their account/portal. If your son is applying to one of these schools, Mrs. Heffernan will email you your son’s documents so you can upload them. You will receive them before the January deadline.  The email will have 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade Q1 and Q2 (when ready) report cards and 6th and 7th-grade standardized test scores.  In June Mrs. Heffernan will send Q4 Report Card and 8th grade standardized test scores so you can upload those as well.  Schools that require parental upload for student records.

  • Strake Jesuit Preparatory High School

  • Houston Christian

  • St. John School

NOTE: For all other schools, Western Academy will send your son’s records (report cards, standardized test scores, and immunization records) directly to the school.

WESTERN ACADEMY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING

Unless noted above in the parent section, Mrs. Heffernan will email your son’s supplemental documents to the high school(s) you list on the Middle School Transcript Release Form.  The documents include:

Supplemental Documents Required:

  • Recommendation Forms – The forms are filled out by your son’s English/Writing and Math teacher(s). Mr. Hoff fills out the Counselor recommendation form.

  • Student Records - Report cards for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, standardized test scores for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, and the current immunization records.

  • 2nd Quarter Report Card Letter – Since the deadline for supplemental documents is before our second quarter ends, Mr. Hoff writes a letter letting the schools know when they will receive the 2nd quarter grades (one week later than the deadline). This will NOT affect your son’s application in any way.

The 8th grade standardized test scores and final report card will be emailed to the high schools in June except Strake Jesuit, Houston Christian, and St. John’s School who require parental uploads on their portals.

Please contact Mrs. Heffernan with questions/concerns regarding the High School Application process and documents.