International Admissions
Launch your global education at San Domenico.
Welcome
Begin your journey today!
Founded in 1850 as the first independent school in California, San Domenico’s K-12 campus is located in Marin County, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. At SD, you’ll join a long legacy of students inspired by innovative programming and an unwavering commitment to academic excellence with purpose. Our international community creates a dynamic environment that enriches classroom discussions with global perspectives, preparing you for leadership in an interconnected world.
Here on our 515-acre campus—surrounded by rolling golden hills, peaceful creekside retreats, and miles of trails to explore in your own backyard—you will find your community and forge lifelong friendships with students from around the world. All while soaking up everything that California has to offer!
Our graduates continue their journeys at top universities across the United States and around the world, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Stanford, Pomona College, University of Chicago, New York University, Williams College, Columbia University, Cornell, and Juilliard. Please see our 2021-2025 SD Matriculation List for details.
To learn more about San Domenico, or to start the application process, please complete our international inquiry form.
International Admissions Checklist
The following are required of all international applicants. If you have any questions, please email us at admissions@sandomenico.org.
✓ Inquiry Form:
Before submitting any other application materials, please fill out our international inquiry form. This ensures you're added to our system and allows us to accurately track your application as materials arrive.
✓ Application:
Please submit your application via Ravenna or Standard Application Online (SAO), whichever you prefer. We kindly ask that you choose only one platform.
✓ Official School Transcripts:
For 9th-grade applicants, we require your complete middle school transcripts, including the first semester of your current school year. For 10th and 11th grade applicants, we require your complete middle and high school transcripts, including the first semester of your current school year. All transcripts must be “official” with a school seal or stamp. If your transcript is in a language other than English, we require that it be translated into English, along with a school profile that explains the grading scale.
✓ Teacher Recommendations:
Recommendations are required from your current math teacher, English teacher, and school principal or counselor.
✓ English Proficiency Test:
San Domenico strongly prefers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. Our recommended minimum score for rising ninth graders is 85. Our school code for the TOEFL is 0897. We also accept Duolingo (minimum score 115), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam (minimum score 6.5), or the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) (minimum score B1-B2). Official testing results from Duolingo, IELTS, and CEFR should be sent to admissions@sandomenico.org.
✓ Student Interview:
Before scheduling an interview, students must first submit the international inquiry form, as well as a student profile in either Ravenna or SAO. The 30-minute student interview is required and conducted via Zoom. Please email admissions@sandomenico.org to schedule your interview.
✓ Vericant Interview:
Students from Mainland China are required to submit a Vericant interview. Interviews must be completed by January 15, 2026. Visit Vericant.com to learn more and schedule an interview.
✓ Indexed Tuition Application (optional)
If applying for financial aid, please submit your Indexed Tuition application and International Student Indexed Tuition Profile on Clarity by Thursday, January 8, 2026. Each household is required to submit a separate application. Visit our Indexed Tuition page for instructions on how to apply. For questions and technical assistance about using Clarity, please email support@claritytuition.com.
Have Question about the Financial Aid Process? Please join us on Zoom to learn more about our indexed tuition application process and how to apply. Thursday, November 13, 2025 7:00 PM PST. Register Here.
Standardized Testing Not Required
Please note that San Domenico will not require or accept standardized SSAT or ISEE test scores as part of the application process for the 2025-26 school year. This decision is made in the best interest of students and acknowledges the inequities in standardized testing.
SD on the Road
TIBSO Convention
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
9/26/25 - 9/29/25
NABSW
London, England
10/03/25 - 10/05/25
China
11/15/25 - 11/23/25
Beijing (11/15-17), Guangzhou (11/17-20), Shenzhen (11/17-20), Shanghai (11/21-22), Chengdu (11/23).
Students interested in meeting with San Domenico while we are in China should send a request to admissions@sandomenico.org to arrange a meeting or interview.
Education Partners and Agencies.
Join us on Zoom to learn about the latest developments at San Domenico, including academics, student support, arts, boarding, and athletics.
| 2025 Virtual Information Session for Educational Partners and Agencies | September 23, 2025 6-7 PM PST Register Here |
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| 2025 Virtual Information Session for Educational Partners and Agencies (Athletic Focus) | October 22, 2025 11-12 PM PST Register Here |
Important International Admissions Dates to Apply for 2026-27 Academic Year
August 15, 2025: Applications available through Ravenna and Standard Application Online (SAO).
January 8, 2026: Indexed Tuition Application due.
January 8, 2026: Admissions Application due.
March 10, 2026: Admissions notifications released (for applicants who applied by January 8, 2026).
March 27, 2025: Enrollment contracts and tuition deposits for the 2026-2027 school year are due.
Student Life Series: Information Session and Q&A’s!
We are excited to invite you to a series of upcoming virtual events designed to give you a closer look at our programs, community, and student experience. These interactive sessions are a great way to learn more about what makes a San Domenico education so special and to connect directly with faculty and students. See the list of events below.
You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of what it's like to be an SD Panther!
| Student Life Series: Alumni Panel |
October 23, 2025 5-6 PM PDT Register Here |
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| Student Life Series: Athletics |
November 12, 2025 5-6 PM PST Register Here |
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| Student Life Series: Boarding |
November 18, 2025 5-6 PM PST Register Here |
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| Student Life Series: Visual, Performing and Digital Arts |
December 9, 2025 5-6PM PST Register Here |
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| Student Life Series: Boarding |
February 10, 2026 11-12 PM PST Register Here |
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| Student Life Series: Athletics |
February 11, 2026 11-12 PM PST Register Here |
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| Conversation with the Head of School |
March 11, 2026 9:15 - 10:15 AM PST Register Here |
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| Conversation with the Head of School |
March 13, 2026 5-6 PM PST Register Here |
On Campus Events - International Students Welcome
If you are visiting California, please be sure to stop by and visit us!
Campus Tours
August 2025 - March 2026 (Tuesday - Friday)
Explore our state-of-the-art facilities and stunning 515-acre campus while learning how our tradition of Excellence with Purpose shapes every student’s journey. Tours usually last 45 minutes. Families may request by sending an email to: admissions@sandomenico.org.
Preview Day
October 18, 2025 10-1 PM
December 7, 2025 1-4PM
Experience a day in the life at San Domenico! Prospective students and their families are invited to explore our community through interactive mini-lessons, engaging student and faculty panels, and a lively showcase of athletics, arts, clubs, and extracurricular activities. Families may request by sending an email to: admissions@sandomenico.org.
Campus Tours
If you plan to visit the San Francisco Bay Area, let us show you around campus! You may register for a personal tour by contacting admissions@sandomenico.org. We are happy to work around your travel dates and availability.
Virtual Tour
Can’t make it to campus? Our virtual tour is the next best thing. Follow along as our admissions team introduces you to our 515-acre campus - including athletics, arts, academics, residential life, and more.
Student Perspectives
Every year, we welcome more than 40 new international boarding students from around the world. See what they have to say about SD, from academics and extracurriculars, to what it’s like to live on campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Select a topic below
Are international families required to visit San Domenico for their interviews? / Can international students conduct their interviews via phone or Zoom?
International students are not required to visit San Domenico for their interviews. While we would love to meet you and give you a tour of the campus, those who are unable to visit our campus can schedule their interview via Zoom. Students must have completed a student inquiry and be in the “started” mode of their application, on either SAO or Ravenna, to schedule an interview.
Are International Students required to have a Guardian in the Bay Area?
San Domenico School strongly encourages students living outside of California or the United States to have a designated San Francisco Bay Area guardian in case of illness or to help in emergencies. Parents are responsible for finding their child's guardian. A form for local guardianship will be sent along with other enrollment forms after a student has been accepted. If you do not have local friends or family nearby, we recommend Student Health Advocates (SHA) and Cogito World Education as reliable resources to help with guardianship services.
Can international students apply as day students?
International students who will reside in the area with a parent or guardian for the entire school year may apply as a day student.
Do you accept international students in lower grades?
Our boarding and ELL language program starts at Grade 9. Younger students with a demonstrated level of English language proficiency (i.e., TOEFL above 100), and who are living locally with their parents may apply as middle school day students. We do not accept homestay students at the younger age levels.
Do you enroll international students mid-year (i.e. spring semester)?
San Domenico’s school year begins in mid-August and continues through early June. We do not admit international students mid-year.