Stanford OHS follows a traditional August–June academic calendar year. Applicants apply in the fall/winter prior to their desired academic year of entry. We encourage you to attend our admissions events, and connect with the Admissions Team as you begin your application journey.
Stanford OHS seeks students who are intellectually curious and academically driven, eager to engage in our school community, and primed to succeed in our extraordinary online environment.
How We Assess Applicants
Admission to Stanford OHS is competitive. We strive to keep our classes small, therefore we cannot accept all qualified students. Our Admissions Committee reviews each application holistically, taking into consideration a range of factors; no one item is the deciding factor. We evaluate an applicant's candidacy in three areas:
Academic Ability
Applicants must be prepared for the rigor of Stanford OHS classes and have demonstrated a history of academic achievement and desire for challenge. We look for this dedication to academic pursuits and intellectual curiosity by assessing:
Personal Qualities
We select students who will become contributing members of the Stanford OHS community and who will engage in the life of the school and its extracurricular pursuits. We look for this level of engagement by assessing:
A Good Fit
The Admissions Committee seeks students who demonstrate a clear understanding of the school’s teaching model and show independence, self-advocacy, strong time-management skills, and appropriate maturity. We assess this in:
Nondiscrimination Statement
Stanford University and Stanford Online High School Nondiscrimination Statement: Stanford University admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the University. Consistent with its obligations under the law, Stanford prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in the administration of the University's programs and activities; Stanford also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence.
Younger Applicants
While Stanford OHS places students by ability rather than age or grade level, we typically encourage students to apply for grade 7 when they are in grade 6 or ages 11–12.
Applicants for Senior Year
Very rarely does Stanford OHS accept students who apply to spend only their senior year at Stanford OHS and graduate with a Stanford OHS diploma. Rising seniors are subject to a different application process that may include interviews, placement tests, and additional work samples. Most applicants will be asked to consider taking two years to satisfy Stanford OHS Graduation Requirements. For more information, please contact Admissions. We do not accept applicants mid-year.
Test Score Requirement
Standardized test scores are required if the applicant meets one or both of the conditions listed below:
If you are unsure if a standardized test score will be required for your application, please contact our Office of Admissions.
Standardized test scores are optional if the applicant has attended schooling conducted primarily in English, and have not been homeschooled in the last two years. There will be no disadvantage for choosing not to submit standardized test scores, if the scores are not required. We evaluate applications holistically; no one factor is deciding.
Test Options
If the applicant chooses or is required to submit a standardized test score, it must be from one of the tests listed below. We will not review scores from other tests. The test score must be from a sitting between September 2019 and mid-December 2020.
Any of the tests below will fulfill our standardized test score requirement, regardless of the applicant's grade level. Stanford OHS will norm your test score for your age.
Please note that Stanford OHS does not require the optional ACT writing section or the optional SAT essay.
If you have already taken an approved standardized test from the list below in or after September 2019, you may submit your results for your application to Stanford OHS.
If you have not taken a standardized test, please use the guidelines below to choose one:
Registering for a Test
Please visit the individual website for each test service to register for a test. Be sure to schedule your test by mid-December 2020 to ensure timely delivery.
Review Enrollment Options
Stanford OHS has full-time, part-time, and single course enrollment options. Explore our enrollment options and admission outcomes to see which option is best for you. Please note: the desired enrollment status you indicate in your application is not binding.
Start Your Online Application
Create a Stanford OHS application account using the link below. The application account should be made with the student applicant's legal name, but a parent email address may be used to receive application communications.
A complete application consists of the following:
Select Your Recommenders and Plan for Your National Standardized Test (if required)
(Required of applicants independent of Enrollment Option selected: Single Course, Part-Time, and Full-Time)
Applicants to Grades 7 and 8: Schedule Your Videoconference Interview
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only applicants who apply by November 13, 2020, will be guaranteed an interview via our online webinar platform. Applicants and their families will be required to be on camera for the interview. You can only schedule an interview once you have submitted your application with required materials. Applicants who submit a completed application after November 13, 2020, are welcome to submit an optional video essay in their applications.
NOTE: Recommendations, transcripts, and test scores do not need to be submitted until the admission deadline on January 13, 2021. Interviews are not required.
Check Your Application Status
Return to the Application Status and Materials Checklist page to make sure all of your application materials have been submitted. When your admissions decision is ready, you will receive an email notification that prompts you to log in to this page for the decision.
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