About

Ursuline Academy is an independent, Catholic, college preparatory school for young women in grades 7-12. Founded in 1946, Ursuline Academy in Dedham operates under the sponsorship of the international network of Ursuline Sisters, the oldest religious teaching order devoted to the education of young women.

Admissions

Our Admissions team welcomes families for tours throughout the year, and we sponsor events designed for students to explore our campus, sit in on classes, and to get to know our community. Ours is a holistic approach to knowing each student as we review qualifications for admissions. Learn why families choose Ursuline, and how our graduates become young women of character, faith and scholarship!

ACADEMICS

Ursuline Academy offers a rigorous program of study designed to challenge and inspire students, and our faculty encourage their love of learning, reading, and scholarly exploration in the pursuit of truth. Our graduates are fully prepared to study, analyze, and communicate persuasively to meet the challenges of university work.

LIVING THE MISSION

The values of an Ursuline education– a Catholic education– were established centuries ago when Saint Angela Merici dedicated her life to forming a company of young women engaged in bettering their communities. At Ursuline, we challenge our students to live lives of integrity that reflect the principles of Catholic social teaching, and to be Christ to one another in today’s world. We welcome students of all faiths, and support every student on her spiritual journey.

Apply Now!

Our priority application deadline each year is on January 15th. However, each year we have available seats in some grades and will continue to offer rolling admission after the priority deadline until seats are filled.

An application for admission is submitted through Ravenna, an online platform used by many independent schools for submitting forms, event registration, and admissions correspondence. An online account must be created on the Ravenna platform in order to begin the process.

Applications for fall 2026

The portal for applications for fall 2026 entry is now open in Ravenna. Please follow the link below to being the application process. If you have questions and wish to receive guidance about the admissions process, please email admissions@ursulineacademy.net, or call Mrs. Solomon at 781.493.7726.

Open your Ravenna account to apply now!

Step 1: Submit the Preliminary Application and Fee through Ravenna

Step 2: Take the Entrance Exam

Applicants to grades seven and eight: Applicants applying to grades seven and eight are required to submit results for the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam). Applicants may register via the Educational Resource Bureau website. Our School Code is 220683. Applicants may take the exam wherever they choose and have the scores forwarded to Ursuline.

Please note that Ursuline Academy will offer the ISEE on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 9 am and it will be a closed exam. To register for the ISEE, visit the Educational Resource Bureau website and when prompted, enter the event code: PMBE7FNY.

Please note that ERB is now partnering with Test Innovators to provide test familiarization resources to every ISEE registrant. TI also offers personalized ISEE preparation tools.

Applicants to grades nine and above: Applicants applying to grades nine and above are required to submit results for one of the following exams: ISEE, HSPT or SSAT.

ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam): Applicants may register via the Educational Resource Bureau website. Our School Code is 220683. Please note that the ISEE will be administered at Ursuline Academy on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 9am and it will be a closed exam. You may choose this location when you register for the exam on the ISEE site. and it will be a closed exam. To register for the ISEE, visit the Educational Resource Bureau website and when prompted, enter the event code: PMBE7FNY.

HSPT (High School Placement Test administered through the Archdiocese of Boston): Applicants may register via the Scholastic Testing Service website. Our School Code is 520. Please note that the HSPT will be administered at Ursuline Academy on Saturday, November 22, 2025 and you may choose this location when you register through the HSPT site, but no event code is necessary.

SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test): Applicants may register via the SSAT website. Our School Code is 7866. Please note that Ursuline Academy will offer the SSAT on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 9 am. To register for the SSAT, visit the website and when prompted, enter the event code: 9P-1S2T-1S0C.
Applicants to 9th grade or beyond may take their selected exam wherever they choose and have the scores forwarded to Ursuline.

Step 3: Schedule an Interview

A personal interview is required of every applicant. Students who come for a Private Tour may schedule the interview on the same day, or you may request a Zoom interview with a member of our Admissions Team at a later date. Parents or guardians will also have an opportunity to meet with the interviewer and are encouraged to ask questions at that time. Please note that to schedule a virtual interview, the step "Submit Application for Admission Form" must first be completed in Ravenna.

We will post available time slots for a personal interview beginning after our Open House. No appointments are available prior to that date.

Step 4: Submit Required Application Materials

The following documents must be completed by the family:

Student Statement
Parent Statement

The following documents must be completed by the school, but you will be required to enter names and email addresses for the individuals from whom you are requesting these materials:

Transcripts (including current grades, report cards, standardized test scores, disciplinary and attendance records from the previous two years)
Current English Teacher Recommendation
Current Math Teacher Recommendation
School Administrator or Counselor Report

* Requests for the teacher recommendations and school administrator or counselor report are sent electronically within Ravenna. Therefore, you will be required to indicate the appropriate person at your applicant’s school to receive each of these forms. The school will then submit these items directly to Ursuline Academy.

The following documents should be submitted if appropriate:

IEP, 504 or School plan
Neuro-psychological exam

Decision Notification

Ravenna Support

Should you have a question about Ravenna or your application, please contact help@ravennasolutions.com. Ravenna is happy to answer your inquiry by phone; however, they require that all support inquiries are initiated through the email address you used to create your Ravenna account. It is important that they are able to validate your access to any information about your applicant’s account to protect your privacy.

Need additional information?
Please contact our Admissions Office at 781-493-7726 or admissions@ursulineacademy.net.

Non-Discrimination Admissions Policy

Ursuline schools are guided by a set of core values that include respect for the uniqueness of the individual. In this spirit, Ursuline Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, or creed to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion or creed in the administration of its education policies, scholarship and financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.