FAQs

About Admissions

La Pietra accepts new students to grades 6 -12 each year. 6th grade is the entry grade level at La Pietra, with many new students entering in grades 6, 7, 8, and 9. Depending on each girl’s situation, some new students may start in grades 10 -12 as well. La Pietra has a very welcoming school community, with new students finding it easy to make friends, get involved, and have a smooth transition to La Pietra at the start of the new school year.

How much weight will my daughter’s SSAT test score, academic record, or teacher recommendations carry in her application to the school?

La Pietra is committed to the education of the whole girl; as such, we consider each applicant as a young woman with multifaceted talents, strengths, and interests. The Admission Committee reviews all portions of the application equally (teacher recommendations, report cards/grades/comments, SSAT scores, student interview, and campus visits). There is no “magic” number that automatically qualifies or disqualifies any student for admission. The Admission Committee seeks to admit students who have the potential to thrive, blossom, and find their unique purpose at La Pietra.

Please note, La Pietra will not require SSAT testing, or any other standardized admissions testing, for applicants to grades 6-12 for the 2024-2025 school year. Submission of SSAT test results and other standardized testing with the admission application is optional.

May we visit the campus during the admissions process?

Absolutely! We welcome families to attend an Admissions Open House event, schedule a personalized campus tour, and especially to arrange a School-In-Session visit, during which prospective students may come for a shadow day visit. Please click here to learn more or contact the Admission Office to arrange your visit today.

What does a School-in-Session visit entail?

During a School-in-Session (SIS), shadow day visit, your daughter will spend part of a school day attending classes with our students here on campus. She will have the chance to sit in and participate in several different classes, meet students and teachers, experience our campus and classrooms, and get a feel for the “day-in-the-life” of the all-girls’ experience of a La Pietra student.

Please contact the Admission Office at 808-922-2744 or email [email protected] for more information.

Do we have to submit a full application for our daughter before she can come in for a School-in-Session (SIS) visit?

SIS visits are completely independent of the admission process, so families are not required to submit an application to schedule a School-in-Session (SIS) visit for their daughters. We actually encourage families to set-up an SIS visit early in the admissions process to learn more about the school. Students who have already submitted their admission application or believe they may submit an application do have the option to compete the admissions student interview during the SIS visit if they choose to do so.

Will applying for financial aid jeopardize our chances for admission?

No. The financial aid process is completely independent of the admissions process. Our admissions decisions are need-blind, so financial circumstances do not enter into the admissions equation. Applying for financial aid does not influence an application for admission or admission decisions. To learn more about applying for financial aid, click here.

About Life at La Pietra

Does La Pietra have a religious affiliation?

No. La Pietra is Hawai‘i’s only independent, all-girls' school for grades 6 through 12 that is not religiously affiliated. As a school, La Pietra is committed to providing all students with a community that cultivates an inclusive, diverse school culture in which all girls are authentically welcomed and embraced.

Does La Pietra require that girls wear a uniform?

Yes. Our girls wear a uniform Monday through Thursday. Fridays are “free-dress” days, during which students are not required to wear their uniform, but must dress within the dress code guidelines. Families may purchase uniforms at any time through our uniform vendor. Click here to review La Pietra’s Parent-Student Handbook for more information.

What is the faculty to student ratio and average class size at La Pietra? What are the advantages of your small school size?

Our faculty-student ratio is 1:7 and the average size of instructional classes in both our middle and upper school is 10 to 15 students. Our intentionally sized school fosters personal attention, individualized learning, close community connections, and student engagement, while also raising confidence, leadership experience and strong voices for young women.

What are some of the benefits of an all-girls school?

National research confirms what we have known since our inception – that a single-gender, all-girls’ educational environment is the right fit for many young women. La Pietra is recognized for its innovative and dynamic academic and extracurricular programs focusing on how girls learn and grow best. Each girl is her own person at La Pietra. Our goal is to help each girl find her voice and develop the confidence to use it.

As an all-girls school, La Pietra offers an academic and social environment that empowers young women leaders, where girls can take risks, discuss issues pertinent to young women, and develop positive self-confidence. Everything we do is geared to educating young women – from our teaching strategies and curriculum, to our arts, athletics, and co-curricular program – to help each girl to discover and define her authentic purpose at La Pietra, in college, and in life. To learn more about the benefits of an all-girls’ environment, click here.

Does La Pietra offer competitive sports?

Yes! Athletic participation at La Pietra is consistently high. Each year approximately 70% of La Pietra’s students in grades 6 -12 participate in at least one sport, with La Pietra’s student-athletes competing in up to 18 different sports on about 40 teams each year. Some student-athletes go on to complete at the collegiate level. Click here to learn more about the sports program at La Pietra.

Does La Pietra offer Advanced Placement Courses?

La Pietra offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses on-campus as well as through our unique partnership with the One Schoolhouse. To learn more about La Pietra’s academic program, offering over 100 different courses to help students discover their passions, talents, and academic potential, click here.

How does La Pietra prepare my daughter for college?

The journey for college preparation begins in 6th grade with our unique block schedule and continues through high school. La Pietra’s College Counselor works closely with students and families to discuss course selection, individual interests, and future career and college goals in meetings throughout middle and high school. In fact, did you know the following statistics about La Pietra?

There is a 100% college acceptance rate for La Pietra’s graduates.
85-90% of seniors report that they are accepted into their top 1st or 2nd choice college or university.
$4M: Recent graduating classes have earned approximately $4M in merit scholarships for college each year.

For more information about La Pietra’s college counseling program, visit the Academics and College Counseling sections of the website.

What is the block schedule?

To promote greater depth of understanding and maximize student learning, La Pietra employs a block schedule consisting of four terms, each approximately 9 weeks in length, in the academic school year. Each term is equivalent to one semester in a traditional schedule. Each term consists of four main classes or blocks of instructional time, with the four classes rotating throughout the Monday – Friday weekly schedule during each term.

Do the Middle and Upper Schools share the same campus?

Yes, our entire school, including grades 6 -12, is located on the same beautiful campus on the slopes of Diamond Head. Each grade level has its own designated area for lockers, as well as some specific classes, clubs, sports and extracurricular activities designed just for middle or upper schoolers. While some classroom locations are designated for our middle school students, all students will have classes in different parts of our campus. We have intentionally created some collaborative special programs, such as Peer Leaders, Big and Little Sister Program, National Honor Society Academic Buddy Program, student-led clubs, Student Government, special school assemblies, events and more, which help to bring our older and younger students together to bond, create friendships, and form lifelong “sisterhood” connections.

Does La Pietra provide boarding for international students?

La Pietra is not a boarding school. All of our international students manage their own living arrangements, usually by staying with relatives who already live on the island of O‘ahu. To learn more about international student admissions, click here.

Does La Pietra offer a bus service?

La Pietra does not provide a bus service; however, many of our parents have self-organized carpools and make arrangements with relatives.

Who may I contact if I have additional questions?

We are here to help you with any questions you may have about our school! Please contact our Admission Office for more information by email at [email protected] or call 808.922.2744. We look forward to assisting you!