High School

Meet The #1 at Dallas Private Elite College Placement Index, St. Mark's School of Texas

By Data Team | Published July 15, 2026

A review of the latest matriculation data for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex places St. Mark's School of Texas at the #1 overall position in our Dallas Private High School Elite College Placement Index. For the Class of 2026, the school achieved a 44% Top 25 (T25) National University yield alongside a 26% Top Texas matriculation rate, establishing it as a leading preparatory institution.

This indicates that St. Mark's provides a highly verified pathway to selective national universities while maintaining strong enrollment at top-tier in-state public programs.

Summary of Findings

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Top-Tier Placement (#1 Dallas Private): St. Mark's performs strongly in our Texas-specific methodology, logging an ECPI score of 130.40. This is driven by their 44% T25 rate and a 9.9/10 Readiness score.
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The UT Austin & National Placement Pipeline: Our analysis confirms that for Class of 2026, 17 students matriculated to UT Austin, balancing out-of-state Ivy+ and T25 placements (like Duke, Stanford, Northwestern, and UChicago).
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Endowment and Financial Aid: By dedicating over one-third of its $200 million endowment to need-based financial aid, St. Mark's distributes over $4 million annually. This commitment ensures that financial barriers do not prevent the enrollment of capable academic talent.

Macro-Educational Context

In the highly competitive Dallas private school landscape, institutions continuously vie to distinguish themselves through updated facilities, sprawling campuses, and tailored academic programs. St. Mark's School of Texas differentiates itself by maintaining a commitment to its core mission: preparing young men for leadership in a rapidly changing world through intellectual, moral, and physical training.

Founded in 1906, St. Mark's is an independent day school that insists on the "discipline of postponing immediate gratification in the interest of earning eventual, hard-won satisfaction." Data suggests this character-driven philosophy aligns with the holistic review processes at highly selective universities.

Rigorous Environment: An 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio allows the 97 full-time faculty members (63 with master's degrees, 15 with doctorates) to closely mentor the student body.
Scale and Reach: With 924 boys enrolled (437 in the Upper School), St. Mark's operates at a scale that allows for robust AP programming (25 courses) and 16 different athletic sports, all while maintaining an average class size of 15 students.

Analytical Framework

Matriculation vs. Acceptance

In accordance with Chicardgo School's official methodology, we explicitly evaluate verified matriculation (where students actually enroll and attend) rather than mere collegiate acceptance rates. For our Texas-specific index, we apply a tailored weighting system to account for the significant influence of top-tier in-state public universities alongside Elite (Ivy+, T25, T15 LAC) placements.

Texas ECPI Score Components & Weighting
ECPI Component	Weight	Analytical Description
T25 National University Matriculation	30%	Based on the percentage of graduates attending a Top 25 National University.
Top Texas Public Matriculation	20%	Based on the percentage of graduates attending The University of Texas at Austin or Texas A&M University.
T15 Liberal Arts College Matriculation	20%	Based on the percentage of graduates attending a Top 15 Liberal Arts College.
Other Top Texas University Matriculation	10%	Based on the percentage of graduates attending other top Texas universities (e.g., SMU, TCU, Baylor,Texas Tech).
College Readiness Score	20%	An internal score reflecting AP/IB rates, average test scores, and National Merit Scholar counts.

Institutional Profile: The St. Mark's Ecosystem

Located on Preston Road in Dallas, Texas, St. Mark's operates a 42-acre campus outfitted with modern facilities, including the recently opened Winn Science Center (2019) and the Zierk Athletic Center (2025).

Geographic Footprint: 10600 Preston Road, Dallas, TX

Table 1: Structural Baselines & Fast Facts (2025-2026 Data)
Institutional Metric	St. Mark's Profile
Total Enrollment	924 Boys (437 Upper School)
Selectivity & Retention	16% acceptance rate, 90% yield, 99% retention
Diversity Profile	53% Students of Color
Extracurriculars	16 Sports, 90 Clubs, 55 Fine Arts courses

Architecture of Academic Rigor

St. Mark's offers an extensive Advanced Curriculum. In the 2024-2025 academic year, 272 students took 860 AP exams. Notably, 98% of those tests earned a score of 3 or higher.

Furthermore, for the Class of 2025, over 55% of the senior class earned National Merit recognition (29 Semifinalists, 26 Finalists, and 28 Commended Scholars), indicating strong overall academic achievement.

Standardized Testing Profile

Earning a 9.9 out of 10 in our Readiness Score, St. Mark's demonstrates strong statistical aptitude among its student body.

SAT Benchmarks (Mid-50%): Reading & Writing 710-770; Math 730-790. (Total Score 1455-1555).
ACT Benchmarks (Mid-50%): Composite of 33-35.
Methodology Note: This level of standardized testing performance generally positions students competitively for consideration at highly selective national universities.

Affordability & Financial Aid

A key factor in St. Mark's consistent presence at the top of the Chicardgo ECPI rankings is its financial resources. A substantial endowment allows the school to attract capable students across North Texas, regardless of their family's socioeconomic status.

Financial Aid Distribution

More than one-third of the School's $200 million endowment is devoted to need-based financial aid. Annually, the school provides over $4 million in assistance, with 14.4% of the student body receiving some form of financial support.

This aid is designed to bridge the gap across income levels. The average financial aid grant is more than $21,000, and for families earning less than $140,000, the average award climbs to $32,248, which covers roughly 90% of standard tuition.

Tuition Structure (2026-2027)

Upper School (Grade 12)	$41,856
Upper School (Grades 9-11)	$40,068 - $42,697
Middle School (Grades 5-8)	$37,346 - $39,502
Lower School (Grades 1-4)	$33,432 - $33,915

Financial Aid Grants by Family Income

Income Bracket	Number of Grants
$0 - $70,000	11
$70,000 - $140,000	30
$140,000 - $175,000	14
$175,000 - $225,000	22
$225,000+	56

Average Grant Amount by Income

Income Bracket	Average Grant
$0 - $70,000	$34,521
$70,000 - $140,000	$32,619
$140,000 - $175,000	$27,071
$175,000 - $225,000	$25,434
$225,000+	$13,985

The school employs the Clarity Financial Aid Application to evaluate need blindly, which ensures that applying for aid does not impact a student's admission standing. Additional supplemental aid ($150,000+) is also awarded for tutoring, technology, and travel.

The Top 25 & Top TX Pipeline

In the index covering 2020-2026, St. Mark's secures a 44% modeled score in the T25 category, supplemented by a 26% Top Texas public university rate. Based on a verified graduating class size of 109 students for the Class of 2026, the volume of placements into highly selective institutions is statistically significant.

Estimated Matriculation Density

44%

Total T25 Index Score - 5 Year

26%

Top TX Index Score - 5 Year

7%

T15 LAC Index Score - 5 Year

16%

UT Austin (Class of 2026)

The National Selective Draw

St. Mark's regularly sends sizable cohorts to highly selective private universities, frequently overcoming typical regional admission biases.

Duke University 4 (3.7%)
Northwestern University 4 (3.7%)
Stanford University 3 (2.8%)
Columbia University 3 (2.8%)
University of Chicago 3 (2.8%)
Vanderbilt University 3 (2.8%)
WashU in St. Louis 3 (2.8%)
UPenn 2 (1.8%)
Cornell University 2 (1.8%)

In-State Public Institutions

In Texas, matriculating to UT Austin or Texas A&M requires high academic credentials due to the state's top-percentile auto-admit rules. A significant portion of St. Mark's graduates follow this pathway.

The University of Texas at Austin 17 (15.6%)
Texas A&M University 8 (7.3%)
Boston College (OOS Note) 6 (5.5%)
Clemson University 3 (2.8%)
Georgetown University 2 (1.8%)

National Liberal Arts Placements

While St. Mark's graduates show a tendency toward larger national research universities, the school maintains a consistent footprint at Top 15 Liberal Arts Colleges (LAC) for students seeking seminar-style undergraduate experiences.

LAC Placements

Amherst College (T15) 2 (1.8%)
Claremont McKenna College (T15) 2 (1.8%)
Swarthmore College (T15) 1 (0.9%)
Williams College (T15) 1 (0.9%)

Core Matriculations (Class of 2026)

Our data analysts have compiled the institutions where two or more St. Mark's graduates from the Class of 2026 enrolled. This list indicates a consistent placement pipeline into highly selective schools. (Percentages reflect the yield against the verified cohort size of 109 students).

St. Mark's Official Placements (≥ 2 Matriculations)
Institution	Enrolled	Yield (%)	ECPI Category
The University of Texas at Austin	17	15.6%	Top TX
Texas A&M University	8	7.3%	Top TX
Boston College	6	5.5%	Top 50 Broad
Duke University	4	3.7%	T25 National
Northwestern University	4	3.7%	T25 National
Stanford University	3	2.8%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Columbia University	3	2.8%	Ivy+ / T25 National
University of Chicago	3	2.8%	T25 National
Vanderbilt University	3	2.8%	T25 National
Washington University in St Louis	3	2.8%	T25 National
Clemson University	3	2.8%	Top 50 Broad
University of Pennsylvania	2	1.8%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Cornell University	2	1.8%	Ivy+ / T25 National
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	2	1.8%	T25 National
Amherst College	2	1.8%	T15 LAC
Claremont McKenna College	2	1.8%	T15 LAC
Georgetown University	2	1.8%	T25 National
Indiana University-Bloomington	2	1.8%	Top 50 Broad
Tulane University of Louisiana	2	1.8%	Top 50 Broad
University of Florida	2	1.8%	Top 50 Broad
Wake Forest University	2	1.8%	Top 50 Broad

Broad Matriculations (Single Enrollments)

The Class of 2026 includes single-student placements at multiple competitive institutions globally. Each single enrollment represents 0.9% of the 109-student cohort.

* Institutions highlighted in bold represent highly selective universities tracked within the Chicardgo ECPI core categories (Ivy+, Top 25 National, and Top 15 Liberal Arts Colleges).

Auburn University

Austin Community College District

Brown University

Case Western Reserve University

Chapman University

College of Charleston

Dartmouth College

Emory University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Harvard University

IE University - Madrid Campus

Johns Hopkins University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

New York University

Northeastern University

Purdue University

Rhode Island School of Design

Rice University

Santa Clara University

Swarthmore College

United States Naval Academy

UC Davis

UIUC

University of Miami

UNC Chapel Hill

University of Virginia

Williams College

Yale University

Counseling Strategy: Finding the Best Fit

St. Mark's primary goal in the college admission process is to guide each student toward a suitable university match. To this end, the process is personalized and focuses on the criteria established by the student for choosing a school.

Individualized Guidance

The counseling office begins formal meetings with students and parents during the junior year. Working closely with advisors and teachers, students receive ongoing guidance throughout the admissions process.

"When we fully understand a student's ambitions and hopes for college, we can then guide him in finding the best fit. We want to guide boys toward colleges where they will thrive and constantly grow into better men."
— Verónica Guzmán Pulido, Director of College Counseling

Institutional Reach

St. Mark's attracts significant attention from university admissions offices. The school hosts representatives from nearly 200 colleges and universities annually, providing students with direct on-campus interactions with admission teams.

Alumni Networks and Legacy

St. Mark's School of Texas possesses an alumni network that is represented across national sports, business, arts, and exploration. The leadership education developed on the Dallas campus frequently translates into sustained careers across diverse fields.

Notable Featured Alumni

Class of '03

Taylor Jenkins

Head Coach of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, known for his leadership.

Class of '08

Emmanuel Acho

Former NFL Linebacker, Emmy-winning Broadcaster, and NYT Bestselling Author.

Class of '07

Sam Acho

Former NFL Linebacker, Author, and prominent Sports Analyst.

Class of '84

Victor Vescovo

Explorer, first person to reach both the highest and lowest points on all continents and oceans.

Class of '83

Clark Hunt

Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor in MLS.

Class of '65

Tommy Lee Jones

Academy Award-winning actor and filmmaker who attended on scholarship.

Regional Competitors

To contextualize the data achieved by St. Mark's (130.40 ECPI), we evaluate its direct competitors in the Dallas private school market.

The Hockaday School

This highly competitive all-girls institution secures a 32% T25 rate and a 16% Top TX rate. It remains a primary academic counterpart for St. Mark's in the region.

Cistercian Prep

Known for a specialized curriculum, Cistercian yields a 22% T25 rate and a 24% Top TX rate, maintaining strong placement through rigorous selectivity.

Episcopal School of Dallas

ESD offers a co-ed alternative with solid regional placement (18% Top TX) and a respectable 16% T25 rate.

Implications

Synthesizing the data, St. Mark's leading position in the Dallas market is supported by several structural factors:

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Financial Resources: A $200 million endowment provides updated facilities and the ability to subsidize nearly 15% of the student body, keeping academic standards high without socioeconomic compromise.
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The UT Austin Factor: Enrolling 17 boys into UT Austin in a single year demonstrates a highly effective understanding of Texas' public university admissions landscape, which complements their private placements.
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Readiness as Currency: A 9.9 College Readiness score implies these students enter the applicant pool supported by high AP scores and strong SAT/ACT medians, minimizing academic risk for universities.

FAQ: The St. Mark's Evaluation

St. Mark's achieves the #1 ranking by producing a 44% Top 25 (T25) matriculation yield, a 26% Top Texas yield, and a 9.9 Readiness Score. Their overall ECPI score of 130.40 makes them the leading institution in Dallas.

Our first-party data models indicate a high density of elite placements. For the Class of 2026 alone (109 students), St. Mark's generated 17 enrollments at UT Austin, 4 at Duke, 4 at Northwestern, 3 at Stanford, 3 at Columbia, and 3 at UChicago.

With an endowment over $200 million, St. Mark's provides over $4 million in financial assistance annually. More than 14.4% of students receive aid, with the average award for families earning less than $140,000 reaching $32,248.

For the most recent reporting cycle, the middle 50% SAT scores were 710-770 for Reading & Writing and 730-790 for Math. The middle 50% ACT composite score ranged from 33 to 35.

Yes, St. Mark's offers an extensive Advanced Curriculum. In the most recent academic year, students took 860 AP exams across 25 courses, with 98% earning a score of 3 or higher.

St. Mark's maintains an intimate learning environment with an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio and an average class size of 15 students, supported by 97 full-time faculty members.