Catholic High School Admissions & The HSPT

If your student is applying to a parochial high school in Chicago, they’ll need to take the High School Placement Test (HSPT). This entrance exam plays a central role in both admissions and scholarship decisions at top Catholic schools like St. Ignatius, Loyola Academy, and DePaul College Prep. While a lot of information about the HSPT and Catholic school admissions can seem confusing, we are here to help clarify the steps you need to take throughout the admissions process and in preparation for the HSPT.

At Test Prep Chicago, we provide effective, targeted HSPT tutoring to help students feel confident and prepared when they test. Click below to find key information about the HSPT, Catholic High School admissions, and how Test Prep Chicago can help your student perform well on the HSPT:

  • A number two pencil laying across a standardized test, which has been partially filled out.

    What is the HSPT?

    Learn about the High School Placement Test, its contents, how scoring works, and more!

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  • A group of students lined up outside of school, all wearing uniforms and blue ties.

    Which Schools Use the HSPT?

    Find schools that use the HSPT as an admissions factor, along with test location requirements, here.

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  • A stack of blue books sits on a table in front of a notebook, pen, and pair of glasses.

    What Does Admissions Look Like?

    Find out more about the Catholic High School admissions process.

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  • A blue pinpoint stuck in a calendar, on the 15th of an undisclosed month.

    Important Dates for 2025

    Get an idea of important dates relating to admissions and HSPT testing here.

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  • Test Prep Chicago's logo over a navy blue background.

    How Can Test Prep Chicago Help?

    Discover how TPC can help your child be successful on the HSPT.

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What is the HSPT?

The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a standardized entrance exam used by many Catholic schools across the country, including Chicago. The test can influence admissions decisions, along with scholarships and financial aid. Here’s what you need to know about the HSPT:

Format & Timing

  • The HSPT includes five core sections: Verbal Skills (16 minutes, 60 questions), Quantitative Reasoning (30 minutes, 52 questions), Reading (25 minutes, 62 questions), Mathematics (30 minutes, 64 questions), and Language (25 minutes, 60 questions). Some schools add an optional essay or science section. The entire exam takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete, not including additional sections. 

  • The exam is scored on a scale of 200-800. 

  • No calculator is allowed, and there is no guessing penalty.

  • The test is administered via paper and pencil.

  • The HSPT is single attempt only; no retakes allowed.

Test Dates

  • The HSPT is given annually on the first Saturday in December. Some Catholic schools do require advanced registration, including a fee, while others do not; it is best to check with the school to determine if you need to sign your student up in advance.

  • Students may need to take the HSPT at the Catholic school they desire to attend. At some institutions, in order to be considered for admissions or scholarships, students need to sit for the test at that specific school.

Extended Time

Students with documented disabilities, including ADHD, dyslexia, or processing disorders, can receive testing accommodations such as extended time or extra breaks. Requirements and policies can vary by school, but many schools will allow for time-and-a-half (50% extended time) for students with a valid IEP or 504 Plan. To get these accommodations, submit your student’s current IEP or 504 Plan documentation to the school’s admissions office at least one week before the test date. This will not negatively impact your student’s application process.

Which Schools Use the HSPT?

Most Catholic high schools in the Chicago area use the HSPT to influence admissions and scholarship decisions. Many of these schools value where you sit for the exam, as there is only one testing date for the HSPT, meaning you can only take the exam in one location each year.

As such, some Catholic High Schools require a student to sit for the exam at their school to be considered for admission. Other Catholic High Schools will accept a student’s score if the student tests at another Catholic High School, but won’t consider that student for scholarship opportunities. Thus, it’s important to test at the school your student most wants to attend. Learn more about testing location requirements for each school below:

In order to be admitted and/or receive a scholarship, you must take the exam on-location at the following schools:

  • Carmel Catholic High School

  • Fenwick High School

  • Loyola Academy

  • Marian Catholic

  • Regina Dominican High School

  • St. Ignatius

At the following schools, students who test on-location are given priority over students who do not for admissions, financial aid, and scholarships:

  • DePaul College Prep

  • Holy Trinity High School

  • Josephinum Academy

  • Nazareth Academy

  • St. Laurence High School

The following schools accept students regardless of where the exam was taken, but only offer scholarships to students who sat for the exam on location:

  • Montini Catholic High School

  • Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School

  • Saint Patrick High School

  • St. Rita of Cascia High School

  • Trinity High School

The following schools accept HSPT results, no matter where the exam was taken:

  • Cathedral Catholic

  • De La Salle Institute

  • Resurrection College Prep

The following schools require an in-person interview to take place in order to grant admission if you do not test on-location:

  • Leo High School

The following schools accept any and all national standardized test score, include the ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT:

  • Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart

Finally, while the following schools have not specified whether or not you must sit for the exam at their school in order to be considered for admission or scholarship, parents should check with administration to confirm:

  • Brother Rice High School

  • Guerin Catholic High School

  • Marist High School

  • Mount Carmel High School

  • Notre Dame College Prep

  • Our Lady of Tepeyac High School

  • Saint Francis de Sales High School

  • Saint Viator High School

  • Seton Catholic Prep

Please Note: HSPT Scores can only be sent to one Catholic school at a time. Additionally, some schools may offer the exam for free when taken on-location, while others may charge.

How Does the Catholic High School Admissions Process Work?

Unlike CPS, there is no centralized application system for parochial schools. Each school sets its own admissions process, but in most cases, the HSPT is a major part of it.

Students who want to apply for scholarships often must test at the school offering the award, as some parochial schools in Chicago will not consider students for admission or scholarships if they do not sit for the exam at their school. In addition to HSPT scores, Catholic schools may consider other factors, including 7th/8th grade grades, application essays, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and more.

HSPT scores are reported as both scaled scores (200-800) and national percentiles, which compare your student’s performance to others across the country. Some top schools look for students scoring in the 90th percentile and above for their most competitive admissions and scholarship programs.

Important Dates for 2025 Admissions

  • Test Date (2025 cycle): Saturday, December 6, 2025

  • Location: The Catholic High School of your choice

  • Registration: Dependent on school

  • Results & Admissions Decisions: Vary by school; most decisions are released in Winter/Spring of 2026

How Can Test Prep Chicago Help?

Our HSPT Test Prep programs are designed to help students build both the academic skills and testing confidence needed to succeed on this exam. We offer:

  • Full courses, 1-day workshops and/or individual tutoring

  • Comprehensive packets including practice questions, detailed explanations, and test-taking strategies

  • Access to our online testing platform where students complete diagnostic and final tests and homework assignments. Students and parents receive results, analytics and step-by-step solutions for all test and homework practice questions

  • Supplementary material so students can get familiar with any specific formatting and concepts tested on the HSPT

  • Additional prep for other HSEEs, including the ISEE and CPS HSAT