Knowing the HSPT formats and dates will help you prepare and perform better on the test. As students need to take the High School Proficiency Test (HSPT) for admission into 9th grade at Catholic High Schools/Parochial Parochial Individual Schools they need to perform their best. They will get a test on verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading comprehension, mathematics, and language skills. This is also a standardized test this test is time-consuming and requires accuracy while attempting all questions. Here is what you need to know about the format and dates of HSPT.
There is no single national HSPT test date. Each Catholic high school, or in some areas the diocese, picks its own Saturday, usually between mid-November and late January of 8th grade. The tables below list the 2026-27 sittings published so far (updated November 11, 2026). Dates can change, so always confirm the date and registration deadline with each school's admissions office before you register.
HSPT 2026-27 dates by diocese
| Diocese / region | HSPT test date(s) | Registration deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of Philadelphia (PA) | Sept 21 to Oct 10, 2026 | Closed | Passed Results emailed Nov 25 |
| Diocese of Camden (NJ) | Oct 31, 2026 | Closed | Passed Ask schools about make-up dates |
| Diocese of Wilmington (DE) | Nov 7 and Nov 8, 2026 | Closed | Passed Ask schools about make-up dates |
| Archdiocese of Boston (MA) | Nov 19 / Dec 3 / Dec 10 | Open (first two dates passed) | |
| Archdiocese of Detroit (MI) | Nov 19 / Dec 3 | Open (Nov 7 passed) | |
| Archdiocese of Baltimore (MD) | Nov 14 to Nov 21, 2026 | Varies by test site | Open |
| Archdiocese of Cincinnati (OH) | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 19, 2026 | Open |
| Archdiocese of Washington (DC/MD) | Dec 5, Dec 12, 2026 and Jan 9, 2027 | Check host school | Open Any ADW sitting counts |
| Diocese of Oakland (CA) | Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | Jan 6, 2027 | Open Results Mar 12, 2027 |
HSPT 2026-27 dates by school
81 schools with an upcoming 2026-27 sitting, grouped by region.
California: Bay Area
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop Riordan High School | San Francisco | Dec 5, 2026 (9:00 AM) | |
| St. Ignatius College Preparatory | San Francisco | Dec 5 or Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 12 for extended time and conflicts |
| Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory | San Francisco | Dec 5, 2026 (8:30 AM to 12:30 PM) | |
| Junipero Serra High School | San Mateo | Dec 5, 2026 (8:30 AM to noon) | |
| Mercy High School Burlingame | Burlingame | Dec 5, 2026 | On campus |
| Notre Dame High School Belmont | Belmont | Dec 5, 2026 (8:30 AM) | |
| Archbishop Mitty High School | San Jose | Jan 9 or Jan 23, 2027 (9:00 AM) | |
| Bellarmine College Preparatory | San Jose | Jan 9 or Jan 23, 2027 (1:00 to 4:00 PM) | |
| Presentation High School | San Jose | Jan 9, 2027 (9 AM to noon) | Jan 23 make-up |
| Saint Francis High School | Mountain View | Jan 9 or Jan 23, 2027 (9:00 AM to 12:30 PM) | |
| Bishop O'Dowd High School | Oakland | Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | Oakland diocese sitting |
| Holy Names High School | Oakland | Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | Oakland diocese sitting |
| Moreau Catholic High School | Hayward | Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | Oakland diocese sitting |
| Salesian College Preparatory | Richmond | Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | Oakland diocese sitting |
| St. Joseph Notre Dame High School | Alameda | Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | Oakland diocese sitting |
| St. Mary's College High School | Berkeley | Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | Oakland diocese sitting |
| Carondelet High School | Concord | Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | Oakland diocese sitting |
| De La Salle High School | Concord | Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | Oakland diocese sitting |
California: Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers High School | Sacramento | Jan 9, 2027 | |
| Loyola High School | Los Angeles | Jan 9, 16 or 23, 2027 | Pick one date when registering |
| Cathedral High School | Los Angeles | Jan 9, Jan 23 or Feb 13, 2027 | |
| Notre Dame High School | Sherman Oaks | Jan 23, 2027 | On campus |
| Bishop Amat Memorial High School | La Puente | Jan 16 or Jan 30, 2027 (8 AM to noon) | |
| St. Augustine High School | San Diego | Jan 9, 2027 |
Washington
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Blanchet High School | Seattle | Sat, Nov 14 (9:00 AM) or Sun, Nov 15, 2026 (1:00 PM) | On campus |
Illinois
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DePaul College Prep | Chicago | Sat, Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Fenwick High School | Oak Park | Dec 5, 2026 | At Fenwick |
| Nazareth Academy | La Grange Park | Dec 5, 2026 | Make-ups Dec 12, 2026 and Jan 23, 2027 |
| Marmion Academy | Aurora | Dec 5, 2026 | Scholarship sitting. Make-ups Jan 9 and Mar 20, 2027 |
| Aurora Central Catholic High School | Aurora | Dec 5 or Dec 12, 2026 | Alternate Sat, Jan 9, 2027 at 8:00 AM |
Ohio (Archdiocese of Cincinnati)
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop McNicholas High School | Cincinnati | Nov 21, 2026 | Register by Nov 19 |
| Archbishop Moeller High School | Cincinnati | Nov 21, 2026 | Register by Nov 19 |
| Mercy McAuley High School | Cincinnati | Nov 21, 2026 | Register by Nov 19 |
| Mount Notre Dame High School | Cincinnati | Nov 21, 2026 | Register by Nov 19 |
| Purcell Marian High School | Cincinnati | Nov 21, 2026 | Register by Nov 19 |
| St. Ursula Academy | Cincinnati | Nov 21, 2026 | Register by Nov 19 |
| The Summit Country Day School | Cincinnati | Nov 21, 2026 | Register by Nov 19 |
| Royalmont Academy | Mason | Nov 21, 2026 | Register by Nov 19 |
| Badin High School | Hamilton | Nov 21, 2026 | Register by Nov 19 |
| Archbishop Carroll High School | Dayton | Nov 21, 2026 | Register by Nov 19 |
Michigan (Archdiocese of Detroit)
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Foley Catholic High School | Madison Heights | Nov 21 or Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Brother Rice High School | Bloomfield Hills | Nov 21 or Dec 5, 2026 | |
| De La Salle Collegiate High School | Warren | Nov 21 or Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Detroit Cristo Rey High School | Detroit | Nov 21 or Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Divine Child High School | Dearborn | Nov 21, 2026 |
Massachusetts (Archdiocese of Boston)
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Fenwick High School | Peabody | Nov 21 or Dec 12, 2026 | |
| Malden Catholic High School | Malden | Nov 21 or Dec 12, 2026 | |
| Cardinal Spellman High School | Brockton | Nov 21 or Dec 12, 2026 | |
| Fontbonne Academy | Milton | Nov 21 or Dec 12, 2026 | |
| Xaverian Brothers High School | Westwood | Nov 21 or Dec 12, 2026 | |
| Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School | Methuen | Nov 21, Dec 5 or Dec 12, 2026 | |
| Archbishop Williams High School | Braintree | Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Austin Preparatory School | Reading | Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Arlington Catholic High School | Arlington | Dec 5 or Dec 12, 2026 |
Maryland (Archdiocese of Baltimore)
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop Curley High School | Baltimore | Nov 14 or Nov 21, 2026 | |
| Calvert Hall College High School | Towson | Nov 14 or Nov 21, 2026 | |
| Mount Saint Joseph High School | Baltimore | Nov 14 or Nov 21, 2026 | |
| Maryvale Preparatory School | Lutherville | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Mercy High School | Baltimore | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Mount de Sales Academy | Catonsville | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Notre Dame Preparatory School | Towson | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| The Catholic High School of Baltimore | Baltimore | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Loyola Blakefield | Towson | Nov 21, 2026 | |
| The John Carroll School | Bel Air | Nov 21, 2026 |
Washington, DC and Maryland (Archdiocese of Washington)
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School | Washington, DC | Dec 5, 2026 | Any Archdiocese of Washington sitting counts |
| Gonzaga College High School | Washington, DC | Dec 5, 2026 or Jan 9, 2027 | Any Archdiocese of Washington sitting counts |
| Archbishop Carroll High School | Washington, DC | Dec 12, 2026 | Any Archdiocese of Washington sitting counts |
| St. John's College High School | Washington, DC | Dec 12, 2026 | Any Archdiocese of Washington sitting counts |
| DeMatha Catholic High School | Hyattsville, MD | Dec 5, 2026 (8:30 AM report time) | Any Archdiocese of Washington sitting counts |
| Our Lady of Good Counsel High School | Olney, MD | Dec 5, 2026 | Any Archdiocese of Washington sitting counts |
| St. Mary's Ryken High School | Leonardtown, MD | Dec 5, 2026 or Jan 9, 2027 | Any Archdiocese of Washington sitting counts |
| Bishop McNamara High School | Forestville, MD | Dec 12, 2026 or Jan 9, 2027 | Any Archdiocese of Washington sitting counts |
| Elizabeth Seton High School | Bladensburg, MD | Dec 12, 2026 | Any Archdiocese of Washington sitting counts |
| St. Vincent Pallotti High School | Laurel, MD | Dec 12, 2026 or Jan 9, 2027 | Any Archdiocese of Washington sitting counts |
| Academy of the Holy Cross | Kensington, MD | Dec 5, 2026 | Final/make-up date Jan 9, 2027 |
Virginia (Diocese of Arlington)
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop O'Connell High School | Arlington | Nov 14 or Dec 5, 2026 (9 AM to noon) | |
| Bishop Ireton High School | Alexandria | Nov 14 or Dec 5, 2026 | For students outside Arlington diocese schools |
New Jersey and Pennsylvania
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of the Holy Angels | Demarest, NJ | Nov 14, 2026 | Through the NJ COOP/HSPT exam |
| Bergen Catholic High School | Oradell, NJ | Nov 14, 2026 | Through the NJ COOP/HSPT exam |
| Malvern Preparatory School | Malvern, PA | Nov 15, 2026 |
Georgia
| School | Location | HSPT test date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benedictine Military School | Savannah | Dec 5, 2026 or Mon, Jan 4, 2027 |
Not listed? Many schools have not posted a 2026-27 date yet (for example in Denver, Kansas City, and some Chicago schools such as St. Ignatius College Prep and Loyola Academy). Check the school's admissions page or call the office rather than relying on last year's date.
How to Register for the HSPT
The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is necessary for certain high schools and every school takes care of its own registration process. The candidates need to get in touch with the respective host school via email, or phone call or they can also visit their website for details about registration and the available options. Schools give particular directions to help applicants understand how steps should be followed during this procedure.
HSPT Formats
The length of HSPT is 2 hours 30 minutes including breaks, with four sections: Verbal Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Reading Comprehension.
The HSPT exam is generally a paper-based test that is held in schools and sites across the country. Some schools prefer adding the religion, science, and mechanical aptitude sections. However, you should contact your desired school to confirm what sections they administered.
HSPT Test Scores
Here’s a table summarizing the information:
HSPT scores are based on different categories in the test. The raw score of each section is the total number of correct answers. The standard score is scored from 200 to 800 based on raw scores per section.
Raw HSPT scores are also ranked by percentile which shows the percentage of students who had lower scores. The ranking ranges from 1 to 99. The final score will be the combination of standard scores and percentile ranking of the sections in the test. These tests are cognitive skills, battery composite, and total basic skills. The composite score is not about the average score of each section.
Conclusion
Students who want to get into prominent catholic high schools will need to complete the HSPT Prep. To get familiar with its format, the HSPT Practice Test from Ivy Tutors is the best. It can help you get familiar with the format and experience the real test scenario and environment. The practice test will help you in the efficient HSPT test so you have a better probability of getting admission to your favorite school.
