Admissions guide
Academy of Our Lady of PeaceAdmissions, entrance exam policy and deadlines
San Diego · Diocese of San Diego
For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
All-girls Catholic college prep in San Diego, educating young women since 1882. It no longer uses the HSPT for admission.
Before you lock a Academy of Our Lady of Peace study plan, take the free 25-question HSPT practice test to see which of the five sections needs work first.
Applications often include a student essay or short answers. Prompts vary by school — ask Academy of Our Lady of Peace for this cycle’s questions, then use the Catholic high school application essay guide.
Applying to Academy of Our Lady of Peace? Start your 3 days free before the school's HSPT date.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days to see what is already solid and what to practice first for Academy of Our Lady of Peace's entrance exam.
Key dates and details
| Exam requirement | Academy of Our Lady of Peace no longer uses the HSPT. It gives the CPDT as a placement test, not an entrance exam. (School admissions page, as of 2026-10-17) · School admissions page |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-10-17). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Academy of Our Lady of Peace’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Verified current-cycle sittings are on the HSPT test dates page. We do not invent days — confirm Academy of Our Lady of Peace’s date with the admissions office before you register.
Admissions checklist
| Application | MENU CLOSE APPLY NOW EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN TO LEAD SAN DIEGO’S ONLY ALL-GIRLS CATHOLIC SCHOOL OUR MISSION Founded and rooted in the Gospel values of the Catholic church and the charism of the Sisters of St. |
| Visit or event | 01/17/26 OPEN HOUSE 2025 SUNDAY NOV 1 01/17/26 SCHOLARS DAY 01/17/26 SHADOWS 01/17/26 RETREAT WEEK 2026 01/09/26 SKILLIFY NETWORKING 01/07/26 FINALS WEEK FUN 12/17/25 OLPSAYSYES 12/10/25 TODAY’S #WHEREWELEARNWEDNESDAY TAKES US BEYOND THE CL |
| Financial aid option | The Academy of Our Lady of Peace does not discriminate on the basis of color, race, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarships, financial aid programs, athletic and other administered programs |
| Shadow day | Joining Our Sisterhood: Apply Now Parents' Guide to the OLP Application Admission Dates Freshmen Guide Transfer Guide Affording OLP Learning Support Programs 8th Grade Visitation Pilot for a Day (Shadow Day) Open House Scholarships Campus T |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Academy of Our Lady of Peace’s admissions office.
School profile
| Students | 730 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
Accommodations and testing setup at Academy of Our Lady of Peace
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Academy of Our Lady of Peace’s admissions office how HSPT accommodations are approved before registration closes. Start with the HSPT accommodations guide, then confirm whether the school handles extended time, separate room or small group testing, ADHD accommodations, dyslexia accommodations, and documentation through the school or the diocese.
How to prepare for the Academy of Our Lady of Peace entrance exam
Confirm with Academy of Our Lady of Peace’s admissions office which entrance exam the current cycle uses before treating the HSPT as required. If the school does use the HSPT, a free HSPT diagnostic is a useful baseline.
- Start 8–12 weeks before the exam date. Short daily practice builds the speed the HSPT’s pacing demands.
- Practice the unfamiliar question types first. Analogies, number series, and logic items aren’t taught in most middle schools — they’re the fastest points to gain.
- Treat the first sitting as the only sitting. Most schools accept one attempt, and at many schools the score also drives merit scholarships.
Parent guides for families applying to Academy of Our Lady of Peace
Catholic high school application essay
Prompts vary by school. Ask each office for this cycle’s questions, then use a process for common prompt types — not canned samples.
HSPT timing: when to start prep
How far ahead to start, based on your test date, school list, and how much prep your child can realistically sustain.
6-week HSPT study plan
The middle-ground schedule: enough time to cover every section without turning fall into one long cram.
HSPT study schedule for busy 8th graders
How to fit HSPT prep around homework, sports, and the real-life schedule most families are actually managing.
HSPT scores and scholarships: what is a good HSPT score?
The average HSPT score is the 50th percentile. What it means for admissions, what counts as a good score, and how schools use scores for merit aid.
How Catholic high schools use HSPT scores
Admissions, placement, scholarships, and why the same percentile can carry different weight at different schools.
HSPT accommodations for IEP and 504 students
What families should ask for, when to ask, and the Oakland/STS extended-time steps.
Common questions
What entrance exam does Academy of Our Lady of Peace require?
Academy of Our Lady of Peace no longer uses the HSPT. It gives the CPDT as a placement test, not an entrance exam. Confirm the current admissions requirements with Academy of Our Lady of Peace before you plan around a test.
Does Academy of Our Lady of Peace have an HSPT test date?
No. Academy of Our Lady of Peace no longer uses the HSPT. It gives the CPDT as a placement test, not an entrance exam. Confirm the current admissions requirements with the admissions office.
Compare other Catholic high schools near San Diego
Entrance-exam dates, score-sharing rules, application steps, and scholarship policies can differ even between nearby schools.
See all San Diego Catholic high schoolsApplying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide, other San Diego schools, or the best Catholic high schools in California.
Get ready for Academy of Our Lady of Peace's entrance exam — start your 3 days free.
Try unlimited practice for 3 days to see whether the highest-risk sections are already solid or need work before this school's exam date.