San Diego · Diocese of San Diego
Academy of Our Lady of Peace: HSPT & admissions
All-girls Catholic college prep in San Diego, educating young women since 1882.
The short answer
- Academy of Our Lady of Peace uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- Admissions events start 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, which usually means the fall timeline is already moving.
- Beyond the test, Academy of Our Lady of Peace also lists visit or event, and shadow day.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Key dates and details
| Open house | 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 |
| Exam requirement | DISCOVER THE OLP SISTERHOOD PARENTS' GUIDE TO THE OLP APPLICATION GOODBYE HSPT, HELLO CONFIDENCE: THE CPDT OPEN HOUSE KEY ADMISSIONS DATES INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OLP AT A GLANCE 2025-2026 INQUIRE NOW YOUR DAUGHTER’S TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY A |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-09). 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.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | DISCOVER THE OLP SISTERHOOD PARENTS' GUIDE TO THE OLP APPLICATION GOODBYE HSPT, HELLO CONFIDENCE: THE CPDT OPEN HOUSE KEY ADMISSIONS DATES INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OLP AT A GLANCE 2025-2026 INQUIRE NOW YOUR DAUGHTER’S TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY A |
| 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.
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
Like most Catholic high schools, Academy of Our Lady of Peace uses the HSPT — a five-section, ~300-question exam covering verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading, math, and language (see What is the HSPT?). Three things matter most:
- 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
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.
How Catholic high schools use HSPT scores
Admissions, placement, scholarships, and why the same percentile can carry different weight at different schools.
What is a good HSPT score?
A cleaner admissions-focused read on what different percentile bands actually mean to a family.
HSPT accommodations for IEP and 504 students
What families should ask for, when to ask, and how documentation usually fits into the process.
Common questions
What entrance exam does Academy of Our Lady of Peace require?
Academy of Our Lady of Peace admits through the High School Placement Test (HSPT), a five-section exam covering verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading, mathematics, and language, taken in the fall or winter of 8th grade.
When is the Academy of Our Lady of Peace entrance exam?
The school publishes each cycle's exam dates on its admissions site, typically in the fall; most Catholic high schools test between November and January of 8th grade. Confirm the current date with the admissions office.
How should my child prepare for the Academy of Our Lady of Peace entrance exam?
Start 8–12 weeks before the exam date with short daily practice, and focus first on question types middle schools don't teach — analogies, number series, and logic problems. Most schools accept one sitting, so the first attempt counts.
How do I register for the HSPT at Academy of Our Lady of Peace?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Academy of Our Lady of Peace's admissions process rather than through a national family registration site. Use the school's current checklist and confirm the test location, arrival time, fee, and required identification directly.
How long is the Academy of Our Lady of Peace HSPT?
The standard HSPT has about 298 questions across five sections and usually takes about two and a half hours, not including check-in or breaks. Ask Academy of Our Lady of Peace for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Academy of Our Lady of Peace?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Academy of Our Lady of Peace's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Academy of Our Lady of Peace share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Academy of Our Lady of Peace whether one sitting can be sent to the other schools on your list, whether additional codes or forms are required, and which school should be selected as the testing site.
Does Academy of Our Lady of Peace offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Academy of Our Lady of Peace before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does Academy of Our Lady of Peace require besides the HSPT?
Academy of Our Lady of Peace also lists visit or event, and shadow day as part of the admissions process. Use the school's checklist early, because these steps often move on the same compressed fall timeline as testing.
Applying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide and other San Diego schools.
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