Kensington · MD
Academy Of The Holy Cross: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Kensington, MD with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- Academy Of The Holy Cross uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- The application deadline we found was Step 5 - Financial Aid Application (Optional) ✓ The financial aid application deadline is Friday, December 4, 2026 ..
- Beyond the test, Academy Of The Holy Cross also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, essay, shadow day, and portfolio.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Key dates and details
| Open house | Visit Holy Cross We offer numerous opportunities for prospective families to explore life at our Holy Cross, from our Admissions Open House in November to the exciting Welcome Party for newly accepted students in March. |
| Application deadline | Step 5 - Financial Aid Application (Optional) ✓ The financial aid application deadline is Friday, December 4, 2026 . |
| Exam requirement | Step 3 - Schedule Your HSPT ✓ Holy Cross requires all applicants to submit the Archdiocese of Washington’s High School Placement Test (HSPT) as a component of their admissions application. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Academy Of The Holy Cross’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Step 3 - Schedule Your HSPT ✓ Holy Cross requires all applicants to submit the Archdiocese of Washington’s High School Placement Test (HSPT) as a component of their admissions application. |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | ✓ Your school will automatically send your academic transcript and teacher recommendations to Holy Cross. |
| Recommendations | Transcript Request Form Letter of Recommendation Form Step 5 - Financial Aid Application (Optional) ✓ The financial aid application deadline is Monday, January 4, 2027 . |
| Interview | Step 2 - Tartan for a Day Visit & Interview ✓ Discovering the daily life at Holy Cross is an essential part of your visit. |
| Visit or event | Admissions visits or events are part of the process. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Essay | Essay or written response required as part of admissions. |
| Shadow day | Admission decisions are based on the following: Submission of The Academy of the Holy Cross application, along with the application fee Performance on the Archdiocesan High School Placement Test (HSPT) Strong academic achievement, particula |
| Portfolio | Visual Arts Scholarship $6,000 (over 4 years) Visual Arts candidates must submit a digital portfolio of 4-5 pieces of artwork. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Academy Of The Holy Cross’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Academy Of The Holy Cross
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Academy Of The Holy Cross’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 The Holy Cross entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Academy Of The Holy Cross 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 The Holy Cross
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.
How to help a child with HSPT test anxiety
How parents can lower stress without turning prep into a second source of pressure.
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 The Holy Cross require?
Academy Of The Holy Cross 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 The Holy Cross 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 The Holy Cross 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 The Holy Cross?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Academy Of The Holy Cross'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 The Holy Cross 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 The Holy Cross 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 The Holy Cross?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Academy Of The Holy Cross's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Academy Of The Holy Cross share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Academy Of The Holy Cross 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 The Holy Cross offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Academy Of The Holy Cross before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
When is the Academy Of The Holy Cross application deadline?
The school's website listed Step 5 - Financial Aid Application (Optional) ✓ The financial aid application deadline is Friday, December 4, 2026 . when we last checked (2026-07-07). Deadlines can shift each admissions cycle, so confirm the current application cutoff with the admissions office.
What else does Academy Of The Holy Cross require besides the HSPT?
Academy Of The Holy Cross also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, essay, shadow day, and portfolio 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 Kensington schools.
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