HSPT admissions guide
Archbishop Riordan High SchoolHSPT, admissions and deadlines
San Francisco · Archdiocese of San Francisco
For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
Co-ed Marianist Catholic high school in San Francisco.
Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco, CA uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam, currently listed for December 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM.
Before you lock a Archbishop Riordan High School study plan, take the free 25-question HSPT practice test to see which of the five sections needs work first.
Admissions checklist
Dates for Archbishop Riordan's Class of 2031 admissions cycle. Each line cites the page checked on September 25, 2026.
- Application deadline: November 20, 2026
Class of 2031 applications close November 20, 2026, at midnight. The portal is open. To test at Riordan, select Riordan in the HSPT section before you submit.
Riordan admissions, checked September 25, 2026. The admissions page prints “Application Closes November 20th, 2026” and “Submit your application by the deadline, November 20 at Midnight.” The apply page header repeats “Applications are due November 20th, 2026.” One FAQ line on the apply page cuts the year short; the admissions page and the linked HSPT sheet both give November 20, 2026.
- Financial aid applications: January 25, 2027
TADS opens September 30, 2026. Submit all information by January 25, 2027 for the 2027–28 school year. Aid decisions are separate from admissions.
Riordan tuition and financial aid, checked September 25, 2026. The tuition page states the TADS application opens September 30, 2026 and that families must submit all information via TADS by January 25, 2027 for the 2027-28 school year.
- HSPT exam: December 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM
To test at Riordan, select “Riordan” in the HSPT section of the Class of 2031 application and submit that application by the deadline.
Check-in begins at 8:30 AM; arrive by 8:45 AM. The test starts at 9:00 AM and runs about three hours. Families testing at another school follow that school’s registration. Accommodation documents go on the parent portal by November 27, 2026 (the sheet prints 11/27/26). The sheet says the only accommodation is 50% extended time and a 4-function calculator.
Select Riordan in the application
Riordan HSPT registration sheet, checked September 25, 2026. The admissions and apply pages say “December 5” without a year. The HSPT sheet they link states “The date and time for the HSPT is December 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM.” Riordan does not publish a separate STS registration URL.
- Admissions decisions: March 12, 2027
Admissions decisions are released March 12, 2027. Enrollment is due March 19; the apply page does not print a year for that date.
Riordan apply page, checked September 25, 2026. Checked October 17, 2026: Riordan's apply page lists the notification as March 12, 2027. Its calendar labels that line “Class of 2030 Notification,” a typo for the Class of 2031 cycle.
Archbishop Riordan Admissions Office: admissions@riordanhs.org (Riordan admissions. The admissions page lists admissions@riordanhs.org and 415-586-1256.)
Before the HSPT, take the free HSPT practice test and compare Riordan's December 5 sitting on HSPT test dates.
Applying to Archbishop Riordan High School? Start your 3 days free before December 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days to see what is already solid and what to practice first for Archbishop Riordan High School's entrance exam.
Key dates and details
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | December 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM (Riordan HSPT registration sheet, as of 2026-09-25) · Riordan HSPT registration sheet |
| Application deadline | November 20, 2026 at midnight (Riordan admissions, as of 2026-09-25) · Riordan admissions |
| Application fee | Francis Scholars Tuition and Financial Aid 2025-26 School Year Tuition: $28,000 Application Fee: $100 Registration Fee: $1,200 Families applying for Financial Aid must submit all information via TADS by January 30, 2026 for the 2026-27 scho |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-09-25). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Archbishop Riordan High School’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 Archbishop Riordan High School’s date with the admissions office before you register.
School profile
| Students | 1,143 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
Accommodations and testing setup at Archbishop Riordan High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Archbishop Riordan High School’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 Archbishop Riordan High School entrance exam
Archbishop Riordan High School uses the HSPT — a five-section, ~300-question exam covering verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading, math, and language (see What is the HSPT?). Start with a free HSPT diagnostic, then focus on three things:
- 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 Archbishop Riordan High School
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.
4-week HSPT study plan
A realistic one-month plan for families starting late but still trying to move the score before test day.
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.
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 the Oakland/STS extended-time steps.
Common questions
What entrance exam does Archbishop Riordan High School require?
Archbishop Riordan High School 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 Archbishop Riordan High School entrance exam?
The school's website listed December 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM when we last checked (2026-09-25). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the Archbishop Riordan High School 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 Archbishop Riordan High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Archbishop Riordan High School'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 Archbishop Riordan High School 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 Archbishop Riordan High School for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Archbishop Riordan High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Archbishop Riordan High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does Archbishop Riordan High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Archbishop Riordan High School before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
When is the Archbishop Riordan High School application deadline?
The school's website listed November 20, 2026 at midnight when we last checked (2026-09-25). Deadlines can shift each admissions cycle, so confirm the current application cutoff with the admissions office.
What else does Archbishop Riordan High School require besides the HSPT?
Archbishop Riordan High School also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, and essay 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.
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