Bishop O'Dowd High School: HSPT, Admissions & Deadlines

Bishop O'Dowd 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.

The school's website listed January 9, 2027 when we last checked (2026-08-23). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.

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.

HSPT registration is generally handled through Bishop O'Dowd 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.

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 Bishop O'Dowd High School for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.

The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Bishop O'Dowd High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.

Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Bishop O'Dowd High School 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.

Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Bishop O'Dowd High School before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.

The school's website listed January 5, 2027 when we last checked (2026-08-23). Deadlines can shift each admissions cycle, so confirm the current application cutoff with the admissions office.

Bishop O'Dowd does not publish an official acceptance rate. Based on the commonly cited figure of roughly 800–900 applications a year for a freshman class of 300–325, the implied acceptance rate is about 35–40% (Wikipedia). O'Dowd gives priority to applicants from Diocese of Oakland elementary schools, and the HSPT is required of all incoming 9th graders — so test prep matters for the application.

For 2026-27, tuition at Bishop O'Dowd High School is $28,380, plus a $1,100 non-refundable enrollment deposit ($29,480 total). Families are also asked to make a $2,400-per-year tax-deductible Parent Pledge. About 30% of students receive financial aid; tuition-assistance applications open November 15, 2026 and close January 14, 2027.

Bishop O'Dowd High School is at 9500 Stearns Ave, Oakland, CA 94605 — a 20-acre campus in the Oakland Hills (East Bay). Front office hours are 8am–4pm; phone (510) 577-9100.

Bishop O'Dowd High School lists tuition aid or financial assistance as a separate admissions step. Families using aid should ask the school for the exact forms and timing instead of waiting until after the exam.