HSPT admissions guide
Bishop Shanahan High SchoolHSPT, admissions and deadlines
Downingtown · PA
For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
Catholic high school in Downingtown, PA with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown, PA uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam for 9th-grade applicants.
Before you lock a Bishop Shanahan High School 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 Bishop Shanahan High School for this cycle’s questions, then use the Catholic high school application essay guide.
Applying to Bishop Shanahan High School? 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 Bishop Shanahan High School's entrance exam.
Key dates and details
| Exam requirement | Francis Xavier Scholarship $5000 scholarship renewable for 4 years given to the top scorers on the 8th Grade Scholarship (HSPT) Exam. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan High School’s date with the admissions office before you register.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Francis Xavier Scholarship $5000 scholarship renewable for 4 years given to the top scorers on the 8th Grade Scholarship (HSPT) Exam. |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | Step 1: Complete the Application Step 2: Transcript Release Step 3: Acceptance Notification Step 4: Registration Step 1: Complete the Application BSHS is proud to offer a stream-lined, online application process through the Application Port |
| Financial aid option | Scholarships Tuition & Fees Tuition Assistance Applying for Tuition Assistance Third Party Scholarships Scholarships Scholarship Deadline for the Class of 2030 has passed. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Bishop Shanahan High School’s admissions office.
School profile
| Students | 876 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
Accommodations and testing setup at Bishop Shanahan High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan High School entrance exam
Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan 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.
6-week HSPT study plan
The middle-ground schedule: enough time to cover every section without turning fall into one long cram.
Best order to prep for HSPT sections
Which sections to attack first if you want the fastest score gains instead of random practice.
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 Bishop Shanahan High School require?
Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan High School 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 Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Bishop Shanahan High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does Bishop Shanahan High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Bishop Shanahan High School before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
Does Bishop Shanahan High School have a separate tuition-aid step?
Bishop Shanahan 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.
Applying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide, other Downingtown schools, or the best Catholic high schools in Pennsylvania.
Get ready for Bishop Shanahan High School'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.