Chicago · Archdiocese of Chicago
DePaul College Prep: HSPT, Admissions & Deadlines
Catholic high school in Chicago, IL with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
DePaul College Prep in Chicago, IL uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam for 9th-grade applicants.
Before you lock a DePaul College Prep study plan, take the free 25-question HSPT practice test to see which of the five sections needs work first.
The short answer
- DePaul College Prep uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- Beyond the test, DePaul College Prep also lists shadow day.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Applying to DePaul College Prep? Start 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 DePaul College Prep's entrance exam.
3 days free · cancel anytime
Key dates and details
| Exam requirement | Site explicitly states: 'DePaul Prep provides an extended time up to 50%... for the HSPT Entrance Exam.' |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with DePaul College Prep’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Site explicitly states: 'DePaul Prep provides an extended time up to 50%... for the HSPT Entrance Exam.' |
| Application | An online admissions application is offered for prospective and transfer students. |
| Transcript | Applicants should submit 6th-8th grade report cards/report records. |
| Financial aid option | Financial aid applications and internal/external scholarship options are offered. |
| Shadow day | Shadow days are offered for prospective students on specified dates. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with DePaul College Prep’s admissions office.
School profile
| Students | 1,245 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
Accommodations and testing setup at DePaul College Prep
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask DePaul College Prep’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 DePaul College Prep entrance exam
DePaul College Prep 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 DePaul College Prep
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 DePaul College Prep require?
DePaul College Prep 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 DePaul College Prep 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 DePaul College Prep 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 DePaul College Prep?
HSPT registration is generally handled through DePaul College Prep'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 DePaul College Prep 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 DePaul College Prep for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at DePaul College Prep?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read DePaul College Prep's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does DePaul College Prep offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact DePaul College Prep before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does DePaul College Prep require besides the HSPT?
DePaul College Prep also lists 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.
Compare other Catholic high schools near Chicago
Entrance-exam dates, score-sharing rules, application steps, and scholarship policies can differ even between nearby schools.
Applying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide, other Chicago schools, or the best Catholic high schools in Illinois.
Get ready for DePaul College Prep's entrance exam — start 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.
3 days free · cancel anytime