Toms River · NJ
Donovan Catholic High School: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Toms River, NJ with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- Donovan Catholic High School lists the HSPT for READ MORE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT FOR CLASS OF 2030) Upcoming HSPT Date ~ Tuesday July 21, 2026 READ MORE DONOVAN'S CLASS OF 2031 APPLICATION NOW OPEN Hello Future Griffins!.
- Beyond the test, Donovan Catholic High School also lists visit or event.
- A section-by-section baseline helps you decide whether this school calls for a steady plan or late-start triage.
Key dates and details
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | READ MORE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT FOR CLASS OF 2030) Upcoming HSPT Date ~ Tuesday July 21, 2026 READ MORE DONOVAN'S CLASS OF 2031 APPLICATION NOW OPEN Hello Future Griffins! |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Donovan Catholic High School’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | READ MORE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT FOR CLASS OF 2030) Upcoming HSPT Date ~ Tuesday July 21, 2026 READ MORE DONOVAN'S CLASS OF 2031 APPLICATION NOW OPEN Hello Future Griffins! |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Visit or event | READ MORE TOUR OUR CAMPUS TODAY! |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Donovan Catholic High School’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Donovan Catholic High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Donovan Catholic 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 Donovan Catholic High School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Donovan Catholic 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?). 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 Donovan Catholic High School
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.
What is a good HSPT score?
A cleaner admissions-focused read on what different percentile bands actually mean to a family.
How HSPT percentiles work
What percentile rank means, how it differs from raw score, and how parents should interpret the report.
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 Donovan Catholic High School require?
Donovan Catholic 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 Donovan Catholic High School entrance exam?
The school's website listed READ MORE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT FOR CLASS OF 2030) Upcoming HSPT Date ~ Tuesday July 21, 2026 READ MORE DONOVAN'S CLASS OF 2031 APPLICATION NOW OPEN Hello Future Griffins! when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the Donovan Catholic 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 Donovan Catholic High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Donovan Catholic 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 Donovan Catholic 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 Donovan Catholic 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 Donovan Catholic High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Donovan Catholic High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Donovan Catholic High School share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Donovan Catholic 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.
Does Donovan Catholic High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Donovan Catholic High School before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does Donovan Catholic High School require besides the HSPT?
Donovan Catholic High School also lists visit or event 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 Toms River schools.
Get ready for Donovan Catholic High School's entrance exam with a free baseline.
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