For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
Catholic high school in Bel Air, MD with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
John Carroll School in Bel Air, MD uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam, currently listed for November 21, 2026.
Before you lock a John Carroll 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 John Carroll School for this cycle’s questions, then use the Catholic high school application essay guide.
Applying to John Carroll School? Start your 3 days free before November 21, 2026.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days to see what is already solid and what to practice first for John Carroll School's entrance exam.
Key dates and details
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | November 21, 2026 (STS Baltimore registration, as of 2026-10-17) · STS Baltimore registration |
| Exam requirement | HSPT Bootcamp at John Carroll Among other measures, our candidates are evaluated on their performance on the HSPT. |
| Application deadline | The application deadline is January 1. |
| Open house | October 24, 2026 Open House Explore our beautiful campus, chat with current students, faculty and coaches, and learn what it's like to be a Patriot! |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-10-17). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with John Carroll 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 John Carroll School’s date with the admissions office before you register.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | HSPT Bootcamp at John Carroll Among other measures, our candidates are evaluated on their performance on the HSPT. |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | Transcript or school records required as part of admissions. |
| Interview | Requirements for Admission Presentation of an original birth certificate (schools are expected to keep a copy of the certificate on file) Proof of exact dates of immunization records from previous school Standardized test scores Proof of |
| Visit or event | Our Admissions Office is here to guide you every step of the way, from Shadow Day visits to submitting your application in December. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Essay | Student information Student first name * Student last name * Current school * Grade * Parent/Guardian name(s) * Parent email * Home phone * Essay Please submit an essay sharing why you are interested in studying French at John Carroll. |
| Shadow day | Our Admissions Office is here to guide you every step of the way, from Shadow Day visits to submitting your application in December. |
| Portfolio | During this audition, Class of 2031 dancers will also be evaluated for scholarships based on their artistic dance merit. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with John Carroll School’s admissions office.
School profile
| Students | 734 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
Accommodations and testing setup at John Carroll School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask John Carroll 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 John Carroll School entrance exam
John Carroll 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 John Carroll 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 John Carroll School require?
John Carroll 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 John Carroll School entrance exam?
The school's website listed November 21, 2026 when we last checked (2026-10-17). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the John Carroll 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 John Carroll School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through John Carroll 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 John Carroll 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 John Carroll School for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at John Carroll School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read John Carroll School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does John Carroll School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact John Carroll 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 John Carroll School application deadline?
The school's website listed The application deadline is January 1. when we last checked (2026-07-07). Deadlines can shift each admissions cycle, so confirm the current application cutoff with the admissions office.
What else does John Carroll School require besides the HSPT?
John Carroll School also lists interview, visit or event, essay, shadow day, and portfolio 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, other Bel Air schools, or the best Catholic high schools in Maryland.
Get ready for John Carroll 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.