HSPT admissions guide
La Salle College High SchoolHSPT, admissions and deadlines
Philadelphia · Archdiocese of Philadelphia
For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
Lasallian college prep for young men just outside Philadelphia.
La Salle College High School in Philadelphia, PA uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam for 9th-grade applicants.
Before you lock a La Salle College 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 La Salle College High School for this cycle’s questions, then use the Catholic high school application essay guide.
Applying to La Salle College 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 La Salle College High School's entrance exam.
Comparing cost and merit aid? See the La Salle College High School scholarships, tuition, financial-aid deadline, and HSPT scholarship details.
Worth knowing
Per STS Philadelphia registration (as of September 20, 2026), the Archdiocese of Philadelphia held its 2026 HSPT sittings September 21–October 10, 2026; all of them have passed. STS removed the sittings table after registration closed (checked October 17, 2026). Results are emailed November 25th, by end of day. Students applying to high schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia may only take the HSPT one time. See the HSPT test dates page and how to register for the HSPT.
Key dates and details
| Exam requirement | John Baptist de La Salle EXPLORE Networks Make a Gift Today Alumni Information Update Auction Events Get Involved Internship Opportunities Young Alumni Career/Networking Night (opens in new window/tab) Search The Application Process Regular |
| Application fee | $65 |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with La Salle College 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 La Salle College High School’s date with the admissions office before you register.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Apply Now Take Entrance Exam All 8th grade students applying for 9th grade (Class of 2030) are required to take the La Salle Entrance Exam (HSPT). |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | Read More about Football Team Announces 2026 Varsity Season Schedule Lacrosse Team Wins First PIAA State Championship Since 2019 Sophomore Mason Smith set a school record with eight goals in the 16-9 win and captured the program's first Sta |
| Recommendations | John Baptist de La Salle EXPLORE Networks Make a Gift Today Alumni Information Update Auction Events Get Involved Internship Opportunities Young Alumni Career/Networking Night (opens in new window/tab) Search The Application Process Regular |
| Interview | In addition to the regular admissions process, the following is required for admission to the David Program: Interview with the Director of the David Program. |
| Visit or event | Admissions visits or events are part of the process. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Essay | John Baptist de La Salle EXPLORE Networks Make a Gift Today Alumni Information Update Auction Events Get Involved Internship Opportunities Young Alumni Career/Networking Night (opens in new window/tab) Search The Application Process Regular |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with La Salle College High School’s admissions office.
School profile
| Students | 1,158 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
Accommodations and testing setup at La Salle College High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask La Salle College 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 La Salle College High School entrance exam
La Salle College 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 La Salle College 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.
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 La Salle College High School require?
La Salle College 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 La Salle College 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 La Salle College 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 La Salle College High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through La Salle College 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 La Salle College 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 La Salle College 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 La Salle College High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read La Salle College High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does La Salle College High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact La Salle College 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 La Salle College High School require besides the HSPT?
La Salle College High School also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, and essay 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 Philadelphia
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 Philadelphia schools, or the best Catholic high schools in Pennsylvania.
Get ready for La Salle College 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.