HSPT admissions guide
Loyola AcademyHSPT, admissions and deadlines
Chicago · Archdiocese of Chicago
For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
The largest Jesuit high school in the country, in Wilmette on Chicago’s North Shore.
Loyola Academy in Chicago, IL uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam for 9th-grade applicants.
Before you lock a Loyola Academy study plan, take the free 25-question HSPT practice test to see which of the five sections needs work first.
Applying to Loyola Academy? 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 Loyola Academy's entrance exam.
How to prepare for the Loyola Academy HSPT
Loyola Academy’s entrance exam uses the HSPT. Start with the free HSPT practice test and compare other verified days on the HSPT test dates page. Confirm Loyola’s sitting with the school before you register.
Key dates and details
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | December 5, 2026 |
| Open house | November 5, 2026 |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-06-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Loyola Academy’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 Loyola Academy’s date with the admissions office before you register.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Take the Loyola Academy entrance exam, which uses the HSPT. |
| Application | Complete the freshman admissions application. |
| Transcript | Submit school records as part of the admissions process. |
| Financial aid option | Financial aid materials are distributed with the entrance exam process. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Loyola Academy’s admissions office.
School profile
| Students | 1,947 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
Accommodations and testing setup at Loyola Academy
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Loyola Academy’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 Loyola Academy entrance exam
Loyola Academy 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 Loyola Academy
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.
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 Loyola Academy require?
Loyola Academy 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 Loyola Academy entrance exam?
The school's website listed December 5, 2026 when we last checked (2026-06-09). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the Loyola Academy 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 Loyola Academy?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Loyola Academy'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 Loyola Academy 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 Loyola Academy for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Loyola Academy?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Loyola Academy's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does Loyola Academy offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Loyola Academy before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
Does Loyola Academy have a separate tuition-aid step?
Loyola Academy 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.
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 Loyola Academy'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.