Baltimore · Archdiocese of Baltimore
Loyola Blakefield: HSPT, Admissions & Deadlines
Catholic college preparatory school for boys in Towson, Maryland.
Loyola Blakefield in Baltimore, MD uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam for 9th-grade applicants.
Before you lock a Loyola Blakefield study plan, take the free 25-question HSPT practice test to see which of the five sections needs work first.
The short answer
- Loyola Blakefield uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- Beyond the test, Loyola Blakefield also lists visit or event.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Applying to Loyola Blakefield? 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 Loyola Blakefield's entrance exam.
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Key dates and details
We don’t have confirmed dates for the current cycle yet — verify entrance exam and application dates with Loyola Blakefield’s admissions office directly.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Wednesday, August 19th Application Portal Opens Wednesday, October 15th Financial Aid Portal Opens Saturday, October 17th Open House Saturday November 21st ISEE and HSPT Testing at Loyola Blakefield ISEE testing required for 6th grade appli |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Visit or event | Wednesday, August 19th Application Portal Opens Wednesday, October 15th Financial Aid Portal Opens Saturday, October 17th Open House Saturday November 21st ISEE and HSPT Testing at Loyola Blakefield ISEE testing required for 6th grade appli |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Loyola Blakefield’s admissions office.
School profile
| Students | 1,018 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 6-12 |
Accommodations and testing setup at Loyola Blakefield
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Loyola Blakefield’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 Blakefield entrance exam
Loyola Blakefield 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 Blakefield
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 Loyola Blakefield require?
Loyola Blakefield 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 Blakefield 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 Loyola Blakefield 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 Blakefield?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Loyola Blakefield'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 Blakefield 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 Blakefield for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Loyola Blakefield?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Loyola Blakefield's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does Loyola Blakefield offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Loyola Blakefield before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does Loyola Blakefield require besides the HSPT?
Loyola Blakefield 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.
Compare other Catholic high schools near Baltimore
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 Baltimore schools, or the best Catholic high schools in Maryland.
Get ready for Loyola Blakefield's entrance exam — start 3 days free.
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