Oakland · Diocese of Oakland
Moreau Catholic High School: HSPT & admissions
Holy Cross-sponsored Catholic college prep in Hayward serving students across the East Bay.
The short answer
- Moreau Catholic High School lists the HSPT for High School Placement Test (HSPT) – Moreau Catholic will be administering the HSPT in person, on campus on Saturday, January 10th, 2026 ..
- The application deadline we found was *Please ensure that you submit the scores for any Advanced Placement (AP) College Board test in which you achieved a score of 3 or higher, as these can inform class placement.* The Clarity Tuition Assistance Application opens on November 3,.
- Beyond the test, Moreau Catholic High School also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, and shadow day.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Worth knowing
Applicants applying for 9th grade may take the HSPT at any of the nine Oakland Diocese Catholic secondary schools they apply to — one sitting covers all of them. (As published on Bishop O’Dowd’s admissions site.)
Key dates and details
| Application deadline | *Please ensure that you submit the scores for any Advanced Placement (AP) College Board test in which you achieved a score of 3 or higher, as these can inform class placement.* The Clarity Tuition Assistance Application opens on November 3, |
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | High School Placement Test (HSPT) – Moreau Catholic will be administering the HSPT in person, on campus on Saturday, January 10th, 2026 . |
| Open house | Mariner Advantage Tours (Family Tours) Open House Mariner for a Day Financial Assistance Information Night Virtual Financial Assistance Webinars- Introduction to Clarity 8th Grade HSPT Workshop 7th Grade Practice HSPT High School Placement |
| Exam requirement | Moreau offers the HSPT on campus for 9th grade applicants; students need an admissions application on file to test there, and transfer applicants do not need the HSPT. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Moreau Catholic High School’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Required for 9th grade applicants; not required for transfer applicants. |
| Application | Application must be on file before testing at Moreau. |
| Transcript | Current school transcript required. |
| Recommendations | 3 recommendations: principal/counselor, English, and math. |
| Interview | Admission interview required. |
| Visit or event | Admissions events and HSPT workshop are available on campus. |
| Financial aid option | Financial assistance and FACE support are available for qualifying families. |
| Shadow day | Shadow day or student visit option is available. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Moreau Catholic High School’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Moreau Catholic High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Moreau 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 Moreau Catholic High School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Moreau 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 Moreau 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.
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.
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 how documentation usually fits into the process.
Common questions
What entrance exam does Moreau Catholic High School require?
Moreau 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 Moreau Catholic High School entrance exam?
The school's website listed High School Placement Test (HSPT) – Moreau Catholic will be administering the HSPT in person, on campus on Saturday, January 10th, 2026 . when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the Moreau 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 Moreau Catholic High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Moreau 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 Moreau 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 Moreau 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 Moreau Catholic High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Moreau Catholic High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Moreau Catholic High School share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Moreau 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 Moreau Catholic High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Moreau Catholic High 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 Moreau Catholic High School application deadline?
The school's website listed *Please ensure that you submit the scores for any Advanced Placement (AP) College Board test in which you achieved a score of 3 or higher, as these can inform class placement.* The Clarity Tuition Assistance Application opens on November 3, 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 Moreau Catholic High School require besides the HSPT?
Moreau Catholic High School also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, and shadow day 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 Oakland
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 and other Oakland schools.
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