Baltimore · Archdiocese of Baltimore
Mount De Sales Academy: HSPT, Admissions & Deadlines
Catholic high school in Baltimore, MD with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
Mount De Sales Academy in Baltimore, MD uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam for 9th-grade applicants.
Before you lock a Mount De Sales Academy study plan, take the free 25-question HSPT practice test to see which of the five sections needs work first.
The short answer
- Mount De Sales Academy uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- Beyond the test, Mount De Sales Academy also lists recommendations, interview, and visit or event.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Applying to Mount De Sales Academy? 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 Mount De Sales Academy's entrance exam.
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Key dates and details
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | Apply page Admissions Timeline (Eighth Graders) lists 'High School Placement Test' for November 2026; Visits + Events page advertises 'HSPT Prep Course - October 17'; Tuition & Assistance FAQ references 'rankings on the High School Placemen |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Mount De Sales Academy’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Apply page Admissions Timeline (Eighth Graders) lists 'High School Placement Test' for November 2026; Visits + Events page advertises 'HSPT Prep Course - October 17'; Tuition & Assistance FAQ references 'rankings on the High School Placemen |
| Application | School application, scholarship applications, and financial aid applications due December 11, 2026. |
| Transcript | Transfer applicants must provide transcripts as part of the Transfer Application Process. |
| Recommendations | Transfer applicants must submit recommendations (Recommendation Form linked from apply page). |
| Interview | Transfer applicants complete an interview as part of the Transfer Application Process. |
| Visit or event | Eighth Grade Sailor Visits and Open House Sunday, November 1, 2026. |
| Financial aid option | Need-based tuition assistance via FACTS; applications due December 11, 2026. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Mount De Sales Academy’s admissions office.
School profile
| Students | 450 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
Accommodations and testing setup at Mount De Sales Academy
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Mount De Sales 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 Mount De Sales Academy entrance exam
Mount De Sales 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 Mount De Sales 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.
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 Mount De Sales Academy require?
Mount De Sales 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 Mount De Sales Academy entrance exam?
The school's website listed Apply page Admissions Timeline (Eighth Graders) lists 'High School Placement Test' for November 2026; Visits + Events page advertises 'HSPT Prep Course - October 17'; Tuition & Assistance FAQ references 'rankings on the High School Placemen when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the Mount De Sales 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 Mount De Sales Academy?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Mount De Sales 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 Mount De Sales 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 Mount De Sales Academy for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Mount De Sales Academy?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Mount De Sales Academy's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does Mount De Sales Academy offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Mount De Sales Academy before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does Mount De Sales Academy require besides the HSPT?
Mount De Sales Academy also lists recommendations, interview, and 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.
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