Caldwell · NJ
Mount Saint Dominic Academy: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Caldwell, NJ with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- Mount Saint Dominic Academy lists the HSPT for Testing Prep for Success Course - This Course is SOLD OUT The MSDA Prep for Success HSPT prep course for girls in Grade 8 will run from 9:00am to 11:45am on the following Saturdays in October: October 4, October 11, October 18, and October .
- The application deadline we found was The priority deadline is Thursday, December 4, 2025..
- Beyond the test, Mount Saint Dominic Academy also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, essay, and shadow day.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Key dates and details
| Application fee | The application fee is $55, payable online with the Applicant Profile submission. |
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | Testing Prep for Success Course - This Course is SOLD OUT The MSDA Prep for Success HSPT prep course for girls in Grade 8 will run from 9:00am to 11:45am on the following Saturdays in October: October 4, October 11, October 18, and October |
| Application deadline | The priority deadline is Thursday, December 4, 2025. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Mount Saint Dominic Academy’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Testing Prep for Success Course - This Course is SOLD OUT The MSDA Prep for Success HSPT prep course for girls in Grade 8 will run from 9:00am to 11:45am on the following Saturdays in October: October 4, October 11, October 18, and October |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Recommendations | Supporting Materials To complete your application, the following supporting materials are required: Current Teacher Recommendation : The Mount requires one recommendation from a current teacher or principal. |
| Interview | Interview: After submitting the Applicant Profile, you will be able to schedule your daughter’s interview. |
| Visit or event | Admissions visits or events are part of the process. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Essay | A personal statement explaining why the financial aid is needed is required. |
| Shadow day | 8th Grade Experience : A personalized, one-to-one shadow day, students will immerse themselves in daily life at the Mount. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Mount Saint Dominic Academy’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Mount Saint Dominic Academy
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Mount Saint Dominic 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 Saint Dominic Academy entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Mount Saint Dominic Academy 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 Mount Saint Dominic 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 Saint Dominic Academy require?
Mount Saint Dominic 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 Saint Dominic Academy entrance exam?
The school's website listed Testing Prep for Success Course - This Course is SOLD OUT The MSDA Prep for Success HSPT prep course for girls in Grade 8 will run from 9:00am to 11:45am on the following Saturdays in October: October 4, October 11, October 18, and October 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 Mount Saint Dominic 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 Saint Dominic Academy?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Mount Saint Dominic 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 Saint Dominic 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 Saint Dominic 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 Saint Dominic Academy?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Mount Saint Dominic Academy's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Mount Saint Dominic Academy share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Mount Saint Dominic Academy 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 Mount Saint Dominic Academy offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Mount Saint Dominic Academy before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
When is the Mount Saint Dominic Academy application deadline?
The school's website listed The priority deadline is Thursday, December 4, 2025. 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 Mount Saint Dominic Academy require besides the HSPT?
Mount Saint Dominic Academy also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, essay, 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.
Applying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide and other Caldwell schools.
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