Newton · MA
Newton Country Day School: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Newton, MA with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- Newton Country Day School uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- The application deadline we found was Although our application deadline has passed, we understand that family situations do not always match up with the typical admission cycle, so please call us if you are interested in submitting a late application for the 2026-27 school year.
- Beyond the test, Newton Country Day School also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, and essay.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Key dates and details
| Application deadline | Although our application deadline has passed, we understand that family situations do not always match up with the typical admission cycle, so please call us if you are interested in submitting a late application for the 2026-27 school year |
| Open house | Each year, Admission hosts an Open House the first Sunday of November so that prospective students and parents/guardians may come to know our dynamic community and learn about our balanced program of academics, arts, athletics, and service. |
| Application fee | The application fee is $50 and is paid through Ravenna. |
| Exam requirement | Standardized Testing Requirement Applicants to Middle School should submit either the ISEE or the MAP Growth test. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Newton Country Day School’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | We will also accept the Catholic High School Placement Test (HSPT) for applicants to Grade 9. |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | Application at-a-glance Interview and Tour By January 31, 2026 Application and Essay(s) By January 15, 2026 Transcripts and Testing Scores (ISEE MAP, HSPT, or SSAT) By January 15, 2026 (scores of tests taken through January 31 will be accep |
| Recommendations | Application at-a-glance Interview and Tour By January 31, 2026 Application and Essay(s) By January 15, 2026 Transcripts and Testing Scores (ISEE MAP, HSPT, or SSAT) By January 15, 2026 (scores of tests taken through January 31 will be accep |
| Interview | Interview required as part of admissions. |
| Visit or event | You should allow approximately 90 minutes for your in-person tour and interview or 45 minutes for your virtual interview. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Essay | Application at-a-glance Interview and Tour By January 31, 2026 Application and Essay(s) By January 15, 2026 Transcripts and Testing Scores (ISEE MAP, HSPT, or SSAT) By January 15, 2026 (scores of tests taken through January 31 will be accep |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Newton Country Day School’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Newton Country Day School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Newton Country Day 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 Newton Country Day School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Newton Country Day 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 Newton Country Day 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.
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.
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 Newton Country Day School require?
Newton Country Day 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 Newton Country Day School 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 Newton Country Day 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 Newton Country Day School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Newton Country Day 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 Newton Country Day 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 Newton Country Day School for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Newton Country Day School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Newton Country Day School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Newton Country Day School share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Newton Country Day 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 Newton Country Day School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Newton Country Day 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 Newton Country Day School application deadline?
The school's website listed Although our application deadline has passed, we understand that family situations do not always match up with the typical admission cycle, so please call us if you are interested in submitting a late application for the 2026-27 school year 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 Newton Country Day School require besides the HSPT?
Newton Country Day School also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, and essay 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 Newton schools.
Get ready for Newton Country Day School's entrance exam with a free baseline.
Take the free diagnostic to see whether the highest-risk sections are already solid or need work before this school's exam date.