Oakland · Diocese of Oakland
Salesian College Preparatory: HSPT & admissions
College-prep Catholic high school in Richmond with a Salesian tradition and East Bay draw.
The short answer
- Salesian College Preparatory uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- Beyond the test, Salesian College Preparatory also lists recommendations, interview, and visit or event.
- 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
| Exam requirement | Applicants register for the HSPT as part of the admissions process. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Salesian College Preparatory’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| Application | Apply online. |
| HSPT required | Register for the HSPT as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | Submit transcripts. |
| Recommendations | Submit recommendations. |
| Interview | Attend an interview. |
| Visit or event | Shadow visits and other admissions events are available. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition grants or scholarships are optional next steps. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Salesian College Preparatory’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Salesian College Preparatory
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Salesian College Preparatory’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 Salesian College Preparatory entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Salesian College Preparatory 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 Salesian College Preparatory
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 Salesian College Preparatory require?
Salesian College Preparatory 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 Salesian College Preparatory 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 Salesian College Preparatory 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 Salesian College Preparatory?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Salesian College Preparatory'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 Salesian College Preparatory 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 Salesian College Preparatory for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Salesian College Preparatory?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Salesian College Preparatory's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Salesian College Preparatory share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Salesian College Preparatory 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 Salesian College Preparatory offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Salesian College Preparatory before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does Salesian College Preparatory require besides the HSPT?
Salesian College Preparatory 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 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.
Get ready for Salesian College Preparatory's entrance exam with a free baseline.
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