HSPT admissions guide
Salesian College PreparatoryHSPT, admissions and deadlines
Oakland · Diocese of Oakland
For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
College-prep Catholic high school in Richmond with a Salesian tradition and East Bay draw.
Salesian College Preparatory in Oakland, CA uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam, currently listed for Saturday, January 9, 2027.
Before you lock a Salesian College Preparatory study plan, take the free 25-question HSPT practice test to see which of the five sections needs work first.
Per STS Oakland registration, apply to Salesian College Preparatory, then register on the STS Oakland registration page. Many local high schools do not accept walk-ins on the day of the test. See the HSPT test dates page and how to register for the HSPT.
Applications often include a student essay or short answers. Prompts vary by school — ask Salesian College Preparatory for this cycle’s questions, then use the Catholic high school application essay guide.
Applying to Salesian College Preparatory? Start your 3 days free before Saturday, January 9, 2027.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days to see what is already solid and what to practice first for Salesian College Preparatory's entrance exam.
Worth knowing
Per STS Oakland registration (as of September 20, 2026), East Bay Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Oakland administer the HSPT on Saturday, January 9, 2027 at Bishop O'Dowd, Carondelet, De La Salle, Holy Names, Moreau Catholic, SJND, St. Mary's College HS, and Salesian. Registration opened September 1, 2026 and is now open through January 6, 2027. Results email March 12, 2027 after 4pm PT. Many local high schools do not accept walk-ins on the day of the test. See the HSPT test dates page and how to register for the HSPT.
Key dates and details
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | Saturday, January 9, 2027 (per STS Oakland registration, as of 2026-09-20) · STS Oakland registration |
| Exam requirement | Per STS Oakland registration (as of September 20, 2026): East Bay Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Oakland administer the HSPT on Saturday, January 9, 2027. Registration opened September 1, 2026 and is now open through January 6, 2027. Results email March 12, 2027 after 4pm PT. Many local high schools do not accept walk-ins on the day of the test. (per STS Oakland registration, as of 2026-09-20) · STS Oakland registration |
HSPT sitting and registration window: per STS Oakland registration (as of September 20, 2026). Other dates as listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-09-20). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Salesian College Preparatory’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Verified current-cycle sittings are on the HSPT test dates page. We do not invent days — confirm Salesian College Preparatory’s date with the admissions office before you register.
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.
School profile
| Students | 413 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
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
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?). 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 Salesian College Preparatory
How to register for the HSPT
Apply to the high school, register for the sitting, then practice. East Bay families use STS Oakland registration. No invented dates.
Catholic high school application essay
Prompts vary by school. Ask each office for this cycle’s questions, then use a process for common prompt types — not canned samples.
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.
HSPT scores and scholarships: what is a good HSPT score?
The average HSPT score is the 50th percentile. What it means for admissions, what counts as a good score, and how schools use scores for merit aid.
How Catholic high schools use HSPT scores
Admissions, placement, scholarships, and why the same percentile can carry different weight at different schools.
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 the Oakland/STS extended-time steps.
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?
Per STS Oakland registration (as of 2026-09-20), Salesian College Preparatory is listed for Saturday, January 9, 2027. Confirm arrival details with the high school test center before planning around the sitting.
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?
Per STS Oakland registration (as of September 20, 2026), families register for the Salesian College Preparatory sitting at https://stsusers.com/stsusers/registration/static/oakland.php. Registration opened September 1, 2026 and is now open through January 6, 2027. Many local high schools do not accept walk-ins on the day of the test. See hsptprep.app/guide/how-to-register-for-the-hspt and hsptprep.app/hspt-test-dates. Confirm arrival details with the high school test center.
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.
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, other Oakland schools, or the best Catholic high schools in California.
Get ready for Salesian College Preparatory's entrance exam — start your 3 days free.
Try unlimited practice for 3 days to see whether the highest-risk sections are already solid or need work before this school's exam date.