Oakland · Diocese of Oakland
St. Mary's College High School: HSPT & admissions
Lasallian Catholic college prep in Berkeley, serving East Bay families from Albany Hill.
The short answer
- St. Mary's College High School uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- Beyond the test, St. Mary's College High School also lists recommendations.
- 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 | All incoming 9th grade applicants are required to take the High School Placement Test (HSPT). |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with St. Mary's College High School’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| Application | Submit the application through the admissions portal. |
| HSPT required | All incoming 9th grade applicants take the HSPT. |
| Transcript | Transcript release documents are required in the portal checklist. |
| Recommendations | Standardized recommendation forms are required. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance is a distinct admissions step for families using it. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with St. Mary's College High School’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at St. Mary's College High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask St. Mary's College High 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 St. Mary's College High School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, St. Mary's College High 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 St. Mary's College High 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 St. Mary's College High School require?
St. Mary's College High 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 St. Mary's College High 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 St. Mary's College High 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 St. Mary's College High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through St. Mary's College High 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 St. Mary's College High 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 St. Mary's College High School for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at St. Mary's College High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read St. Mary's College High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can St. Mary's College High School share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask St. Mary's College High 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 St. Mary's College High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact St. Mary's College High School before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does St. Mary's College High School require besides the HSPT?
St. Mary's College High School also lists recommendations 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 St. Mary's College High School's entrance exam with a free baseline.
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