Villanova · PA
Academy-Notre Dame De Namur: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Villanova, PA with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- Academy-Notre Dame De Namur lists the HSPT for 9th Grade Applicants: Applicants for the 2027-2028 academic year are only required to take one entrance exam - either the High School Placement Test (HSPT) or the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) on campus Saturday, October 17 & Satu.
- Admissions events start FALL OPEN HOUSE Join us for our Fall Open House on Saturday, October 4 ., which usually means the fall timeline is already moving.
- Beyond the test, Academy-Notre Dame De Namur also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, essay, shadow day, and portfolio.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Key dates and details
| Open house | FALL OPEN HOUSE Join us for our Fall Open House on Saturday, October 4 . |
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | 9th Grade Applicants: Applicants for the 2027-2028 academic year are only required to take one entrance exam - either the High School Placement Test (HSPT) or the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) on campus Saturday, October 17 & Satu |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Academy-Notre Dame De Namur’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | 9th Grade Applicants: Applicants for the 2027-2028 academic year are only required to take one entrance exam - either the High School Placement Test (HSPT) or the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) on campus Saturday, October 17 & Satu |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | Transcript or school records required as part of admissions. |
| Recommendations | Dance Resume: Dancers should submit one letter of recommendation from a dance instructor as well as a dance resume along with their audition. |
| Interview | Interview required as part of admissions. |
| Visit or event | We invite you to reach out to us to schedule a phone or video conversation, or feel free to schedule a campus tour at your convenience. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Essay | Submit a 250 to 500 word written essay in a pdf format that answers the question: “Tell us a story of a time when you took into consideration the perspective of another person in order to better understand them or a problem they were experi |
| Shadow day | Visit & Interview Prospective students are invited to participate in a shadow day visit, which will allow them to observe Notre Dame classes. |
| Portfolio | Vocal Audition Guidelines Singers should sing two of the following scales: A Major, C Major, E Major and G Major using solfege syllables (do-re-mi, etc.), or a neutral syllable such as "la" or "da". |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Academy-Notre Dame De Namur’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Academy-Notre Dame De Namur
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Academy-Notre Dame De Namur’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 Academy-Notre Dame De Namur entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Academy-Notre Dame De Namur 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 Academy-Notre Dame De Namur
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 Academy-Notre Dame De Namur require?
Academy-Notre Dame De Namur 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 Academy-Notre Dame De Namur entrance exam?
The school's website listed 9th Grade Applicants: Applicants for the 2027-2028 academic year are only required to take one entrance exam - either the High School Placement Test (HSPT) or the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) on campus Saturday, October 17 & Satu when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the Academy-Notre Dame De Namur 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 Academy-Notre Dame De Namur?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Academy-Notre Dame De Namur'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 Academy-Notre Dame De Namur 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 Academy-Notre Dame De Namur for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Academy-Notre Dame De Namur?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Academy-Notre Dame De Namur's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Academy-Notre Dame De Namur share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Academy-Notre Dame De Namur 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 Academy-Notre Dame De Namur offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Academy-Notre Dame De Namur before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does Academy-Notre Dame De Namur require besides the HSPT?
Academy-Notre Dame De Namur also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, essay, shadow day, and portfolio 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 Villanova schools.
Get ready for Academy-Notre Dame De Namur'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.