San Francisco · Archdiocese of San Francisco
Archbishop Riordan High School: HSPT & admissions
Co-ed Marianist Catholic high school in San Francisco.
The short answer
- Archbishop Riordan High School lists the HSPT for boarding & international students apply HERE Important Dates Crusader For A Day - September 15th, 16th, 23rd, 30th October 2nd, 6th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 20th Application Deadline - December 1, 2025 HSPT at Riordan - December 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM.
- The application deadline we found was The application deadline is December 1, 2025..
- Beyond the test, Archbishop Riordan High 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 | The application deadline is December 1, 2025. |
| Open house | boarding & international students apply HERE Important Dates Crusader For A Day - September 15th, 16th, 23rd, 30th October 2nd, 6th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 20th Application Deadline - December 1, 2025 HSPT at Riordan - December 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM |
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | boarding & international students apply HERE Important Dates Crusader For A Day - September 15th, 16th, 23rd, 30th October 2nd, 6th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 20th Application Deadline - December 1, 2025 HSPT at Riordan - December 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM |
| Application fee | Francis Scholars Tuition and Financial Aid 2025-26 School Year Tuition: $28,000 Application Fee: $100 Registration Fee: $1,200 Families applying for Financial Aid must submit all information via TADS by January 30, 2026 for the 2026-27 scho |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Archbishop Riordan High School’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | boarding & international students apply HERE Important Dates Crusader For A Day - September 15th, 16th, 23rd, 30th October 2nd, 6th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 20th Application Deadline - December 1, 2025 HSPT at Riordan - December 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | After submitting your application, please upload your student's high school transcript or report card to your Parent Portal. |
| Recommendations | Your must also submit a Clergy Recommendation Form from your Pastor. |
| Interview | An interview with the RSP staff is required for all applicants applying to this program. |
| Visit or event | boarding & international students apply HERE Important Dates Crusader For A Day - September 15th, 16th, 23rd, 30th October 2nd, 6th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 20th Application Deadline - December 1, 2025 HSPT at Riordan - December 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Essay | For Students Applying to Riordan’s Freshman Class of 2030 The following is required to apply for this scholarship: A minimum national percentile rank of at least 50% on the High School Placement Test (HSPT) A letter of recommendation from t |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Archbishop Riordan High School’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Archbishop Riordan High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Archbishop Riordan 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 Archbishop Riordan High School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Archbishop Riordan 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 Archbishop Riordan 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.
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 Archbishop Riordan High School require?
Archbishop Riordan 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 Archbishop Riordan High School entrance exam?
The school's website listed boarding & international students apply HERE Important Dates Crusader For A Day - September 15th, 16th, 23rd, 30th October 2nd, 6th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 20th Application Deadline - December 1, 2025 HSPT at Riordan - December 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the Archbishop Riordan 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 Archbishop Riordan High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Archbishop Riordan 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 Archbishop Riordan 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 Archbishop Riordan 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 Archbishop Riordan High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Archbishop Riordan High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Archbishop Riordan High School share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Archbishop Riordan 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 Archbishop Riordan High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Archbishop Riordan High 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 Archbishop Riordan High School application deadline?
The school's website listed The application deadline is December 1, 2025. 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 Archbishop Riordan High School require besides the HSPT?
Archbishop Riordan High 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.
Compare other Catholic high schools near San Francisco
Entrance-exam dates, score-sharing rules, application steps, and scholarship policies can differ even between nearby schools.
See all San Francisco Catholic high schoolsApplying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide and other San Francisco schools.
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