Diocese Guide
The HSPT in the Archdiocese of Chicago
Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago admit through the High School Placement Test (HSPT), taken once in 8th grade. Each school publishes its own test dates and registration process — here are the schools we track and what they’ve published.
Schools we track in this diocese
St. Ignatius College Prep
Chicago, IL
A Jesuit college prep in Chicago’s Near West Side, consistently among the most selective Catholic high schools in Illinois.
HSPT: December 5, 2026
Loyola Academy
Chicago, IL
The largest Jesuit high school in the country, in Wilmette on Chicago’s North Shore.
HSPT: December 5, 2026
Marist High School
Chicago, IL
Co-ed Catholic high school in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood.
Dates change every admissions cycle — verify specifics with each school’s admissions office.
How HSPT registration usually works
Registration runs through the high schools themselves, not the diocese: families typically register for the exam at their first-choice school, and many schools share scores with the other schools a student applies to (confirm each school’s policy). The exam is taken once, usually between late November and January — see the full application timeline, and start with a free 25-question practice testto find your student’s baseline.
Applying in the Archdiocese of Chicago? Start with a free practice baseline.
Free daily HSPT practice from 1,500 real-format questions, with a weekly progress report for parents.