Diocese Guide
The HSPT in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles 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 in the diocese and the admissions details currently available.
Browse the full best Catholic high schools in California directory, or the broader national directory by state and city.
Schools with admissions details available now
Loyola High School
Los Angeles, CA
All-boys Jesuit school near downtown LA; 9th-grade applicants take the HSPT.
HSPT: Saturday, January 9, 16, or 23, 2027 (choose one date at registration)
Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks)
Los Angeles, CA
Co-ed Catholic college prep in Sherman Oaks, in the San Fernando Valley.
HSPT: January 23, 2027 (on campus)
Cathedral High School (Los Angeles)
Los Angeles, CA
Lasallian Catholic high school for boys near downtown Los Angeles.
HSPT: January 9, 2027, January 23, 2027 or February 13, 2027
Paraclete High School
Los Angeles, CA
Co-ed Catholic high school in Lancaster, serving the Antelope Valley.
Bishop Conaty-Our Lady Of Loretto High School
Los Angeles, CA
Catholic high school in Los Angeles, CA with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
Notre Dame Academy Girls High School
Los Angeles, CA
Catholic high school in Los Angeles, CA with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
Dates change every admissions cycle — verify specifics with each school’s admissions office.
Applying in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles? Start your 3 days free.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days so school comparisons and application timing are grounded in real practice.
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 the HSPT test dates page, and start with a free 25-question practice test to find your student’s baseline.
Useful parent guides in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
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.
What is a good HSPT score?
A cleaner admissions-focused read on what different percentile bands actually mean to a family.
How Catholic high schools use HSPT scores
Admissions, placement, scholarships, and why the same percentile can carry different weight at different schools.
HSPT accommodations for IEP and 504 students
What families should ask for, when to ask, and the Oakland/STS extended-time steps.
How to help a child with HSPT test anxiety
How parents can lower stress without turning prep into a second source of pressure.
Applying in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles? Start your 3 days free.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days so school comparisons and application timing are grounded in real practice.