Oakland · Diocese of Oakland
Bishop O'Dowd High School: HSPT & admissions
Co-ed Catholic college prep in the Oakland hills, serving the East Bay since 1951.
The short answer
- Bishop O'Dowd High School lists the HSPT for January 9, 2027.
- Admissions events start November 8, 2026 (11:30am–2pm), which usually means the fall timeline is already moving.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Comparing cost and merit aid? See the Bishop O'Dowd High School scholarships, tuition, financial-aid deadline, and HSPT scholarship details.
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
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | January 9, 2027 |
| Open house | November 8, 2026 (11:30am–2pm) |
| Exam requirement | HSPT required for all incoming 9th grade applicants; O’Dowd considers the standardized test score in admissions. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-20). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Bishop O'Dowd High School’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | All incoming ninth grade applicants are required to take the HSPT when applying to O’Dowd. |
| Application | Follow the school application process before the HSPT and admissions-decision steps. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance applications open in December with an early-February deadline. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Bishop O'Dowd High School’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Bishop O'Dowd High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Bishop O'Dowd 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 Bishop O'Dowd High School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Bishop O'Dowd 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 Bishop O'Dowd 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.
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 Bishop O'Dowd High School require?
Bishop O'Dowd 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 Bishop O'Dowd High School entrance exam?
The school's website listed January 9, 2027 when we last checked (2026-07-20). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the Bishop O'Dowd 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 Bishop O'Dowd High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Bishop O'Dowd 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 Bishop O'Dowd 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 Bishop O'Dowd 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 Bishop O'Dowd High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Bishop O'Dowd High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Bishop O'Dowd High School share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Bishop O'Dowd 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 Bishop O'Dowd High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Bishop O'Dowd High School before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
Does Bishop O'Dowd High School have a separate tuition-aid step?
Bishop O'Dowd High School lists tuition aid or financial assistance as a separate admissions step. Families using aid should ask the school for the exact forms and timing instead of waiting until after the exam.
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.
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