Montebello · CA
Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Montebello, CA with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- Admissions events start STEP 1: THE APPLICATION STEP 2: EVALUATIONS STEP 3: TRANSCRIPTS & TEST SCORES STEP 4: HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT) FRESHMAN FRESHMAN EVALUATION FORM FRESHMAN PERMISSION FORM TRANSFER TRANSFER EVALUATION FORM TRANSFER PERMISSION FORM IM, which usually means the fall timeline is already moving.
- Beyond the test, Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary also lists interview, and visit or event.
- A section-by-section baseline helps you decide whether this school calls for a steady plan or late-start triage.
Key dates and details
| Open house | STEP 1: THE APPLICATION STEP 2: EVALUATIONS STEP 3: TRANSCRIPTS & TEST SCORES STEP 4: HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT) FRESHMAN FRESHMAN EVALUATION FORM FRESHMAN PERMISSION FORM TRANSFER TRANSFER EVALUATION FORM TRANSFER PERMISSION FORM IM |
| Exam requirement | STEP 1: THE APPLICATION STEP 2: EVALUATIONS STEP 3: TRANSCRIPTS & TEST SCORES STEP 4: HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT) FRESHMAN FRESHMAN EVALUATION FORM FRESHMAN PERMISSION FORM TRANSFER TRANSFER EVALUATION FORM TRANSFER PERMISSION FORM IM |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | STEP 1: THE APPLICATION STEP 2: EVALUATIONS STEP 3: TRANSCRIPTS & TEST SCORES STEP 4: HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT) FRESHMAN FRESHMAN EVALUATION FORM FRESHMAN PERMISSION FORM TRANSFER TRANSFER EVALUATION FORM TRANSFER PERMISSION FORM IM |
| Application | SKIP TO CONTENT ABOUT CSHM ACADEMICS ADMISSIONS ATHLETICS ALUMNI STUDENT LIFE RESOURCES GIVING CALENDAR SHOP WE ACT IN THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST Summer Reading Projects 2026 2026 GOLF TOURNAMENT APPLY FOR 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR END OF YEAR CAM |
| Interview | FRESHMEN INTERVIEW DAY Saturday, February 21, 2026 Interviews begin at 8:30 AM Your specific time will be emailed to you. |
| Visit or event | STEP 1: THE APPLICATION STEP 2: EVALUATIONS STEP 3: TRANSCRIPTS & TEST SCORES STEP 4: HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT) FRESHMAN FRESHMAN EVALUATION FORM FRESHMAN PERMISSION FORM TRANSFER TRANSFER EVALUATION FORM TRANSFER PERMISSION FORM IM |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary’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 Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary 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 Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary
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.
6-week HSPT study plan
The middle-ground schedule: enough time to cover every section without turning fall into one long cram.
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 HSPT percentiles work
What percentile rank means, how it differs from raw score, and how parents should interpret the report.
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 Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary require?
Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary 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 Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary entrance exam?
The school publishes each cycle's exam dates on its admissions site, typically in the fall; most Catholic high schools test between November and January of 8th grade. Confirm the current date with the admissions office.
How should my child prepare for the Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary 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 Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary'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 Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary 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 Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary 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 Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary require besides the HSPT?
Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary also lists interview, and visit or event 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 Montebello schools.
Get ready for Cantwell Sacred Heart Of Mary'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.