Metro Guide
Catholic high schools in Cincinnati that use the HSPT
Greater Cincinnati has one of the highest Catholic school enrollment rates in the U.S., and its high schools admit through the HSPT, with most exams in late November.
Schools with admissions details available now
Archbishop Moeller High School
Cincinnati · Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Marianist Catholic high school for young men in Cincinnati.
Purcell Marian High School
Cincinnati · Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Co-ed Catholic college prep in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood.
Mount Notre Dame High School
Cincinnati · Archdiocese of Cincinnati
All-girls Catholic high school in Reading, Ohio, sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
Archbishop McNicholas High School
Cincinnati · Archdiocese of Cincinnati
An officially confirmed HSPT school in Cincinnati, OH: Archbishop McNicholas High School admits through the High School Placement Test (HSPT), which the Archdiocese of Cincinnati requires of all 8th grade applicants.
HSPT: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Mercy Mcauley High School
Cincinnati ·
Catholic high school in Cincinnati, OH with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
St Ursula Academy Of Cincinnati
Cincinnati · Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Catholic high school in Cincinnati, OH with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
Summit Day School
Cincinnati ·
Catholic high school in Cincinnati, OH with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
Dates change every cycle — each school page lists when we last checked, and you should confirm specifics with the school’s admissions office.
Applying to Catholic high school in Cincinnati? Start 3 days free.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days before comparing schools, deadlines, and scholarship ranges.
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Applying in Cincinnati: what to know
- One test, several schools.Most families apply to 2–4 schools. Ask each school whether they accept HSPT scores from another school’s sitting — policies differ by diocese.
- The calendar is compressed. Open houses run September–November, applications are typically due in November, and exams follow in late fall — see the full application timeline.
- Scholarships ride on the exam. Many Cincinnati schools tie merit awards to HSPT percentile — how the scholarship math works.
If cost is a primary filter, read cincinnati catholic high school scholarships before narrowing the list. It reframes this metro around scholarship comparison instead of generic score advice.
For a statewide comparison, see the best Catholic high schools in Ohio.
For the complete directory of Catholic high schools in Cincinnati — every school in the NCES snapshot, not just the HSPT-tracked ones — see the Cincinnati city directory.
New to the test? Start with What is the HSPT? and the 8-week study plan, or try the free practice test.
Useful parent guides for families applying in Cincinnati
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 how documentation usually fits into the process.
How to help a child with HSPT test anxiety
How parents can lower stress without turning prep into a second source of pressure.
Common questions about the HSPT in Cincinnati
Which Catholic high schools in Cincinnati use the HSPT?
We currently track 7 schools in this area, including Archbishop Moeller High School, Purcell Marian High School, and Mount Notre Dame High School. Open each school page for the admissions details we have and verify the current cycle directly with the school.
When do Cincinnati Catholic high schools give the HSPT?
Most Catholic high schools test between November and January, but the exact calendar varies by school and diocese. Compare the school pages first, then confirm each date before registering.
Can one HSPT score be sent to several Cincinnati schools?
Sometimes, but score-sharing policies are local. Ask where the student should test, which recipient codes or forms are needed, and whether any school requires a separate sitting.
Do HSPT scores affect scholarships in Cincinnati?
Many Catholic high schools use HSPT percentiles when considering merit awards, but score bands, award amounts, and renewal rules differ. Ask every admissions office the same scholarship questions.
How early should students start preparing for a Cincinnati HSPT date?
Six to eight weeks of short, consistent practice is a practical default. Start with a five-section baseline and plan around the earliest exam date on the school list.
Applying to Catholic high school in Cincinnati? Start 3 days free.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days before comparing schools, deadlines, and scholarship ranges.
3 days free · cancel anytime