Concord · CA
De La Salle High School: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Concord, CA with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- De La Salle High School lists the HSPT for Important Dates (2025-26) September 1 Applications Open September 1 Spartan for a Day, One Night Only, and Open House Registration December 1 Financial Assistance Applications Available December 8 Mid-Year Transfer Deadline December 12 Clas.
- The application deadline we found was Important Dates (2025-26) September 1 Applications Open September 1 Spartan for a Day, One Night Only, and Open House Registration December 1 Financial Assistance Applications Available December 8 Mid-Year Transfer Deadline December 12 Clas.
- Beyond the test, De La Salle High School also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, essay, and shadow day.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Key dates and details
| Application deadline | Important Dates (2025-26) September 1 Applications Open September 1 Spartan for a Day, One Night Only, and Open House Registration December 1 Financial Assistance Applications Available December 8 Mid-Year Transfer Deadline December 12 Clas |
| Application fee | This includes submitting the following : Inquiry Form Online Application (opens in new window/tab) Learning Needs Entrance Exam A recommendation request for your son’s Principal/Counselor, English, and Math teachers A request for your son’s |
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | Important Dates (2025-26) September 1 Applications Open September 1 Spartan for a Day, One Night Only, and Open House Registration December 1 Financial Assistance Applications Available December 8 Mid-Year Transfer Deadline December 12 Clas |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with De La Salle High School’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Important Dates (2025-26) September 1 Applications Open September 1 Spartan for a Day, One Night Only, and Open House Registration December 1 Financial Assistance Applications Available December 8 Mid-Year Transfer Deadline December 12 Clas |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | This includes submitting the following : Inquiry Form Online Application (opens in new window/tab) Learning Needs Entrance Exam A recommendation request for your son’s Principal/Counselor, English, and Math teachers A request for your son’s |
| Recommendations | This includes submitting the following : Inquiry Form Online Application (opens in new window/tab) Learning Needs Entrance Exam A recommendation request for your son’s Principal/Counselor, English, and Math teachers A request for your son’s |
| Interview | For homeschool and online school applicants: Interview with the Admissions Office in January or February 2026. |
| Visit or event | Admissions visits or events are part of the process. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Essay | Having free range in writing an argumentative essay made me realize I enjoy writing. |
| Shadow day | We invite you to attend one (or all) of our Admission events in the fall: our Spartan for a Day shadow program, Open House , and One Night Only (our visual and performance arts showcase). |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with De La Salle High School’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at De La Salle High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask De La Salle 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 De La Salle High School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, De La Salle 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 De La Salle 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.
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 De La Salle High School require?
De La Salle 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 De La Salle High School entrance exam?
The school's website listed Important Dates (2025-26) September 1 Applications Open September 1 Spartan for a Day, One Night Only, and Open House Registration December 1 Financial Assistance Applications Available December 8 Mid-Year Transfer Deadline December 12 Clas when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the De La Salle 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 De La Salle High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through De La Salle 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 De La Salle 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 De La Salle 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 De La Salle High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read De La Salle High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can De La Salle High School share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask De La Salle 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 De La Salle High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact De La Salle High School before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
When is the De La Salle High School application deadline?
The school's website listed Important Dates (2025-26) September 1 Applications Open September 1 Spartan for a Day, One Night Only, and Open House Registration December 1 Financial Assistance Applications Available December 8 Mid-Year Transfer Deadline December 12 Clas when we last checked (2026-07-07). Deadlines can shift each admissions cycle, so confirm the current application cutoff with the admissions office.
What else does De La Salle High School require besides the HSPT?
De La Salle High School also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, essay, and shadow day 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.
Compare other Catholic high schools near Concord
Entrance-exam dates, score-sharing rules, application steps, and scholarship policies can differ even between nearby schools.
See all Concord Catholic high schoolsApplying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide and other Concord schools.
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