HSPT admissions guide
De La Salle High SchoolHSPT, admissions and deadlines
Concord · Diocese of Oakland
For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
Catholic high school in Concord, CA with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
De La Salle High School in Concord, CA uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam, currently listed for Saturday, January 9, 2027.
Before you lock a De La Salle High School study plan, take the free 25-question HSPT practice test to see which of the five sections needs work first.
Per STS Oakland registration, apply to De La Salle High School, then register on the STS Oakland registration page. Many local high schools do not accept walk-ins on the day of the test. See the HSPT test dates page and how to register for the HSPT.
Applications often include a student essay or short answers. Prompts vary by school — ask De La Salle High School for this cycle’s questions, then use the Catholic high school application essay guide.
Applying to De La Salle High School? Start your 3 days free before Saturday, January 9, 2027.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days to see what is already solid and what to practice first for De La Salle High School's entrance exam.
Worth knowing
Per STS Oakland registration (as of September 20, 2026), East Bay Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Oakland administer the HSPT on Saturday, January 9, 2027 at Bishop O'Dowd, Carondelet, De La Salle, Holy Names, Moreau Catholic, SJND, St. Mary's College HS, and Salesian. Registration opened September 1, 2026 and is now open through January 6, 2027. Results email March 12, 2027 after 4pm PT. Many local high schools do not accept walk-ins on the day of the test. See the HSPT test dates page and how to register for the HSPT.
Key dates and details
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | Saturday, January 9, 2027 (per STS Oakland registration, as of 2026-09-20) · STS Oakland registration |
| Exam requirement | Per STS Oakland registration (as of September 20, 2026): East Bay Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Oakland administer the HSPT on Saturday, January 9, 2027. Registration opened September 1, 2026 and is now open through January 6, 2027. Results email March 12, 2027 after 4pm PT. Many local high schools do not accept walk-ins on the day of the test. (per STS Oakland registration, as of 2026-09-20) · STS Oakland registration |
| 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 |
HSPT sitting and registration window: per STS Oakland registration (as of September 20, 2026). Other dates as listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-09-20). 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.
Verified current-cycle sittings are on the HSPT test dates page. We do not invent days — confirm De La Salle High School’s date with the admissions office before you register.
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.
School profile
| Students | 1,042 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
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
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?). Start with a free HSPT diagnostic, then focus on three things:
- 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
How to register for the HSPT
Apply to the high school, register for the sitting, then practice. East Bay families use STS Oakland registration. No invented dates.
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.
HSPT scores and scholarships: what is a good HSPT score?
The average HSPT score is the 50th percentile. What it means for admissions, what counts as a good score, and how schools use scores for merit aid.
How Catholic high schools use HSPT scores
Admissions, placement, scholarships, and why the same percentile can carry different weight at different schools.
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 the Oakland/STS extended-time steps.
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?
Per STS Oakland registration (as of 2026-09-20), De La Salle High School is listed for Saturday, January 9, 2027. Confirm arrival details with the high school test center before planning around the sitting.
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?
Per STS Oakland registration (as of September 20, 2026), families register for the De La Salle High School sitting at https://stsusers.com/stsusers/registration/static/oakland.php. Registration opened September 1, 2026 and is now open through January 6, 2027. Many local high schools do not accept walk-ins on the day of the test. See hsptprep.app/guide/how-to-register-for-the-hspt and hsptprep.app/hspt-test-dates. Confirm arrival details with the high school test center.
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.
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.
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, other Concord schools, or the best Catholic high schools in California.
Get ready for De La Salle High School's entrance exam — start your 3 days free.
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