Chicago · Archdiocese of Chicago
Depaul College Prep: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Chicago, IL with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- Depaul College Prep lists the HSPT for Sincerely, Tom Kleinschmidt Director of Admissions Fall 2026 Admissions and Recruitment Process The Entrance Exam at DePaul College Prep takes place on December 5, 2026..
- The application deadline we found was What if my taxes are not completed by the application deadline?.
- Beyond the test, Depaul College Prep 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
| Open house | Class of 2031-2033: Grade School Football Night: September 18, 2026 Open House # 1 October 8, 2026, 6-8 PM Open House #2 November 1, 2026, 12-2 PM Application Our admissions application for transfer students and the Class of 2030 is now ope |
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | Sincerely, Tom Kleinschmidt Director of Admissions Fall 2026 Admissions and Recruitment Process The Entrance Exam at DePaul College Prep takes place on December 5, 2026. |
| Application fee | The application fee is $30.00 . |
| Application deadline | What if my taxes are not completed by the application deadline? |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Depaul College Prep’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | DePaul Prep provides an extended time up to 50% (time one and a half), basic calculator use, and marking answers in the test booklet for the HSPT Entrance Exam. |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | You will need to upload the following documents to the application database in order to complete your student's application: Birth Certificate 8th Grade Report Card (first semester or trimester, or first quarter progress report) 7th Grade R |
| Recommendations | Recommendations required as part of admissions. |
| Interview | Guaranteed internship interview at ComEd upon graduation from DePaul University. |
| Visit or event | Admissions visits or events are part of the process. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Essay | An essential part of the application is writing a brief essay that explains your family's particular need for financial aid. |
| Shadow day | Registration for a shadow day spot will open on Friday, July 31st here on our website. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Depaul College Prep’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Depaul College Prep
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Depaul College Prep’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 Depaul College Prep entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Depaul College Prep 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 Depaul College Prep
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 Depaul College Prep require?
Depaul College Prep 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 Depaul College Prep entrance exam?
The school's website listed Sincerely, Tom Kleinschmidt Director of Admissions Fall 2026 Admissions and Recruitment Process The Entrance Exam at DePaul College Prep takes place on December 5, 2026. when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the Depaul College Prep 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 Depaul College Prep?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Depaul College Prep'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 Depaul College Prep 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 Depaul College Prep for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Depaul College Prep?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Depaul College Prep's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Depaul College Prep share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Depaul College Prep 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 Depaul College Prep offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Depaul College Prep before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
When is the Depaul College Prep application deadline?
The school's website listed What if my taxes are not completed by the application deadline? 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 Depaul College Prep require besides the HSPT?
Depaul College Prep 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 Chicago
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 Chicago schools.
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