Diocese Guide
The HSPT in the Diocese of Birmingham
Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Birmingham admit through the High School Placement Test (HSPT), taken once in 8th grade. Each school publishes its own test dates and registration process — here are the schools in the diocese and the admissions details currently available.
Browse the full best Catholic high schools in Alabama directory, or the broader national directory by state and city.
Schools with admissions details available now
Dates change every admissions cycle — verify specifics with each school’s admissions office.
Applying in the Diocese of Birmingham? Start 3 days free.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days so school comparisons and application timing are grounded in real practice.
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How HSPT registration usually works
Registration runs through the high schools themselves, not the diocese: families typically register for the exam at their first-choice school, and many schools share scores with the other schools a student applies to (confirm each school’s policy). The exam is taken once, usually between late November and January — see the full application timeline, and start with a free 25-question practice testto find your student’s baseline.
Useful parent guides in the Diocese of Birmingham
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 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.
Applying in the Diocese of Birmingham? Start 3 days free.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days so school comparisons and application timing are grounded in real practice.
3 days free · cancel anytime