Diocese Guide
The HSPT in the Diocese of Oakland
Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Oakland 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 we track and what they’ve published.
Worth knowing
Applicants applying for 9th grade may take the HSPT at any of the nine Oakland Diocese Catholic secondary schools they apply to — one sitting covers all of them. (As published on Bishop O’Dowd’s admissions site.)
Schools we track in this diocese
Dates change every admissions cycle — verify specifics with each school’s admissions office.
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.
Applying in the Diocese of Oakland? Start with a free practice baseline.
Free daily HSPT practice from 1,500 real-format questions, with a weekly progress report for parents.