Bel Air · MD
John Carroll School: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Bel Air, MD with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- John Carroll School uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- The application deadline we found was The application deadline is January 1..
- Beyond the test, John Carroll School also lists interview, visit or event, essay, shadow day, and portfolio.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Key dates and details
| Open house | October 24, 2026 Open House Explore our beautiful campus, chat with current students, faculty and coaches, and learn what it's like to be a Patriot! |
| Exam requirement | HSPT Bootcamp at John Carroll Among other measures, our candidates are evaluated on their performance on the HSPT. |
| Application deadline | The application deadline is January 1. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with John Carroll School’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | HSPT Bootcamp at John Carroll Among other measures, our candidates are evaluated on their performance on the HSPT. |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | Transcript or school records required as part of admissions. |
| Interview | Requirements for Admission Presentation of an original birth certificate (schools are expected to keep a copy of the certificate on file) Proof of exact dates of immunization records from previous school Standardized test scores Proof of |
| Visit or event | Our Admissions Office is here to guide you every step of the way, from Shadow Day visits to submitting your application in December. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Essay | Student information Student first name * Student last name * Current school * Grade * Parent/Guardian name(s) * Parent email * Home phone * Essay Please submit an essay sharing why you are interested in studying French at John Carroll. |
| Shadow day | Our Admissions Office is here to guide you every step of the way, from Shadow Day visits to submitting your application in December. |
| Portfolio | During this audition, Class of 2031 dancers will also be evaluated for scholarships based on their artistic dance merit. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with John Carroll School’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at John Carroll School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask John Carroll 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 John Carroll School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, John Carroll 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 John Carroll 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.
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.
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 John Carroll School require?
John Carroll 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 John Carroll School entrance exam?
The school publishes each cycle's exam dates on its admissions site, typically in the fall; most Catholic high schools test between November and January of 8th grade. Confirm the current date with the admissions office.
How should my child prepare for the John Carroll 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 John Carroll School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through John Carroll 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 John Carroll 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 John Carroll School for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at John Carroll School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read John Carroll School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can John Carroll School share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask John Carroll 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 John Carroll School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact John Carroll 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 John Carroll School application deadline?
The school's website listed The application deadline is January 1. 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 John Carroll School require besides the HSPT?
John Carroll School also lists interview, visit or event, essay, shadow day, and portfolio 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.
Applying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide and other Bel Air schools.
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