San Mateo · Archdiocese of San Francisco
Junipero Serra High School: HSPT & admissions
All-boys Catholic high school in San Mateo on the Peninsula.
Key dates and details
We don’t have confirmed dates for the current cycle yet — check the school’s admissions page for entrance exam and application dates.
How to prepare for the Junipero Serra High School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Junipero Serra 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?). 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.
Applying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide and other San Mateo schools.
Get ready for Junipero Serra High School's entrance exam with free daily practice.
Free daily HSPT practice from 1,500 real-format questions, with a weekly progress report for parents.