Wilmington · DE
Padua Academy: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Wilmington, DE with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- Padua Academy uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- Beyond the test, Padua Academy also lists visit or event.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Key dates and details
| Exam requirement | The school’s admissions materials explicitly reference the HSPT. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Padua Academy’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | HSPT required as part of admissions. |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Visit or event | Admissions visits or events are part of the process. |
| Financial aid option | At the heart of Padua's education are our four pillars: spirituality, scholarship, service and sisterhood. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Padua Academy’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Padua Academy
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Padua Academy’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 Padua Academy entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Padua Academy 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 Padua Academy
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.
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 Padua Academy require?
Padua Academy 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 Padua Academy 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 Padua Academy 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 Padua Academy?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Padua Academy'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 Padua Academy 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 Padua Academy for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Padua Academy?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Padua Academy's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Padua Academy share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Padua Academy 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 Padua Academy offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Padua Academy before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does Padua Academy require besides the HSPT?
Padua Academy also lists visit or event 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 Wilmington schools.
Get ready for Padua Academy's entrance exam with a free baseline.
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