Metro Guide
Catholic high schools in Philadelphia that use the HSPT
Philadelphia’s Catholic preps — many run by religious orders rather than the archdiocese — set their own admissions calendars, with entrance exams clustered in October and November of 8th grade.
The schools we track
St. Joseph's Preparatory School
Philadelphia · Archdiocese of Philadelphia
All-boys Jesuit prep in North Philadelphia, founded 1851.
HSPT: typically early November (Nov 8 in the 2025 cycle)
La Salle College High School
Philadelphia · Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Lasallian college prep for young men just outside Philadelphia.
Roman Catholic High School
Philadelphia · Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Historic boys’ Catholic high school in Center City Philadelphia.
Dates change every cycle — each school page lists when we last checked, and you should confirm specifics with the school’s admissions office.
Applying in Philadelphia: what to know
- One test, several schools.Most families apply to 2–4 schools. Ask each school whether they accept HSPT scores from another school’s sitting — policies differ by diocese.
- The calendar is compressed. Open houses run September–November, applications are typically due in November, and exams follow in late fall — see the full application timeline.
- Scholarships ride on the exam. Many Philadelphia schools tie merit awards to HSPT percentile — how the scholarship math works.
New to the test? Start with What is the HSPT? and the 8-week study plan, or try free practice questions.
Applying to Catholic high school in Philadelphia? Start with a free practice baseline.
Free daily HSPT practice from 1,500 real-format questions, with a weekly progress report for parents.