HSPT admissions guide
Pope John Paul II High SchoolHSPT, admissions and deadlines
Philadelphia · Archdiocese of Philadelphia
For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
Co-ed Catholic high school in Royersford, serving Philadelphia’s western suburbs.
Pope John Paul II High School in Philadelphia, PA uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam for 9th-grade applicants.
Before you lock a Pope John Paul II High School study plan, take the free 25-question HSPT practice test to see which of the five sections needs work first.
Applications often include a student essay or short answers. Prompts vary by school — ask Pope John Paul II High School for this cycle’s questions, then use the Catholic high school application essay guide.
Applying to Pope John Paul II High School? Start your 3 days free before the school's HSPT date.
Try unlimited HSPT Prep for 3 days to see what is already solid and what to practice first for Pope John Paul II High School's entrance exam.
Worth knowing
Per STS Philadelphia registration (as of September 20, 2026), the Archdiocese of Philadelphia held its 2026 HSPT sittings September 21–October 10, 2026; all of them have passed. STS removed the sittings table after registration closed (checked October 17, 2026). Results are emailed November 25th, by end of day. Students applying to high schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia may only take the HSPT one time. See the HSPT test dates page and how to register for the HSPT.
Key dates and details
| Exam requirement | Practice HSPT offered at the school October 3, 2026 (8–11:30am) |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-08). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Pope John Paul II High School’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Verified current-cycle sittings are on the HSPT test dates page. We do not invent days — confirm Pope John Paul II High School’s date with the admissions office before you register.
Accommodations and testing setup at Pope John Paul II High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Pope John Paul II High 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 Pope John Paul II High School entrance exam
Pope John Paul II 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?). Start with a free HSPT diagnostic, then focus on three things:
- 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 Pope John Paul II High School
Catholic high school application essay
Prompts vary by school. Ask each office for this cycle’s questions, then use a process for common prompt types — not canned samples.
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.
Best order to prep for HSPT sections
Which sections to attack first if you want the fastest score gains instead of random practice.
What is a good HSPT score?
A cleaner admissions-focused read on what different percentile bands actually mean to a family.
How HSPT percentiles work
What percentile rank means, how it differs from raw score, and how parents should interpret the report.
HSPT accommodations for IEP and 504 students
What families should ask for, when to ask, and the Oakland/STS extended-time steps.
Common questions
What entrance exam does Pope John Paul II High School require?
Pope John Paul II High 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 Pope John Paul II High 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 Pope John Paul II High 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 Pope John Paul II High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Pope John Paul II High 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 Pope John Paul II High 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 Pope John Paul II High School for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Pope John Paul II High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Pope John Paul II High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does Pope John Paul II High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Pope John Paul II High School before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
Does the HSPT score matter for scholarships at Pope John Paul II High School?
Some Catholic high schools use HSPT percentile ranks when awarding merit aid. Check Pope John Paul II High School's current scholarship policy directly, including score bands, award amounts, renewal rules, and separate financial-aid deadlines.
Compare other Catholic high schools near Philadelphia
Entrance-exam dates, score-sharing rules, application steps, and scholarship policies can differ even between nearby schools.
Applying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide, other Philadelphia schools, or the best Catholic high schools in Pennsylvania.
Get ready for Pope John Paul II High School's entrance exam — start your 3 days free.
Try unlimited practice for 3 days to see whether the highest-risk sections are already solid or need work before this school's exam date.