For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
Private high school in Arcadia, CA. For 9th-grade applicants, admissions asks for a copy of the student’s HSPT, ISEE or SSAT score.
Renaissance Academy in Arcadia, CA accepts a copy of the student’s HSPT, ISEE or SSAT score for 9th-grade applicants.
Before you lock a Renaissance Academy 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 Renaissance Academy for this cycle’s questions, then use the Catholic high school application essay guide.
Applying to Renaissance Academy? 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 Renaissance Academy's entrance exam.
Key dates and details
| Exam requirement | A copy of the student’s HSPT, ISEE or SSAT score (for 9th grade applicants). |
| Application fee | A non-refundable application fee of $200 must accompany this Application for Admission. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Renaissance Academy’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 Renaissance Academy’s date with the admissions office before you register.
Admissions checklist
| Entrance exam score | A copy of the student’s HSPT, ISEE or SSAT score (for 9th grade applicants). |
| Application | Parent should complete the enrollment application form and send it to the school. |
| Transcript | In addition, all applications must be accompanied by a copy of the student’s official transcript and standardized test scores if applicable. |
| Recommendations | Name of person(s): Family, Friend, or Colleague Recommendation: Internet Search: Media Advertising (Radio, TV, Magazine, etc.): Drive by/Live near school: 4/4 To complete the application process, the following items are required: 1. |
| Interview | Students will receive complete testing and interview to determine their personalized study program. |
| Visit or event | Call (626) 693-1308 to set up a tour of the school or to schedule academic testing. |
| Financial aid option | FINANCIAL AID Tuition assistance funds are available to qualified families who are having difficulty meeting their financial obligations. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Renaissance Academy’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Renaissance Academy
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Renaissance 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 Renaissance Academy entrance exam
Renaissance Academy accepts a copy of the student’s HSPT, ISEE or SSAT score for 9th-grade applicants. The HSPT is 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 Renaissance Academy
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.
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.
HSPT scores and scholarships: what is a good HSPT score?
The average HSPT score is the 50th percentile. What it means for admissions, what counts as a good score, and how schools use scores for merit aid.
How Catholic high schools use HSPT scores
Admissions, placement, scholarships, and why the same percentile can carry different weight at different schools.
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 the Oakland/STS extended-time steps.
Common questions
What entrance exam does Renaissance Academy require?
For 9th-grade applicants, Renaissance Academy asks for a copy of the student’s HSPT, ISEE or SSAT score.
When is the Renaissance Academy entrance exam?
Renaissance Academy asks 9th-grade applicants for a copy of an HSPT, ISEE or SSAT score. Confirm the current testing expectation with the admissions office.
How should my child prepare for the Renaissance 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 submit an HSPT score to Renaissance Academy?
Renaissance Academy asks 9th-grade applicants for a copy of an HSPT, ISEE or SSAT score. Confirm with the admissions office where to send the score and which testing site to use.
How long is the Renaissance 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 Renaissance Academy for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Renaissance Academy?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Renaissance Academy's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does Renaissance Academy offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Renaissance 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 Renaissance Academy require besides an entrance-exam score?
Renaissance Academy also lists recommendations, interview, and 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, other Arcadia schools, or the best Catholic high schools in California.
Get ready for Renaissance Academy'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.