San Francisco · Archdiocese of San Francisco
St. Ignatius College Preparatory: HSPT & admissions
Jesuit college prep in San Francisco’s Sunset District, serving the city since 1855.
Key dates and details
| Application opens | September 9, 2026 (12pm) |
| Application deadline | November 16, 2026 (11:59pm) |
| Application fee | $100 |
| Exam requirement | Entrance Exam (HSPT) required for applicants |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-06-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with St. Ignatius College Preparatory’s admissions office before planning around them.
How to prepare for the St. Ignatius College Preparatory entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, St. Ignatius College Preparatory 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 Francisco schools.
Get ready for St. Ignatius College Preparatory's entrance exam with free daily practice.
Free daily HSPT practice from 1,500 real-format questions, with a weekly progress report for parents.