HSPT admissions guide
St. Joseph's Preparatory SchoolHSPT, admissions and deadlines
Philadelphia · Archdiocese of Philadelphia
For families applying
What to know before you make a study plan.
All-boys Jesuit prep in North Philadelphia, founded 1851.
St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia, PA uses the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as its entrance exam for 9th-grade applicants.
Before you lock a St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 St. Joseph's Preparatory School for this cycle’s questions, then use the Catholic high school application essay guide.
Applying to St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 | Application process page states ‘The Prep utilizes the H.S.P.T.’ and the 8th Grade Test Prep Program page prepares students for the High School Placement Test (HSPT). |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 St. Joseph's Preparatory School’s date with the admissions office before you register.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | All applicants take the Prep Entrance Exam, which uses the HSPT. |
| Application | Submit the admissions application before scheduling the entrance exam. |
| Transcript | Academic records required including 6th, 7th, and first marking period 8th grade report cards. |
| Recommendations | At least one teacher recommendation required; two highly encouraged. |
| Financial aid option | Optional online financial aid application available. |
| Shadow day | Hawk for a Day shadow visit registration provided through application. |
| Essay | Students complete an essay at the conclusion of the entrance exam. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with St. Joseph's Preparatory School’s admissions office.
School profile
| Students | 938 (NCES 2023-24) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
Accommodations and testing setup at St. Joseph's Preparatory School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 St. Joseph's Preparatory School entrance exam
St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 St. Joseph's Preparatory 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.
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 St. Joseph's Preparatory School require?
St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 St. Joseph's Preparatory School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 St. Joseph's Preparatory 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 St. Joseph's Preparatory School for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at St. Joseph's Preparatory School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read St. Joseph's Preparatory School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Does St. Joseph's Preparatory School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact St. Joseph's Preparatory School before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does St. Joseph's Preparatory School require besides the HSPT?
St. Joseph's Preparatory School also lists recommendations, shadow day, and essay 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.
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 St. Joseph's Preparatory 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.