Philadelphia · Archdiocese of Philadelphia
St. Joseph's Preparatory School: HSPT & admissions
All-boys Jesuit prep in North Philadelphia, founded 1851.
Key dates and details
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | typically early November (Nov 8 in the 2025 cycle) |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-06-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with St. Joseph's Preparatory School’s admissions office before planning around them.
How to prepare for the St. Joseph's Preparatory School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, 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?). 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 Philadelphia schools.
Get ready for St. Joseph's Preparatory School's entrance exam with free daily practice.
Free daily HSPT practice from 1,500 real-format questions, with a weekly progress report for parents.