Applying to a Catholic High School
The information below is for students applying to these
high schools, all of which use the High School Placement
Test (HSPT) in their admissions process:
Academy of the Holy Cross
Archbishop Carroll High School
Bishop McNamara High School
Connelly School of the Holy Child
Elizabeth Seton High School
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
DeMatha Catholic High School
Gonzaga College High School
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
St. John’s College High School
St. Mary’s Ryken High School
St. Vincent Pallotti High School
Six other schools in the Archdiocese of Washington – Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, St.
Anselm’s Abbey School, St. Ann’s High School
of St. Ann’s Infant and Maternity Home, Georgetown
Preparatory School, The Heights School and Stone Ridge
School of the Sacred Heart – have separate admissions
procedures and should be contacted directly.
Criteria for Admissions
Students must complete a high school’s own application
form. Grades, test scores, teacher recommendations and,
in some cases, an interview are used in considering applications.
Process for Students Attending a Catholic Elementary
School in the Archdiocese of Washington
Principals in Archdiocese of Washington schools give 8th grade students a High School Placement Test (HSPT) Registration Form in the fall. Students return the completed form, along with a minimal processing fee, to their 8th grade teachers by October 9, 2007.
Principals also give 8th grade students a High School Choice and Authorization to Release Records Form. Parents must:
- Indicate two schools on the form to which their child intends to apply for admission the next fall
- Sign the form authorizing the elementary school to release their child’s records to the two schools
- Return the form to the child’s 8th grade teacher by Tuesday, November 27, 2007
- Students take the HSPT, the official entrance test published by Scholastic Testing Service, Inc., at their schools on Wednesday, November 28, 2007.
|
Process for Students Not Enrolled in a Catholic Elementary
School in the Archdiocese of Washington
Students not enrolled in a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Washington may register for the High School Placement Test (HSPT) online (test registration closed on January 6, 2008 for Fall 2008 enrollment) or obtain a form from any Catholic high school in the Archdiocese.
The HSPT is required for admissions for most of the Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese. The form and a minimal registration fee must be received by the test deadline date (see below).
The Catholic Schools Office will send a confirmation that admits the student to the testing site.
The final admissions test is January 12, 9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at the following sites: Archbishop Carroll High School, Academy of the Holy Cross, Bishop McNamara High School and Connelly School of the Holy Child. Registration for this test date closed on January 6, 2008.
|
All Students
On the HSPT answer sheet, students choose up to two Catholic
high schools in the Archdiocese of Washington to receive
their test scores. Only two schools may be listed. Additionally,
students may request that the score report be sent to one
additional school in either the Diocese of Arlington or
the Archdiocese of Baltimore. NOTE: Any student indicating
a third choice school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore or
Diocese of Arlington must pay an additional nominal processing
fee, as indicated on the HSPT Registration Form.
Test results are sent only to the school(s) filled in
on the student’s HSPT answer sheet and will be mailed
to parents and guardians in early February 2008.
Testing Details for Students Not Enrolled in an Archdiocesan
Elementary School
All students must be pre-registered to take the HSPT.
No walk-ins are permitted.
All testing sites will offer regular and accommodated
testing conditions. Students with identified disabilities
requiring testing accommodations must submit appropriate
documentation of diagnosis with the HSPT Registration Form.
(NOTE: Those who do not include documentation with this
form may not be provided testing accommodations.) During
the admissions/enrollment process, parents should provide
the high school(s) with similar information regarding their
child’s special education needs to ensure accurate
placement.
To reschedule a missed HSPT date due to illness, call 301-853-5304 no later than five days before the next test date.
Notice of Acceptance
High schools mail acceptance letters to students on or after February 25, 2008, as well as information to complete
registration for September 2008.
Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy
Catholic schools admit students of any race, color, national
and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs
and activities generally accorded or made available to
students at the school. They do not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration
of their educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship
and loan programs and athletic and other school-administered
programs. To the extent required by Title IX, they do not
discriminate against any applicant, employee or student
because of sex.
Tuition Assistance
Each high school and the Archdiocese of Washington offer
a variety of tuition assistance and scholarship programs.
Applying for tuition aid has no bearing on whether a student
is admitted to a school. Tuition aid application deadlines
are as early as December so families will know their tuition
aid grants when they receive their notification letters
from high schools in the spring.
Archdiocesan Tuition Assistance for 2008-2009
Applications for tuition assistance from the archdiocese may be obtained from any Catholic elementary or high school in the archdiocese or from www.catholicschoolswork.org, starting in the Fall. All tuition assistance obtained through the archdiocese is based on financial need. Tuition assistance from the archdiocese is open only to students currently enrolled in or applying to Catholic schools located in the archdiocese, which includes Washington, D.C., and five Maryland counties (Montgomery, Prince George's, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's). If you have questions about archdiocesan tuition assistance, please contact 301-853-4597 or check online information.
Individual High Schools
For information on other sources of tuition assistance, please contact the Catholic High School(s) to which you are applying or the following organizations:
Capital Partners for Education
Black Student Fund
Latino Student Fund
Washington Scholarship Fund
Questions?
If you have questions about the admissions process, please
call the Catholic Schools Office at 301-853-5304.
|
