Last verified Sep 4, 20262026–27 season
Archdiocese of Washington HSPT test dates
Washington, DC and suburban Maryland. Dates, fees, and policies below come from official pages; anything we could not confirm says “Check with the school.”
- Next test date
- Wednesday, December 2, 2026
- in 77 days
- Registration deadline
- Varies by school
- Test fee
- $70
- Scores sent to up to four archdiocesan high schools. $15 more to send scores to one additional school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore or Diocese of Arlington.
- Register
- Official registration
Test dates
| Date | What | Where | Register by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, December 2, 2026 | In-school administration (Wednesday)source | For 8th graders at Archdiocese of Washington Catholic schools; given at the student's own school. The registration link comes from the principal. | —Register |
| Saturday, December 5, 2026 | Saturday open test date 1Registration closes November 29, 2026 or earlier if all sites reach capacity.source | Academy of the Holy Cross, DeMatha, Georgetown Visitation, Gonzaga, Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Mary's Ryken. No walk-ins. | Nov 29, 2026Register |
| Saturday, December 12, 2026 | Saturday open test date 2Registration closes December 6, 2026 or earlier if all sites reach capacity.source | Archbishop Carroll, Bishop McNamara, Elizabeth Seton, St. John's College High School, St. Vincent Pallotti. No walk-ins. | Dec 6, 2026Register |
| Saturday, January 9, 2027 | Final test date (primarily make-up)The archdiocese calls this the final testing date offered. Registration closes January 3, 2027 or when sites fill.source | Academy of the Holy Cross, Bishop McNamara, Gonzaga, St. Vincent Pallotti, St. Mary's Ryken. | Jan 3, 2027Register |
Registration, fees & policies
- How to register
- Online registration opens Monday, October 5, 2026. Students at archdiocesan Catholic schools get a registration link from their principal and test at school on December 2; everyone else registers and pays online for a Saturday site. Choose up to four archdiocesan high schools to receive scores, plus one school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore or Diocese of Arlington for an extra fee. Questions: 301-853-5387. source
- Fee
- $70Scores sent to up to four archdiocesan high schools. $15 more to send scores to one additional school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore or Diocese of Arlington.source
- Retake policy
- The HSPT is given once per student and may not be taken more than once. If a student does retake it, admissions committees consider only the first score. source
- How scores are used
- One factor among several considered by the archdiocesan high schools that require the HSPT. Schools also use results for placement and scholarship decisions. source
- Scholarships
- Scholarship decisions are made by each high school; the archdiocese notes HSPT results are used in awarding scholarships. No archdiocese-wide score thresholds are published. source
- Score reporting
- Scores go to the schools selected at registration. Parents receive a copy by email one week after the high schools receive their reports. source
- Optional subtest
- Check with the school
Schools that use the HSPT
| School | City | Admissions |
|---|---|---|
| Academy of the Holy CrossTest site Dec 5 and Jan 9 | Kensington, MD | — |
| Archbishop Carroll High SchoolTest site Dec 12 | Washington, DC | — |
| Bishop McNamara High SchoolTest site Dec 12 and Jan 9 | Forestville, MD | — |
| DeMatha Catholic High SchoolTest site Dec 5 | Hyattsville, MD | — |
| Elizabeth Seton High SchoolTest site Dec 12 | Bladensburg, MD | — |
| Georgetown Visitation Preparatory SchoolTest site Dec 5 | Washington, DC | — |
| Gonzaga College High SchoolTest site Dec 5 and Jan 9 | Washington, DC | — |
| Our Lady of Good Counsel High SchoolTest site Dec 5; application deadline December 11, 2026 | Olney, MD | Admissions page |
| St. John's College High SchoolTest site Dec 12 | Washington, DC | — |
| St. Mary's Ryken High SchoolTest site Dec 5 and Jan 9 | Leonardtown, MD | — |
| St. Vincent Pallotti High SchoolTest site Dec 12 and Jan 9 | Laurel, MD | — |
Common questions
When is the HSPT in the Archdiocese of Washington?
Saturday, December 5 and Saturday, December 12, 2026, with a final date on Saturday, January 9, 2027. Students at archdiocesan Catholic schools test at their own school on Wednesday, December 2.
How much does the Washington HSPT cost?
$70, which sends scores to up to four archdiocesan high schools. Adding one school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore or Diocese of Arlington costs $15 more.
Can my child retake the HSPT in the Archdiocese of Washington?
No. The test is given once per student, and if a student does test twice, schools consider only the first score.
Nearby dioceses
Families near a diocesan border often apply to schools in more than one diocese.
- Archdiocese of BaltimoreNext test Nov 14, 2026
- Diocese of ArlingtonNext test Nov 14, 2026
Sources
- https://adwcatholicschools.org/high-school/placement-tests/hspt-dates-locations-fees/
- https://adwcatholicschools.org/high-school/placement-tests/faqs/
- https://adwcatholicschools.org/high-school/placement-tests/hspt-registration/
- https://adwcatholicschools.org/high-school/placement-tests/about-hspt/
- https://www.olgchs.org/admissions/apply
Verified Friday, September 4, 2026. Policies change; confirm with the school before relying on any date or fee.