8th Grade High School - Application Process
Catholic High School Admissions Process:
OVERVIEW FOR APPLYING TO A CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
The following information is from Archdiocese of Washington 2024-2025 Admissions Information and Testing Guide:
HIGH SCHOOL REGISTRATION
Upon notification of acceptance, Catholic high schools may not require students to accept an offer of admission any earlier than Friday, March 14, 2025.
A newly admitted student may elect to accept the offer of admission from a Catholic high school and register at any time.
Catholic high schools may host events to welcome and provide additional information to newly admitted students; however, registration may not be the purpose of such events.
Catholic high schools may request students who have been offered a merit scholarship to notify the school of their intention to decline the scholarship, as soon as possible.
ARCHDIOCESAN TUITION ASSISTANCE
Each high school and the Archdiocese of Washington offer a variety of tuition assistance and scholarship programs. Applying for tuition assistance has no bearing on whether a student is admitted to a school. Tuition assistance application deadlines are as early as December, so families will know their tuition assistance grants in the same timeframe and when they receive their decision notification letters from high schools.
TADS administers the application process for the Archdiocesan Tuition Assistance Program. The TADS Application Form for the 2025-2026 school year must be completed and submitted to TADS by December 16, 2024, for families applying for tuition assistance from the archdiocese for a high school student.
The form may be obtained in October 2024 at www.adwcatholicschools.org/tuition-assistance
All tuition assistance obtained through the archdiocese is based on financial need. Archdiocesan tuition assistance is open only to students currently enrolled in or applying to Catholic schools located in the archdiocese, which includes Washington, DC and the five Maryland counties of Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s.
Catholic high schools will be provided with access to the archdiocesan tuition assistance award report for their school no later than Monday, February 10, 2025. Catholic high schools may not disclose archdiocesan tuition assistance decisions prior to applicants receiving their decision letter from the archdiocese.
For help with tuition assistance, funding, and education resources, please email tuitionassistanceprogram@adw.org.
CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION
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. Placement test results must be submitted to the high school before the high school application will be considered for official review, unless otherwise noted in the Schedule of Placement Testing for All Archdiocese of Washington Catholic High Schools (on pages 16-19 of this guide). Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School will also have income and other admissions criteria requirements pertaining to its unique work-study mission.
NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE
Notices of acceptance or non-acceptance will be mailed via U.S. Mail to students by Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Washington on Thursday, February 20, 2025 or on Thursday, February 27, 2025. The specific notification date for each Catholic high school will be included in its admission materials. Each school will also provide students with the information to complete registration for fall 2025.
Notifications will be released at 12 noon according to the aforementioned dates, by U.S. Mail.
Notifications may be released beginning at 3:00p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2025 or on Friday, February 28, 2025 by email.
Notifications may be released beginning at 3:00p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2025 or on Friday, February 28, 2025 by telephone call.
School must disseminate all decision notifications on the same date selected by the school.
Schedule of High School Presentations at Our Lady of Lourdes
All high school visits will be scheduled at OLOL during the school day. Visits are 20 minutes and 7th and 8th grade students attend.
St. John's College High School -
Archbishop Carroll -
DeMatha & Elizabeth Seton -
St.Anselm's & Academy of the Holy Cross -
Georgetown Prep & Stone Ridge -
Bishop McNamara -
Our Lady of Good Counsel -
Avalon & Brookewood -
Gonzaga & Georgetown Visitation -
Holy Child -
High School Placement Test
Registration is open Oct. 2 - Nov. 20 2023
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2023 HSPT:
Registration Process for Students Attending Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools Administering the High School Placement Test
The HSPT for students attending Archdiocese of Washington Catholic schools will be administered at their schools on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. All students attending a Catholic elementary school must register to take the HSPT through their elementary schools by completing the online HSPT Registration Form. Only students applying to Catholic high schools that require the HSPT are required to register to take the test.
Principals in Archdiocese of Washington schools share the web link to the online HSPT Registration Form with the parents/guardians of 8th grade students. Parents/guardians complete registration and payment for the test online, and a confirmation letter is sent to the parent/guardian’s email address.
Online test registration opens on Monday, October 2, 2023. Test registration and payment must be submitted by Friday, November 20, 2023. The registration fee is based on the number of HSPT schools to which a student will apply:
$67.50: test scores are sent to up to four schools in the Archdiocese of Washington. Students interested in sending their score report to more than four schools should email hspt@adw.org for instructions and assistance.
Please note the following fees for additional school selections:
+$15: test score is sent to one additional school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore or the Diocese of Arlington.
DUE Sunday, December 10, 2023
HIGH SCHOOL CHOICE(S)
Archdiocesan elementary school principals will provide 8th grade students an Authorization to Release Records form to be completed and returned to the student’s classroom teacher. Parents/guardians must:
Indicate the schools on the form to which their child intends to apply for admission in fall, 2024;
Sign the form authorizing the elementary school to release their child’s records to the schools; and
Return the form with the HSPT registration confirmation letter to the child’s 8th grade teacher by Monday, November 20, 2023.
Download and complete this form and return to Mr. Dwyer by Nov. 20
In addition to completing the Authorization to Release Records form, school selections must also be submitted on the online HSPT Registration Form during the High School Choice window. The online form identifies the Catholic high schools in the archdiocese that use the HSPT as part of their admissions process. Students and their parents/guardians select the high schools to receive the results of the HPST online.
The High School Choice(s) window opens at the same time as registration, Monday, October 2, 2023 and closes on Sunday, December 10, 2023. If changes are made to high school selections provided on the Authorization to Release Records form, the form must be updated and re- submitted to the child’s 8th grade teacher.
TEST DATE AND MAKE-UP TESTING
Students take the HSPT at their schools on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. To reschedule due to illness, parents/guardians must contact the school principal. The make-up test may be scheduled on or before December 4, 2023.
For an extended illness, parents/guardians must send a request to HSPT@adw.org, to register for the January make-up test.
DISTRIBUTION OF HSPT RESULTS
All parents/guardians of students taking the HSPT in December and January will receive a copy of their child’s HSPT scores via email by Friday, January 26, 2024. On the HSPT registration form, parents/guardians may request at the time of registration to have the scores sent via U.S. Mail to the address on the registration form. All test results will be emailed and mailed on the same day from Scholastic Testing Services, Inc. Electronic results will be emailed from reports@ststesting.com. Scores will not be released until all archdiocesan testing is completed and all scores are available for release. Catholic schools are not permitted to release students’ scores.
Timeline for 8th Graders & Parents for HSPT and High School Admissions
September: Call or email to set up shadow visits (if available). Student should let Mr. Dwyer know when they will be absent.
Start looking at high school websites to start the application process and find out about requirements, setting up admission portals, testing, essay topics, etc.
Begin considering your essay, writing drafts, and if you would like you can ask Mr. Dwyer or Mrs. Helms to go over your essays and offer suggestions.
October 1: 8th grade graduation fee is due to Mr. Dwyer: $250 (check or cash).
October 2: HSPT online test registration and High School Choice window opens.
Families complete online test registration and payment.
$67.50: test scores are sent to up to four schools in the Archdiocese of Washington. Students interested in sending their score report to more than four schools should email hspt@adw.org for instructions and assistance.
+$15: test score is sent to one additional school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore or the Diocese of Arlington.
November 20: HSPT online registration closes.
November 20: Students return the Authorization to Release Records form to Mr. Dwyer along with a copy of their HSPT registration confirmation letter.
November 21: Students should aim to send in their applications and essays by this date to enjoy Thanksgiving!
November 29: HSPT is administered to all archdiocesan elementary schools.
December 9: Confidential Student Information Form due to high schools (OLOL completes this).
December 10: Window for selecting High School Choice(s) Modification closes. Families return to the HSPT registration form to make high school choice(s) modifications online. If changes are made to high school selections provided on the Authorization to Release Records form, the form must be updated and re-submitted to Mr. Dwyer.
January 2024: STS sends all HSPT score reports to parents/guardians via electronic mail.
February 16 & February 23: Notice of Acceptance/Non Acceptance by U.S. Mail, email, or phone call. Acceptances due no earlier than March 10.