What is the HSPT and why do LA Catholic schools use it?

The HSPT—short for High School Placement Test—is basically the gatekeeper for many of LA’s top Catholic high schools. It covers five sections: verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading comprehension, mathematics, and language. Translation? It checks if your child has the academic chops to thrive. Schools love it because it offers a standardized snapshot of students’ skills, no matter where they’re coming from.

Grades and recommendations still count, of course. But in a competitive city like Los Angeles, a strong HSPT score can tip the scales from waitlist to welcome letter. Some schools even use those scores to place students into honors or advanced courses once they’re in. We help kids learn the ropes—how the test works, what to expect, and how to approach it all with clarity, strategy, and zero panic. Think of us as your child’s academic co-pilot on the road to Catholic school success.