How to Get Into Archbishop Mitty High School: What You Need to Know to Apply

Criteria, the HSPT, the Class of 2031 timeline, and what student life really looks like at Mitty

Quick Answer for Busy Parents

Archbishop Mitty is a Catholic college preparatory high school in San José with 1,775 students. For the Class of 2031, applications open September 8, 2026, and are due December 11, 2026; students take the HSPT in January, and decisions arrive March 12, 2027. The committee weighs 7th and 8th grade marks (no mark lower than a C, with a 3.0+ GPA strongly recommended), testing, recommendations, an essay and video, attendance, and discipline.

Why Do Families Choose Archbishop Mitty?

Mitty is the Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory school of the Diocese of San José, preparing students for college and for responsible leadership in a global society, and developing students who are intellectually competent, just, faith-filled, respectful leaders. Families choose it for depth: 26 AP courses, 17 Honors, and 3 Accelerated courses, a faculty where 78% hold advanced degrees, and outcomes where every graduate goes on to college. They also choose it for scale and spirit, with 65 athletic teams, more than 50 clubs, and a community of 1,775 students, 51% of them Catholic.

Archbishop Mitty Fast Facts

Class of 2025 Test Scores

Student Demographics

51% of students are Catholic. Mitty reports the following ethnic makeup.

How Hard Is It to Get Into Archbishop Mitty?

Mitty doesn’t publish an acceptance rate, but its criteria are unusually specific. Applicants need 7th and 8th-grade marks of C or better, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher is strongly recommended. The committee also weighs standardized testing (including the HSPT), teacher recommendations, a student essay and video, attendance, and discipline, and it gives preference to Catholic applicants. Families in the South Bay often weigh Mitty alongside other Catholic and independent high schools in the area, so a clear sense of why Mitty fits your child matters.

Top Tips for Applying

• Keep 7th- and 8th-grade marks at C or above, with a 3.0+ GPA.
• Begin HSPT preparation in the fall.
• Request the confidential recommendation early.
• Use the essay and video to show character, not just achievements.

Best Practices for Families

• Register for Visit Mitty on September 1.
• Attend Information Night and the Open House.
• Submit the application well before December 11.
• Upload HSPT accommodation documentation early if needed.

Do You Have to Be Catholic to Get Into Mitty?

No. Mitty gives preference to Catholic applicants, but 51% of current students are Catholic, so students of other faiths make up nearly half the school.

The Archbishop Mitty Admissions Process

1. Create a Ravenna account using a parent’s email address.
2. Submit the online application by Friday, December 11, 2026, registering for the HSPT along the way.
3. Take the High School Placement Test in January 2027.
4. Submit required materials through Ravenna by Monday, February 1, 2027: the Confidential Recommendation Request Form and the Transcript Request Form, with 7th and 8th grade testing.
5. Receive your decision by email and mail on Friday, March 12, 2027.

Archbishop Mitty Admissions Calendar

Archbishop Mitty Application Requirements

Online Application

Every applicant creates a Ravenna account with a parent’s email address and completes the online application.

Recommendations: Required vs. Optional

Mitty doesn’t require non-academic recommendations. Families who want to share extracurricular involvement can upload a letter through Ravenna, but the required academic recommendation carries the weight.

Transcript and Testing

The Transcript Request Form is returned by your child’s current school and should include all 7th and 8th grade standardized testing. Students who haven’t taken a standardized test aren’t required to submit one.

High School Placement Test

The HSPT measures verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading, mathematics, and language. It’s given in January, and students needing accommodations upload documentation through Ravenna. Steady HSPT preparation through the fall is far more effective than a December cram.

Student Essay and Video

The student essay and video are listed among the committee’s criteria and are the clearest place for your child’s own voice.

Preparing for the HSPT and Mitty Application?

We help students build test confidence and create an essay and video that feel genuinely theirs.

Schedule a Consultation

Does Archbishop Mitty Accept Transfer Students?

Mitty accepts transfer applications for some grades, with rolling notifications that begin in April. Families interested in a senior-year transfer should email the admissions office.

Student Life at Archbishop Mitty

Academics

Departments cover English, mathematics, performing arts, physical development, religious studies, science, social studies, visual arts, and world languages. With AP, Honors, and Accelerated options, students can build a challenging schedule, and every student receives a school-issued iPad.

Activities

Mitty has more than 50 active clubs and programs, from the Math Team, Robotics, and Computer Science Club to cultural groups like the Black Student Union, Latinx Student Union, Chinese Culture Club, and Vietnamese Student Union. Service clubs include Bringing Joy, Interact, and Green Team, and Campus Ministry runs retreats, service, and immersion trips.

Athletics

The Monarchs field 65 teams across 17 sports: badminton, baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, flag football, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. The PIT, Mitty’s official cheering section, brings the energy to home games.

Arts

The performing arts program includes instrumental music, choral music, dance, and drama, and visual arts is its own academic department.

Summer Programs

Mitty runs summer athletic camps, enrichment camps, and Mitty Monarch Enrichment Classes, with registration opening in April.

Notable Archbishop Mitty Alumni

1. Kerri Walsh Jennings ’96: Three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball.
2. Brandi Chastain ’86: Olympic gold medalist and Women’s World Cup champion in soccer.
3. Aaron Gordon: NBA forward and the No. 4 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
4. Mitch Haniger: Major League Baseball outfielder.
5. Myha’la Herrold ’14: Actress on Broadway and television.

Is Archbishop Mitty Right for Your Child?

Mitty suits students who want rigor, school spirit, and a Catholic community of service. We help families decide whether that fits, then plan from seventh grade so grades, testing, and the essay all come together.

Let’s Map Your Path to Mitty

From the HSPT to the essay and video, we’ll help your family navigate Mitty admissions with clarity.

Schedule a Consultation

Related Articles:
Top Clubs and Events at Archbishop Mitty
How to Secure Strong Recommendation Letters for Archbishop Mitty

Frequently Asked Questions