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Quick Answer for Busy Parents
Getting into Bishop O’Dowd means submitting a complete online application by January 5, 2027, including the HSPT (O’Dowd does not accept the SSAT or ISEE), an admissions supplement, parent and student questionnaires, and a transcript and recommendation from the applicant’s current school, due February 4. O’Dowd does not interview applicants, so those written pieces carry real weight.
With roughly 1,280 students and 800 to 900 applicants competing for 300 to 325 freshman spots each year, admission is competitive but not opaque: decisions come down to the HSPT, the written application pieces, and the strength of the middle-school record, released March 12, 2027.
Why Do Families Choose Bishop O’Dowd?
Founded in 1951 by the Archdiocese of San Francisco to meet growing demand for Catholic education in the East Bay, Bishop O’Dowd today serves approximately 1,280 students in grades 9 through 12 on a 20-acre Oakland Hills campus overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The school describes its mission as educating a diverse student body to build a more just, joyful, and sustainable world, guided by a Charism centered on finding God in all things. O’Dowd draws students from more than 100 regional schools and over 20 zip codes across Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro, and beyond.
Independent verification backs up the school’s reputation: Niche currently rates O’Dowd an overall A+, ranks it #67 out of 1,146 Best Catholic High Schools in America, #128 out of 5,268 Most Diverse Private High Schools in America, and #5 among private high schools in Alameda County specifically, based on a 4.2-out-of-5 average across 233 reviews.
Academic & Community Snapshot
| Category | Detail |
| Total Enrollment | 1,280 students (approximately 320 per grade) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 14:1 |
| Average Class Size | 26 students |
| College Counselors | 9 dedicated counselors and wellness staff |
| AP & Honors Courses | 37 |
| Faculty with Advanced Degrees | 70% |
| College Enrollment | 93% of graduates |
| Accreditation | WCEA and WASC; NCEA and NAIS member |
How Hard Is It to Get Into Bishop O’Dowd?
O’Dowd doesn’t publish an official acceptance rate, but Wikipedia reports the school typically receives 800 to 900 applications for a freshman class of 300 to 325 students, working out to roughly a 35-40% acceptance rate. That figure isn’t school-confirmed and should be treated as an estimate. The school often prioritizes applicants coming from Diocese of Oakland elementary schools, though this isn’t a formal requirement. Families researching similarly positioned East Bay and Peninsula Catholic and independent schools frequently also consider Head-Royce School, St. Mary’s College High School, and Carondelet High School.
What the Admissions Committee Weighs
- HSPT scores (the only standardized test O’Dowd requires)
- The admissions supplement and student questionnaire (in place of an interview)
- The parent questionnaire
- Transcript and recommendation from the applicant’s current school
Top Tips for O’Dowd Applicants
- Don’t over-invest in test prep for tests O’Dowd doesn’t require; the HSPT is the only one that counts
- Treat the admissions supplement and questionnaires as seriously as a traditional essay, since there’s no interview to balance out a generic one
- Take the reduced application fee window (through December 10) seriously if cost is a factor
Best Practices for Families
- Confirm your child’s current school can meet the February 4 recommendation deadline before your own application deadline arrives
- If applying as a transfer rather than for 9th grade, contact admissions@bishopodowd.org before applying
The Bishop O’Dowd Admission Process
- Register for Admissions Events: Watch for the Inquiry Form, typically available mid-August, to register for Open House, Admissions Mornings, and other fall events.
- Complete the Application: Part 1 is the application form (reduced fee through December 10, 2026). Part 2 is completed in the applicant portal and includes recommendation and transcript release forms, the admissions supplement, parent and student questionnaires, and any learning differences documentation. Both parts are due January 5, 2027.
- Register for the HSPT: Sit for the High School Placement Test on January 9, 2027.
- Receive Your Decision and Enroll: Decisions are emailed March 12, 2027 after 4:00 PM, with enrollment opening March 13 after 3:00 PM (sibling families may enroll starting 4:00 PM on March 12).
Bishop O’Dowd’s Admissions Calendar and Key Dates
- December 10, 2026: Reduced application fee deadline
- January 5, 2027: Final deadline for Application Parts 1 & 2
- January 9, 2027: HSPT test date
- February 4, 2027: Deadline for schools to submit recommendation forms and transcripts
- March 12, 2027: Admissions decisions emailed, after 4:00 PM
- March 13, 2027: Enrollment opens after 3:00 PM (sibling families may enroll starting 4:00 PM on March 12)
| Event | Date(s) | Notes |
| Open House | Sunday, November 8, 2026, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM | All families welcome; tour campus, Living Lab, Center for Environmental Studies, and Cummins Center |
| Admissions Mornings | Thursday, October 15, 2026, 9:15-11:30 AM; Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 9:15-11:30 AM | Campus tour, student panel, admissions process walkthrough |
| School-Sponsored Student Visits | Scheduled by partner schools | Information session, tour, and classroom visits; separate parent tour and meeting with Director of Enrollment and Admissions |
| Individual Student Visits | By appointment | For students not part of the partner school program |
| Nuts and Bolts (Parents Only) | Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 6:00-7:30 PM; Saturday, December 12, 2026, 9:00-10:30 AM | Key dates and deadlines overview; 8th graders and transfer applicants welcome, parents-only format |
Application Requirements
Testing: HSPT Only
O’Dowd requires the High School Placement Test (HSPT) for all incoming 9th-grade applicants (not required for transfer students), administered January 9, 2027. Extended time (time-and-a-half) is available with formal documentation uploaded to the portal. The test can be taken at O’Dowd or at any other Oakland Diocese Catholic secondary school the student has applied to; taking it elsewhere does not hurt admissions chances.
Admissions Supplement and Questionnaires
O’Dowd does not interview applicants. In place of an interview, applicants complete an admissions supplement, and families separately complete parent and student questionnaires, all through the application portal.
Recommendations and Transcripts
| Item | Submission Method | Deadline |
| Recommendation Forms | Standardized release form via applicant portal | February 4, 2027 (from current school) |
| Transcripts | Transcript release form via applicant portal | February 4, 2027 (from current school) |
Learning Differences Documentation
Families of students with documented learning differences upload supporting documentation directly to the portal as part of Application Part 2.
Applying to Bishop O’Dowd? Get It Right the First Time.
With the HSPT, the admissions supplement, and two separate questionnaires all in play, and no interview to fall back on, a coordinated strategy matters. Cardinal Education helps families manage every piece of the O’Dowd application.
Student Life at Bishop O’Dowd
Academics
O’Dowd’s curriculum spans English, Mathematics and Computer Science, Science, Living Lab and Environmental Studies, Social Studies, Religious Studies, World Languages, Service Learning, Visual and Performing Arts, and Physical Education, supplemented by 37 AP and Honors courses. Nine dedicated counselors, including a Director of Counseling and Wellness and a dedicated Career Counselor, support students throughout their four years.
Activities and Community
O’Dowd maintains more than 50 student clubs, including affinity spaces such as the Black Student Union, DESI Club, a club centered on Asian culture and identity, Latinos Unidos, the Native and Indigenous Association, and Jewish and Pasifika student groups, alongside competitive Debate and Mock Trial teams. The school’s Eco Club serves as the student action arm of its Department of Sustainability, working directly in the Living Lab.
Athletics
O’Dowd fields 15 sports across 48 teams, Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Esports, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, and Water Polo, and Niche ranks the school #29 out of 1,708 Best High Schools for Athletes in California.
Arts
O’Dowd’s Visual and Performing Arts program includes a long-running, award-winning drama department, staged in the 325-seat James T. Bill ’55 Theater.
Environmental Education
O’Dowd’s Living Lab and LEED Platinum-certified Center for Environmental Studies anchor a nationally recognized environmental education program; every 9th grader begins their O’Dowd career with the Science and the Environment course, taught in and around the Lab. See our companion article on O’Dowd’s Living Lab for the full 25-year story.
Notable Bishop O’Dowd Alumni
- Ivan Rabb: Basketball standout who set O’Dowd’s all-time wins record (108-19) as a four-year varsity player, was named a 2015 McDonald’s All-American, and went on to a multi-season NBA career after being drafted in the second round in 2017.
- Terique Owens: NFL wide receiver who played college football at Missouri State before entering the league.
- Alexi Pappas: Olympic distance runner who competed for Greece at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- Gene Luen Yang: National Book Award finalist and Printz Award-winning graphic novelist who taught computer science at O’Dowd for 17 years before writing Dragon Hoops, a nonfiction graphic novel documenting the O’Dowd Dragons’ 2014-15 varsity basketball season.
Getting Into Bishop O’Dowd: What Actually Matters
O’Dowd’s admissions process puts unusual weight on the written application, since there’s no interview to soften a generic supplement or questionnaire, and just one standardized test to prepare for. That makes the admissions supplement, the parent and student questionnaires, and the timing of recommendations and transcripts the real levers a family has. Getting those pieces right, and getting them in ahead of O’Dowd’s January and February deadlines, is where Cardinal Education’s consultants add the most value.
Start Your Bishop O’Dowd Application With a Plan
Cardinal Education helps families prepare for the HSPT and build an admissions supplement and questionnaire set that genuinely stands out.
Related Articles
Inside Bishop O’Dowd’s Living Lab: 25 Years of Environmental Education
Notable Bishop O’Dowd Alumni, From the NBA to the New York Times Bestseller List
Cardinal Education helped our daughter put together a thoughtful, genuine application to O’Dowd. Without an interview to lean on, we were grateful for guidance on the questionnaires; she’s thriving there now.
— Parents of a 9th Grader