Saint Mary's College High School

The High School Placement Test (HSPT)

All applicants for the 9th grade are required to take the High School Placement Test (HSPT) on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 8:00 a.m.  Students may take the exam at any Catholic secondary school to which they have applied without penalty in the admissions process. If applying to more than one high school, applicants must pay the application fee at each school regardless of where they are registered to take the exam. Freshman applicants wishing to take the exam at Saint Mary's will register for the exam as part of their online application. There are no make-up dates for the HSPT at Saint Mary's. On the day of the exam, students will have an opportunity to indicate their choice of one, two, or three Catholic high schools to receive copies of their test scores.  Applicants choosing to take the  exam at another high school are responsible for their own registration.

Placement Testing

There will be an opportunity in May for accepted and registered freshman students to test for higher math or language placement (Spanish or French). This assessment testing is optional.  The timing of the assessment testing in May affords incoming freshmen the benefit of completing most of their course work in the subject area in order to truly demonstrate the extent of their comprehension and knowledge in those areas.

Learning Disabilities and Learning Differences

Applicants with learning disabilities/learning differences must submit letters of formal documentation and/or assessment from qualified professionals stating diagnosis, treatment, progress, and potential for success at Saint Mary’s College High School along with the Student Application by January 2, 2009, in order for the applicant to be granted extended time on the HSPT admissions exam.  Extended time provides for time and a half on the exam.  There are no untimed exams at Saint Mary’s. Documentation must accompany your application in order to be considered for extended time, and must be dated within three years of January 2009.

Saint Mary’s offers two classroom accommodations when appropriate: (1) preferential seating (e.g., in the front of the classroom), and (2) extended time (150%) on tests and exams. Students are expected to advocate for themselves and to thus arrange for these two accommodations with individual teachers.

While Saint will do what it can to support students whose learning differences may impede optimal learning, its resources are limited.  Students and their parents are urged to locate specially designed outside programs of academic support to ensure academic success at Saint Mary’s. 

Guidance counselors will meet with students to check on their progress in the spring of each year and will communicate with teachers should they become aware of neurodevelopmental or physical obstacles to student learning.  Guidance counselors are not trained in Special Education, however, and are not qualified to diagnose student learning disabilities. 

To be eligible for special accommodations, families must submit valid and current documentation.  Students whose learning disabilities are identified and diagnosed during the enrollment at Saint Mary’s must submit the required documentation as soon as possible so that the school can institute steps for effective educational support.  Referral information for testing and outside resources are available upon request from the Director of Student Support Services.