Saint Mary's College High School

The High School Placement Test (HSPT)

Saint Mary's requires that all ninth grade applicants take the (HSPT) High School Placement Test. The HSPT, developed by Scholastic Testing Service, is a 3 hour standardized exam that evaluates verbal, quantitative, reading, mathematics, and English language skills. Most Catholic high schools use the HSPT as one of several important indicators for admission. Other factors include a student's academic track record and teacher recommendations.

In the Diocese of Oakland, the HSPT will be given on Saturday, January 10, 2009. Saint Mary's will administer this exam on January 10th beginning promptly at 8:00 a.m.  Check-in takes place in the gymnasium beginning at 7:30 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 take the exam. On the day of the exam, students will be instructed to enter the corresponding high school codes for each high school they want to receive a copy of their test scores (max: three schools). 

Mathematics and International Language Assessment Testing

Saint Mary's provides an opportunity in May for accepted and registered freshman students to test for higher math or language placement (Spanish or French). This placement testing is optional. The timing of the 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 Mary's 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.  However, guidance counselors are not trained to analyze or diagnose a student's particular learning disabilities or differences, and students may be referred to outside professional for testing or further evaluation. 

To be eligible for special accommodations in the classroom, families must submit valid and current documentation from a licensed professional. Students whose learning disabilities are identified and diagnosed during the course of their attendance at Saint Mary’s, the student's parents 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 Counseling.