The High Schools have their application windows open (through the end of January). Please check with the High Schools for details on their process. Every school is different, and the process may change slightly each year.
The student distributes the recommendations to whoever is indicated. We will give you our “Release of Test Scores” for the school where you are taking the test.
Please check to see if you need to sign the recommendation form before submitting it. Our policy is not to complete a recommendation for a student until the parent has waived the right to see it.
When a recommendation is received at the front office, the student has a routing slip assigned.
Each teacher returns the completed recommendation to the office. The transcript is the last piece and is done in January. A copy of the permanent record card made and all is sent together in a packet to each school the student is applying to.
When everything is delivered to the respective school, the school gives thestudent the routing slip to indicate the materials have been sent.
Placement Testing
All High Schools test on the same days:
January 10, 2009 with a make-up test on January 24, 2009
Check with the high school for the time of the test. Take the test at the first choice school. The student will be given the option to send the results to two additional schools.
Testing Tips
The test you will take is the HSPT, the High School Placement Test. Visit the high school websites to see if you need to register for the tests.
The reason for the test is to verify that you have a solid eighth grade education, and if not, they may ask that you take summer school. A high score on the placement test does not guarantee your admission, neither does a low score guarantee you won’t be accepted for admission to a Catholic high school.
The best preparation for the test includes the following:
- Be well rested and fed on the day of the test.
- Arrive 10 minutes before the exam begins (each school is different, check their websites)
- Bring at least 2 #2 pencils.
- Bring a sweater, the rooms are cold at first, and being nervous might make you a little cold.
- Have the test fee ready
There are a number of study guides available at the library or bookstores if you choose to use them. The tests are timed. If you are going to take the practice tests, do at least one of them timed. You need to know when to skip a question so that you don’t run out of time. Questions not answered at the end of a section will hurt you more than one or two that you spent extra time on at the beginning.
Here are the time allocations for each section:
|
Section |
Total time |
Number of questions |
|
Verbal Skills |
16 minutes |
60 |
|
Quantitative |
30 minutes |
52 |
|
Reading Comprehension |
25 minutes |
62 |
|
Mathematics |
45 minutes |
64 |
|
Language |
25 minutes |
60 |
In order to have the test show your knowledge, you will want to be familiar with the types of questions that will be on the test. This is where practice tests and test preparation guides are useful. Read carefully how the questions are structured.
Devise a strategy so that you bubble your answers correctly, especially when you skip a question. Check often that you are on the right line.
Know how to guess. If you can quickly eliminate one or more of the answers, you increase the odds of making an accurate guess. Wrong answers do not help your score, but you are not penalized extra for guessing.
Good Luck and God Bless You.
High School Information Night
Catholic High School Information Night
October 2, 7:00 - St. Mary Basha, 200 West Galveston Street
Chandler, AZ 85224 - Hurtado Hall
November 6, 6:15 - St. Thomas the Apostle, 4510 North 24th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85016 - Parish Hall
Open House
Brophy College Preparatory - Sunday, November 2, 2008 from 12:30 - 3:30
Notre Dame Preparatory - Saturday, November 1, 2008 from 9:00 - 1:00
Saint Mary's Catholic High School - Sunday, November 16, 2008 from 12:00 to 3:00
Seton Catholic High School - Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 9:00 - 12:00
Xavier College Preparatory - Sunday, November 2, 2008
8th Grade Days/Shadowing
Bourgade Shadow Days
September, 19, 2008
October 17, 2008
Brophy Shadow Days
September 23, 24, 25 and 30
October 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28
November 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
December 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11
Notre Dame Shadow Days
Monday – Friday during the months November, December and January
Saint Mary’s Eighth Grade Days
October 17, 2008
October 31, 2008
Seton Shadow Days
September 30, 2008
October 8, 2008
October 14, 2008
October 21, 2008
October 27, 2008
November 4, 2008
November 12, 2008
November 18, 2008
December 2, 2008
Xavier 8th Grade Day
October 31, 2008
Visit individual school websites for details on how to participate in shadow or 8th grade days.
List of Catholic High Schools
Bourgade Catholic High School
4602 North 31st Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85017
Tel: (602) 973-4000
Fax: (602) 973-5854
Brophy College Preparatory
4701 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Tel: (602) 264-5291
Fax: (602) 266-3642
Notre Dame College Preparatory
9701 East Bell Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Phone: (480) 634-8200
FAX: (480) 634-8299
Saint Mary’s High School
2525 North Third Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tel: (602) 251-2500
Fax: (602) 251-2595
Seton Catholic High School
1150 N Dobson Road
Chandler, Arizona 85224
phone: 480-963-1900
fax: 480-963-1974
Xavier College Preparatory
4710 N. 5th St.
PHOENIX AZ 85012
Tel: (602) 277-3772
Fax: (602)-279-1346
