This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.
Many Roman Catholic high schools don't use the SSAT or ISEE admissions tests as part of their admissions requirements. For instance, Roman Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn administer the Test for Admission Into Catholic High Schools or TACHS.
The entrance examination used by a Catholic high school often depends on its location and the admissions system established by the diocese or individual school. Parents applying for the 2026-27 admissions cycle should check the requirements of each school carefully, including registration dates, application deadlines, and testing procedures. Private School Review's Admissions 101 provides an overview of the private school admissions process and the steps families should expect.
Elsewhere in the country, you will find the Cooperative Admissions Examination Program (COOP) or the High School Placement Test (HSPT). What the admissions staff are looking for is readiness for high school-level academic work. The tests are generally given in the late fall of grade 8.
Although entrance tests vary, they commonly assess skills students have developed throughout elementary and middle school. Families should confirm which examination is required before beginning test preparation because a school may use a particular test as part of a larger regional or diocesan admissions process.
Parents can also review A Parent's Guide to Private School Entrance Exams for additional information about admissions testing. Becoming familiar with the format of an entrance examination can help students understand what to expect without allowing test preparation to dominate the months leading up to an application.
This video from Petersen's offers strategies for taking the HSPT.
Diocesan and Archdiocesan High Schools
Diocesan and archdiocesan high schools generally admit most of their new students from elementary schools within their own dioceses. (A diocese is a legal territory and entity under the control and jurisdiction of a bishop.) Consequently, most of the students have been educated to certain standards that are well-known within that diocese. Standardized tests are not always necessary in order to develop a student profile. That profile may already be well-known. As well, the teachers and principals of the diocesan elementary schools themselves are known quantities. That being the case, it is simply a matter for the admissions office to identify any marginal performers and decide on those applicants. The testing, where required, provides another part of the applicant's academic profile.
Students coming from Catholic elementary schools may have an advantage in one practical respect: their current schools may already be familiar with the admissions procedures used by Catholic high schools in the area. Counselors, teachers, and administrators can often help families understand testing dates, application procedures, and other requirements.
That does not mean students from public schools, independent schools, home schools, or Catholic schools outside the diocese cannot apply. Many Catholic high schools accept applicants from a variety of educational backgrounds. Families should simply determine whether additional academic records, recommendations, or testing are required.
What Are Admissions Officers Looking For?
Entrance examinations are only one part of the admissions process at many Catholic high schools.
Admissions officers are primarily interested in determining whether an applicant is ready for the academic demands of high school. Test results can provide one indication, but previous grades, teacher recommendations, attendance, interviews, and other application materials may also help create a more complete picture.
Private School Review's Your Admissions Profile explains the different elements that can contribute to a student's private school application.
Parents should avoid assuming that one weak test result automatically determines the outcome of an application. How individual schools weigh testing varies, so families should ask each admissions office how entrance examination results are used.
Preparing for the Entrance Examination
Preparation should begin with understanding which examination the school actually requires.
Once that has been established, students can become familiar with the format, types of questions, time limits, and testing procedures. Reviewing sample questions can be particularly useful because students then spend less time on test day trying to understand unfamiliar instructions.
Preparation should generally reinforce skills students are already learning rather than introduce an entirely new academic curriculum. Reading regularly, reviewing mathematics concepts, practicing vocabulary and language skills, and completing some timed questions can help students become more comfortable with the process.
Parents should also pay close attention to registration deadlines. Catholic high school admissions calendars can include separate dates for registering for an entrance examination, submitting an application, applying for financial aid, completing interviews, and receiving admissions decisions.
Keeping these requirements on one calendar can make the process easier to manage, particularly when a student is applying to several schools.
The Interview and the Broader Application
Testing does not necessarily tell an admissions committee everything it wants to know about an applicant.
The admissions process also typically considers more than academic testing alone. Interviews allow admissions staff to learn more about the applicant's personality, interests, academic potential, and overall fit with the school. Families preparing for this stage can review Private School Admissions: The Interview.
Students should approach an interview as an opportunity to learn about the school as well. Asking thoughtful questions about academics, extracurricular activities, school culture, religious life, athletics, or student support can help the family determine whether the school is a good match.
The goal is not simply to gain admission. It is to find a school where the student can succeed academically and become an active member of the community.
Confirm the Requirements for Each School
Catholic high school admissions requirements are not uniform across the United States. One school may require TACHS, another may use the HSPT, while another may have different testing or admissions requirements.
For that reason, families applying in 2026 should verify requirements directly with each school or the appropriate diocesan admissions office.
Ask which test is required, when it is administered, how registration works, whether scores are sent automatically to selected schools, and what additional application materials must be submitted.
Entrance testing is an important part of the admissions process at many Catholic high schools, but it should be viewed within the larger application. A student's academic record, recommendations, interview, interests, and overall readiness for high school can all contribute to the final admissions decision.
Understanding those requirements early gives families time to prepare appropriately and allows students to focus on demonstrating what admissions officers ultimately want to see: readiness for successful high school-level academic work.
