Every year, eighth grade students across the country prepare for the next big step in their educational journeys: high school.

For Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Newark, the first step towards getting in is registering for the High School Placement Test (HSPT®) as part of the Cooperative Admissions Program (COOP). The COOP is designed to facilitate the high school admissions process for students and families using a common entrance examination.

“The High School Placement Test (HSPT®) provides high school admissions personnel with useful information as they evaluate an applicant’s preparedness for their school’s academic program,” Barbara Dolan, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Newark said. “Since students applying to the high schools come from many different middle school programs, the HSPT® provides a common measure and objective data that is helpful in admissions decision making. Beyond the admissions process, the HSPT® scores are used by the high schools to plan programs and provide resources that will help first year students have a successful start to their high school years.”

What is the HSPT®?

The HSPT® is a comprehensive placement test for eighth graders for placement in the ninth grade. It is designed to measure scholastic aptitude in verbal and non-verbal abilities, and achievement in reading, mathematics, and language. The HSPT website states, “For over 50 years, academic high schools nationwide have used the Scholastic Testing Services High School Placement Test (HSPT®) to assist with admissions, scholarship selection, and curriculum placement.” Comments and specific questions about the test itself and the testing process can be asked on HSPT® blog site.

The 2022 HSPT® Exam will be administered Friday, Nov. 11 at designated Catholic school testing sites in New Jersey and New York, across Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Morris, Rockland, Sussex, and Union Counties. The make-up exam date will be Nov. 19, in select locations.

To view a list of high schools in the Archdiocese of Newark participating in the Cooperative Admissions Program, click here.

Some private high schools in the Archdiocese opt to use their own entrance exam. If considering one of these schools for your student, it is important to confer directly with their admissions representatives to ensure you are aware of any deadlines and requirements specific to that school. If a school is not listed, contact their admissions office directly for exam information.

How To Register Your Child for the Exam

Registration opens Sept. 1 online at www.njcoopexam.org or by calling 888-921-COOP (2667). The registration fee of $65 includes reporting scores to three high schools of your choice. Applications and fees will be processed from Sept. 1- Oct. 25.
The testing accommodation of extended time is available for eligible students. A student requiring extended time must submit an eligibility form and documentation by Oct. 19.

Once the student has taken the HSPT®, they must complete a Ninth Grade Applicant Record form submitted to each of the high schools to which he or she is applying. The Ninth Grade Applicant Record form can be found at www.njcoopexam.org. The requested records include grades, standardized test results, attendance and conduct in Grades 6, 7, and 8. Parents are requested to complete the Permission for Release of Records, Student Information, and High School Choicesections of the form before submitting it to the student’s 8th grade teacher, counselor, or principal (not the school to which you are applying). Applicant record forms must be submitted by the elementary school to the high schools selected by the student by Dec. 5.

Individual high schools may have additional requirements for applicants such as an application, essay, student interview, etc. Please be sure to consult directly with the school(s) to confirm those requirements. You may also view a summary of each school’s admissions information by referencing the High School Guide.

Why Choose Archdiocese Schools?

All the Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Newark are college preparatory, which means their instructional programs meet or exceed requirements outlined by the New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards. Each school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Archdiocese boasts an extremely high college matriculation rate. Typically, 98.5 percent of the Archdiocese’s graduating seniors go on to pursue a college education. The remaining 1.5 percent of the graduates opt for technical or military training, a gap year program, or enter the workforce directly.

Archdiocese high schools educate a diverse group of students. The enrollment breakdown includes 55 percent Caucasian, 19 percent African American, nine percent Asian, and 17 percent other groups or multiracial, with 22 percent of the overall student population identifying as Latino. There is a heavy focus on academic excellence as well as faith formation in Archdiocese schools.

Read Why A Catholic School Education Matters Now.

Choosing the Right School for Your Child

Deciding which high school your child will attend is a major decision. There are 23 Catholic high schools located within the Archdiocese of Newark. Our Catholic high schools are in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. Fifty-eight percent are in suburban settings and 42 percent are within urban/inner-city areas. The Archdiocese has seven coeducation schools, seven that are single-sex male, and nine that are single-sex female, with three that variously serve grades 7-12.

The Archdiocese of Newark is hosting four college-fair style high school expo nights in 2022 to learn more about the schools. The dates of these expos are as follows:

Tuesday, Sept. 20: St. Joseph the Carpenter, 140 E. Third Ave, Roselle
Tuesday, Sept. 27: Visitation Academy, 222 Fairview Ave, Paramus
Wednesday, Sept. 28: Hudson Catholic, 790 Bergen Ave, Jersey City
Thursday, Sept. 29: St. Michael School, 27 Crittenden St, Newark

All events will run from 7 – 8:30 p.m. and there will be ample parking.

Attendees will learn about academics, extracurricular activities, and how each school puts
faith into action. Current students and admissions representatives will be available to answer questions. Parents can also explore financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

For more information, please contact the Office of Schools at 973.497.4260 or visit catholicschoolsnj.org.

Featured image: Registration opened up on Sept. 1 for the High School Placement Test (HSPT®) as part of the Cooperative Admissions Program (COOP) to get into high school. (Canva)