High School Admission Process for Parents

Visiting High Schools in the Washington Area

2022-23 ADW High School Directory
Here is a list of DC-area independent schools, with some Virginia Catholic schools.

Please complete the ADW’s Authorization to Release Records, due to the HTS front office by November 21.

Registering for the High School Placement Test (HSPT)

Please read these registration instructions. This test is used to apply to Catholic high schools, although some require other testing as well. 8th graders will take the HSPT on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at HTS. You must register your child from October 3 through November 18. There is a $67.50 fee and you may select up to four schools to receive your child’s scores. Test scores are released to families in the third week of January, and are sent to the email address on the HSPT registration. You may select high schools to receive scores when you register. (You may make changes by logging back in so save your registration information.) This registration link is for families enrolled in a Catholic elementary school. Do not try to register from outside this link.

Also, for an additional $15 fee, a copy of the test results may be sent to one school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore or the Diocese of Arlington. Make sure to save/print your confirmation page, as it will include a code you need to select high schools to receive your child’s scores later. 

 

The following Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Washington require the High School Placement Test (HSPT) in their admissions process:

Eight other Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Washington have separate admissions procedures and should be contacted directly. For testing instructions for the Catholic high schools that do not require the HSPT, please refer to each school’s website:

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart administers their own placement test. Please refer to their website for details:

Registering for the SSAT

Please find information on registering for the Upper Level SSAT test here. The SSAT is administered at private high schools on select Saturdays, not at HTS. There is also an option to take the test from home. Here is the “at a glance” page for the Upper School SSAT.

Scholarship Opportunities

DC & Maryland Knights of Columbus Charities

Maryland & DC Knights of Columbus Charities: the charitable arm of the District of Columbia Knights of Columbus State Council, annually awards scholarships to be used for students going into the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. Applicants must be residents of the District of Columbia and be attending or will attend, a private Catholic secondary school. Apply here. Details on the Knights of Columbus scholarship for Maryland residents may be found at https://kofc-md.org/high-school-scholarships/.

The Lands’ End School Starboard Scholarship
The Lands’ End School Starboard Scholarship acknowledges and rewards students who display exceptional leadership skills. Why Starboard? You probably know it means the right side of a ship, but the term is actually derived from “steer board,” because early sailing vessels were steered by a paddle on the right side of the stern. The Lands’ End Starboard Scholarship recognizes the next generation of young leaders as they steer us into the future. Students attending Lands’ End Preferred Schools (including HTS) in grades 8 through 12 are eligible to apply for one of five scholarships worth $5,000 for school or college tuition. APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE. Applications will be accepted now through January 19, 2023 or until 1,000 applications have been received.

The FitzGerald Program

The FitzGerald Program offers tuition assistance to 9th-12th grade Catholic or non-Catholic students applying to a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Washington or to students currently enrolled in a Catholic high school in the archdiocese. Students must demonstrate financial need and show promise as future leaders for our Church and society. This award honors students who have proven leadership characteristics that the Catholic Church and Catholic schools wish to foster. Visit their webpage to apply.

Capital Partners for Education

Capital Partners for Education works with motivated, low-income Washington-area youth to get to and through college via a proven combination of mentoring, partnerships with quality high schools, tuition assistance, and a customized array of academic, career, and life skills development. Visit http://www.cpfe.org/ for information and to apply.

Latino Student Fund

The mission of the Latino Student Fund (LSF) is to provide opportunities for a strong academic foundation for PreK-12th grade students of Hispanic descent to promote higher education and professional leadership. We support students and their families through scholarships, academic support services and informational outreach. Visit http://www.latinostudentfund.org/ for information and to apply.

Black Student Fund

Since 1964, the Black Student Fund (BSF) has provided financial assistance and support services to Washington, DC metropolitan area African-American students, grades pre-kindergarten to 12, and their families. BSF-assisted students stay in school, graduate high school with distinction and enter college. 70% of these students are from one-parent households. Many are the first generation to progress to higher education. Visit their site to apply.

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 

This award is open through November 8. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors middle and high school students for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service. Honors are granted at the local, state and national level. Top honorees earn cash prizes and take place in four days of special recognition events. Now in its 20th year, the program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), has honored more than 100,000 youth volunteers on the local, state and national level. To learn more about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation enables high-ability middle and high school students with financial need to realize their full academic potential. Through the Young Scholars Program, the Foundation has to date supported 600 students from across the nation, providing them with individualized educational advising combined with comprehensive financial support from the 8th grade through high school. To learn more, please visit JCKF.org.

Beginning in the eighth grade, the Young Scholars Program, working through 14 on-staff educational advisers, enables students to:

  • Participate in high-quality academic and extracurricular opportunities in their local community, on college campuses, and around the globe.
  • Develop the knowledge, talents, and leadership skills to be significant contributors to their field of interest and society at large.
  • Set and reach academic and talent goals that will prepare them to be competitive, well-informed applicants for our nation’s best colleges and universities.