Connecticut · Catholic High School Admissions

HSPT Prep in Connecticut

In Fairfield County the HSPT is the entrance exam for the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic high schools, which test together through one cooperative, and it decides merit scholarships at several of them. Here are the 2026-27 dates, which Connecticut schools use the HSPT or their own exams, and how ConnectPrep prepares students one on one from our home base in Westport.

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Oct 24 and Nov 72026 Diocese of Bridgeport cooperative dates

Up to 3Other co-op schools that can receive your scores

298Questions across five sections

WestportIn-home sessions across Fairfield County

In short: Fairfield County’s Catholic high schools give the HSPT through the Diocese of Bridgeport Testing Cooperative: Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame Prep, St. Joseph, Immaculate, Kolbe Cathedral and Cardinal Kung Academy. The 2026 dates were October 24 and November 7. Students test at one co-op school and can send scores to up to three others. Kolbe Cathedral adds monthly sittings December through May, and St. Joseph may add a December exam. Lauralton Hall requires the HSPT for merit scholarships, while East Catholic and Northwest Catholic in the Hartford area use their own exams.

Jeremy M. Fine, Founder, ConnectPrep
20+ years in test prep and admissions · Updated November 8, 2026

Fairfield County

Diocese of Bridgeport Testing Cooperative, 2026-27

Six Catholic high schools in Fairfield County share HSPT dates. A student takes the test once, at one of these schools, and can send results to up to three other cooperative schools.

School	Town	2026-27 HSPT	Notes
Fairfield College Preparatory School	Fairfield	Sat, Oct 24 or Sat, Nov 7, 2026	Also accepts the SSAT or ISEE. Exam scores are one of four equally weighted admission factors.
Notre Dame Prep of Sacred Heart University	Fairfield	Sat, Oct 24 or Sat, Nov 7, 2026	Only one date is required. Hosts a pre-HSPT for 7th graders in May.
St. Joseph High School	Trumbull	Sat, Oct 24 or Sat, Nov 7, 2026; possible December exam	Merit awards for a composite score of 90 percent or higher on the entrance exam, taken on one of the first two dates.
Immaculate High School	Danbury	Sat, Oct 24 or Sat, Nov 7, 2026	The HSPT may only be taken once. Results are used for admission and scholarships. Pre-HSPT for 7th graders in May.
Kolbe Cathedral	Bridgeport	Sat, Oct 24 or Sat, Nov 7, 2026, then monthly December through May	Used for admission, scholarship selection and course placement.
Cardinal Kung Academy	Stamford	Cooperative dates	Member of the Diocese of Bridgeport Testing Cooperative.

Fairfield County families often apply to both Catholic and independent schools. Independent schools use the ISEE or SSAT instead, covered in our Fairfield County private school admissions guide and SSAT vs ISEE.

Rest of Connecticut

Other Connecticut Catholic High Schools and Their Entrance Exams

School	Town	Entrance exam	2026-27 date(s)
Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall	Milford	HSPT or SSAT; the HSPT is optional for admission but required for merit scholarships	Sat, Oct 24 or Sat, Nov 7, 2026. Merit scholarship deadline Nov 15
Sacred Heart Academy	Hamden	HSPT required	Sat, Oct 24, 2026. Apply by Dec 1 for merit scholarships
Xavier High School	Middletown	HSPT, used for academic placement	Contact the school for dates
Mercy High School	Middletown	School entrance exam; Mercy directs students to HSPT prep materials	Sat, Nov 14, 2026, at Mercy. November testers are eligible for academic scholarships
East Catholic High School	Manchester	Own placement test, not the HSPT; required for merit scholarships	Nov 14 and Dec 12, 2026; Jan 16, Feb 13 and Mar 20, 2027
Northwest Catholic	West Hartford	Own NWC Placement Exam	Group dates Nov 3, Nov 7 and Dec 5
Notre Dame High School	West Haven	No entrance exam listed; asks for standardized test scores	Early Action Nov 15, then rolling

Applying across state lines? See our New York HSPT guide, including the Regis, Xavier and Fordham Prep scholarship exams, and our New Jersey HSPT guide. For the test itself and national dates, see the main HSPT Prep page.

The Test

About the HSPT

The HSPT has 298 multiple choice questions in five sections: Verbal Skills, Quantitative Skills, Reading, Mathematics and Language, in about two and a half hours of testing. Each section is scored from 200 to 800, with 500 as the average, and reports include national and local percentiles. The pace is the real challenge, so timed practice matters as much as content. See the full section breakdown and scoring guide on our HSPT Prep page.

How We Prepare Students

ConnectPrep HSPT Prep in Connecticut

ConnectPrep teaches students to simplify and deconstruct the test. Every HSPT question type follows a pattern, and once a student can see the pattern, speed and accuracy follow.

Free Full-Length Diagnostic

All five sections and all 298 questions, taken online. Jeremy Fine personally reviews the results and sends a customized report with section targets and a plan.

Request the free HSPT test →

Built Around the Co-op Calendar

With testing in late October and early November, we plan prep backward from the cooperative dates and each school’s scholarship deadline.

HSPT dates nationwide →

In-Home Across Fairfield County

One on one sessions in Westport, Fairfield, Darien, New Canaan, Greenwich and nearby towns, and online anywhere in Connecticut.

Fairfield County tutoring →

Admissions Beyond the Test

School lists, applications, interviews and merit scholarship strategy for Catholic and independent schools.

Fairfield County admissions guide →

Learn more about ConnectPrep in Westport, Fairfield County and across Connecticut.

Planning Ahead

HSPT Timeline for Current 7th Graders in Connecticut

Spring of 7th grade: take a full-length HSPT diagnostic, and consider the pre-HSPT at Notre Dame Prep or Immaculate.
Summer before 8th grade: start steady prep, two or three focused sessions a week.
September of 8th grade: apply and register for a cooperative date, and note each school’s scholarship deadline.
Late October and early November: Diocese of Bridgeport cooperative test dates.
November and December: merit scholarship deadlines at schools such as St. Joseph, Lauralton Hall and Sacred Heart Academy.

FAQ

HSPT in Connecticut: Frequently Asked Questions

Which Connecticut Catholic high schools use the HSPT?

In Fairfield County, the Diocese of Bridgeport Testing Cooperative schools use it: Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame Prep of Sacred Heart University, St. Joseph High School, Immaculate High School, Kolbe Cathedral and Cardinal Kung Academy. Lauralton Hall in Milford uses it for merit scholarships, Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden requires it, and Xavier High School in Middletown uses it for placement.

When is the HSPT in Fairfield County for fall 2027 admission?

The Diocese of Bridgeport cooperative schools gave the HSPT on Saturday, October 24 and Saturday, November 7, 2026. Kolbe Cathedral offers additional sittings once a month from December through May, and St. Joseph High School may add a December exam depending on demand.

Can my child send HSPT scores to more than one Fairfield County school?

Yes. Students in the Diocese of Bridgeport Testing Cooperative take the HSPT at one co-op school and can send their scores to up to three other cooperative schools, according to Fairfield Prep.

Can my child take the HSPT twice?

Plan on one sitting. Immaculate High School states that the HSPT may only be taken once, and the cooperative model is built around testing at a single school. Ask each school directly if your child misses the fall dates.

Do Connecticut Catholic schools accept the SSAT or ISEE instead of the HSPT?

Some do. Fairfield Prep accepts the SSAT and ISEE, and Lauralton Hall accepts the SSAT. Lauralton Hall still requires the HSPT to be considered for merit scholarships.

Is the HSPT used for scholarships in Connecticut?

Yes. St. Joseph High School awards merit aid to students with a composite score of 90 percent or higher on its entrance exam, Immaculate and Kolbe Cathedral use HSPT results for scholarship selection, and Lauralton Hall requires the HSPT for merit scholarship consideration.

Which Hartford-area Catholic schools do not use the HSPT?

East Catholic in Manchester gives its own placement test and notes that it is not the HSPT; students must take it for merit scholarships. Northwest Catholic in West Hartford gives its own placement exam, and Notre Dame High School in West Haven asks for standardized test scores rather than an entrance exam.

What test do Fairfield County independent schools use?

Independent day and boarding schools in Fairfield County, such as those in Greenwich and New Canaan, use the ISEE or SSAT rather than the HSPT. Our SSAT vs ISEE guide and Fairfield County private school admissions guide cover those schools.

How early should my child start HSPT prep?

For Fairfield County, start in the spring or summer after 7th grade, since the cooperative tests in late October and early November. Notre Dame Prep and Immaculate host a pre-HSPT for 7th graders in the spring, which is a useful early benchmark alongside a full-length diagnostic.

Does ConnectPrep tutor the HSPT in person in Connecticut?

Yes. ConnectPrep is based in Westport and works one on one with Fairfield County families in their homes and with families anywhere in Connecticut online, starting with a free full-length HSPT practice test and a personal report from Jeremy Fine.

Find Out Where Your Child Stands on the HSPT.

Request ConnectPrep’s free full-length HSPT practice test, or book a free consultation with founder Jeremy Fine to map out a plan for your schools.

Take the Free HSPT Practice Test →Book a Free Consultation

info@connectprep.com · Based in Westport, serving Connecticut families in person and online

Sources

This is a ConnectPrep page. Test dates and school policies were checked against each school or program’s official site in November 2026. Policies change, so confirm with each school before registering.

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