Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 16:14     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:My DD did so poorly on this test that we had her educational tested (whatever it’s called) at Mindwell after and she was diagnosed with executive function delays and now has a bubble sheet accommodation. I am taking 10%. We were not coming from a Catholic, she had never taken the test before and she did not do any test prep (because she’s my oldest and I had no idea that you could even prep for this, so she went in cold and I take responsibility for that).

She got into both Bishop O’Connell and BI (the only 2 she applied to). She had excellent grades and recs so clearly she had something else on her application that these schools liked.


Thank you for sharing this. This gives gives me (and I believe others) some hope.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 10:25     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:Gonzaga and Visi have evolved away from traditional Catholic missions. To the extent there is diversity at those schools it’s largely athletic related. SJC, BO, BI, still admit unhooked immigrants. All great schools.


This is a very odd comment and accusation. I’m not sure what “traditional Catholic missions” you are thinking about, but Gonzaga and Visi are still very Catholic schools, and both have great missions.
You also included a very odd accusation about other schools that “still admit unhooked immigrants”… which seems to imply Gonzaga and Visi do not. Do you have a source for that or any evidence for that wild claim?
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 22:41     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter scored 45%ile and had A/B grades but amazing essays & recs. She got into ahc & sjc with FinAid. We were surprised she got accepted to sjc bc it was a competitive year and peers with higher hspt were rejected/waitlisted. No hooks coming from a k-8. She’s very happy at her HS now.


Why does SJC let it so many kids with mid scores? I respected the school but now I am disappointed.

All the hype, the time, and the effort to study for the HSPT only to find out SJC admits anyone. Why bother to study if they are the Radford of high schools?


Gonzaga and Visi have evolved away from traditional Catholic missions. To the extent there is diversity at those schools it’s largely athletic related. SJC, BO, BI, still admit unhooked immigrants. All great schools.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 09:51     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:My DD did so poorly on this test that we had her educational tested (whatever it’s called) at Mindwell after and she was diagnosed with executive function delays and now has a bubble sheet accommodation. I am taking 10%. We were not coming from a Catholic, she had never taken the test before and she did not do any test prep (because she’s my oldest and I had no idea that you could even prep for this, so she went in cold and I take responsibility for that).

She got into both Bishop O’Connell and BI (the only 2 she applied to). She had excellent grades and recs so clearly she had something else on her application that these schools liked.


Thank you for this. I have a child with similar challenges and it’s nice to see the HS admissions.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 09:43     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter scored 45%ile and had A/B grades but amazing essays & recs. She got into ahc & sjc with FinAid. We were surprised she got accepted to sjc bc it was a competitive year and peers with higher hspt were rejected/waitlisted. No hooks coming from a k-8. She’s very happy at her HS now.


Why does SJC let it so many kids with mid scores? I respected the school but now I am disappointed.

All the hype, the time, and the effort to study for the HSPT only to find out SJC admits anyone. Why bother to study if they are the Radford of high schools?


The point, though, is that they don’t admit EVERYONE but they choose a wide variety of kids, so if your kid scores low on the HSPT it isn’t a sure thing they will be admitted but there is a chance.

There are only so many seats, roughly half girls and half boys. Out of those, many kids have HSPT scores in the 90s. The Scholars Program is strong and gives kids in that program an academic scholarship. There are also recruited athletes, kids who applied for music/art/theatre scholarships, students with language skills, children of immigrants, children of single mothers, kids who are super devoted to Catholic ministry, kids who want to be in the Cadet Program and come from a military family background, etc.

For all the happy stories, the majority of kids with low HSPT scores at my DC’s K-8 were waitlisted/rejected for SJC, including some who have siblings there. However there were some surprises so it’s not hopeless!


SJC also has its share of VIP families. They are not as in your face as at some schools, but they exist.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 09:34     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
My DD did so poorly on this test that we had her educational tested (whatever it’s called) at Mindwell after and she was diagnosed with executive function delays and now has a bubble sheet accommodation. I am taking 10%. We were not coming from a Catholic, she had never taken the test before and she did not do any test prep (because she’s my oldest and I had no idea that you could even prep for this, so she went in cold and I take responsibility for that).

She got into both Bishop O’Connell and BI (the only 2 she applied to). She had excellent grades and recs so clearly she had something else on her application that these schools liked.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 09:25     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter scored 45%ile and had A/B grades but amazing essays & recs. She got into ahc & sjc with FinAid. We were surprised she got accepted to sjc bc it was a competitive year and peers with higher hspt were rejected/waitlisted. No hooks coming from a k-8. She’s very happy at her HS now.


Why does SJC let it so many kids with mid scores? I respected the school but now I am disappointed.

All the hype, the time, and the effort to study for the HSPT only to find out SJC admits anyone. Why bother to study if they are the Radford of high schools?


The point, though, is that they don’t admit EVERYONE but they choose a wide variety of kids, so if your kid scores low on the HSPT it isn’t a sure thing they will be admitted but there is a chance.

There are only so many seats, roughly half girls and half boys. Out of those, many kids have HSPT scores in the 90s. The Scholars Program is strong and gives kids in that program an academic scholarship. There are also recruited athletes, kids who applied for music/art/theatre scholarships, students with language skills, children of immigrants, children of single mothers, kids who are super devoted to Catholic ministry, kids who want to be in the Cadet Program and come from a military family background, etc.

For all the happy stories, the majority of kids with low HSPT scores at my DC’s K-8 were waitlisted/rejected for SJC, including some who have siblings there. However there were some surprises so it’s not hopeless!
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 08:38     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Can someone define “did poorly” on the HSPT for me? What is considered a poor grade?

80? 70? 60? 20? I have no idea what the really low grades look like.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 08:06     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter scored 45%ile and had A/B grades but amazing essays & recs. She got into ahc & sjc with FinAid. We were surprised she got accepted to sjc bc it was a competitive year and peers with higher hspt were rejected/waitlisted. No hooks coming from a k-8. She’s very happy at her HS now.


Why does SJC let it so many kids with mid scores? I respected the school but now I am disappointed.

All the hype, the time, and the effort to study for the HSPT only to find out SJC admits anyone. Why bother to study if they are the Radford of high schools?


Was the kid catholic? Coming from a catholic school?

Did they bring diversity?

Special interests?

Special circumstances? (Single parent? )

Catholic schools still strive to do the right thing; they don’t just want to cater to the privileged few.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 08:05     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter scored 45%ile and had A/B grades but amazing essays & recs. She got into ahc & sjc with FinAid. We were surprised she got accepted to sjc bc it was a competitive year and peers with higher hspt were rejected/waitlisted. No hooks coming from a k-8. She’s very happy at her HS now.


Why does SJC let it so many kids with mid scores? I respected the school but now I am disappointed.

All the hype, the time, and the effort to study for the HSPT only to find out SJC admits anyone. Why bother to study if they are the Radford of high schools?


1. Imagine what the scores would be if kids hadn’t studied.
2. Not every school has to be the most selective. If every school only admitted kids with 90th percentile+, where would everyone else go?
3. I know some Radford grads who are incredibly successful, so maybe the joke is on all of the rest of us strivers.


Are you just figuring this out?
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 08:05     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The new OP here, when I say below average I mean below the national average, not the DCUM average (which seems to be very high).

I really don't know what happened. Again, honor roll all through middle school, NJHS, not an athlete but several extracurriculars and community service. A/B student.

I do appreciate the positivity.


Reads to me like the middle school he's at over-inflates grades?


That's a fair interpretation, except his PSAT 8/9 doesn't support it. He did fine (fine enough at least). Maybe anxiety? Bubbling mistakes? PSAT 8/9 was computer based.


Just occurred to me, if this is the recent OP, I would contact Gonzaga, explain that this test result seems like an anomaly, and send the PSAT scores. Might not help, but it could. I'd tell them the HSPT score doesn't align with other standardized testing and you are worried he skipped a line/messed up the sheet. Worth a shot.


Recent OP here, this is a great idea. I will certainly try. Schools haven't been answering the phone. I can only imagine the amount of calls they get from parents now.


They literally tell you do not contact them. Not sure if do this.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 08:01     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter scored 45%ile and had A/B grades but amazing essays & recs. She got into ahc & sjc with FinAid. We were surprised she got accepted to sjc bc it was a competitive year and peers with higher hspt were rejected/waitlisted. No hooks coming from a k-8. She’s very happy at her HS now.


Why does SJC let it so many kids with mid scores? I respected the school but now I am disappointed.

All the hype, the time, and the effort to study for the HSPT only to find out SJC admits anyone. Why bother to study if they are the Radford of high schools?


1. Imagine what the scores would be if kids hadn’t studied.
2. Not every school has to be the most selective. If every school only admitted kids with 90th percentile+, where would everyone else go?
3. I know some Radford grads who are incredibly successful, so maybe the joke is on all of the rest of us strivers.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 01:42     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:My daughter scored 45%ile and had A/B grades but amazing essays & recs. She got into ahc & sjc with FinAid. We were surprised she got accepted to sjc bc it was a competitive year and peers with higher hspt were rejected/waitlisted. No hooks coming from a k-8. She’s very happy at her HS now.


Why does SJC let it so many kids with mid scores? I respected the school but now I am disappointed.

All the hype, the time, and the effort to study for the HSPT only to find out SJC admits anyone. Why bother to study if they are the Radford of high schools?
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 20:22     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
I'd write -1 on the application of any applicant whose parents were calling or emailing extra CYA info to me right now if I were an admissions officer. 🤷‍♂️
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 19:43     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The new OP here, when I say below average I mean below the national average, not the DCUM average (which seems to be very high).

I really don't know what happened. Again, honor roll all through middle school, NJHS, not an athlete but several extracurriculars and community service. A/B student.

I do appreciate the positivity.


Reads to me like the middle school he's at over-inflates grades?


That's a fair interpretation, except his PSAT 8/9 doesn't support it. He did fine (fine enough at least). Maybe anxiety? Bubbling mistakes? PSAT 8/9 was computer based.


Just occurred to me, if this is the recent OP, I would contact Gonzaga, explain that this test result seems like an anomaly, and send the PSAT scores. Might not help, but it could. I'd tell them the HSPT score doesn't align with other standardized testing and you are worried he skipped a line/messed up the sheet. Worth a shot.


Recent OP here, this is a great idea. I will certainly try. Schools haven't been answering the phone. I can only imagine the amount of calls they get from parents now.