Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 20:22     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:Resources are a major factor. Our nearly straight A student started off in the high 60s/low 70s, then we poured time and money into the situation and he ended up in the 90s. We were very fortunate to be able to do both. Not everyone is so fortunate.



wow that was so helpful
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 20:19     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:Do kids coming from catholic schools do practice hspt? My DS refused to do anything to practice or even look at the test ahead of time


Not at their K-8, but alot of them take the practice tests the high schools offer before the exam. My ds took one in September or so, and then we got a couple of workbooks from Amazon and he practiced with them. He got a 97% taking the practice test cold. He ended up with a 98% on the real one.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 20:09     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:what is the best way to prepare for this test? St Johns had 1300 application and only admitted 300.

SJC admits a lot more than 300.
Their 9th grade will be ~300 - so they are probably admitting 500 - 700 to get that class size. (I have no insider info here - just guess at what they might shoot for.


Schools typically accept about 30 kids for every 25 they expect to enroll
Likely about no more than 400 accepted to fill the 300 slots. They can then go to the waitlist.

Btw 65 hspt accepted to GZ


It depends on the school. I know 25+ kids who got into SJC, and only a handful are going. I’m sure there are plenty of kids who absolutely enroll upon acceptance, but for many others SJC is a safety school.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 20:06     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:what is the best way to prepare for this test? St Johns had 1300 application and only admitted 300.

We were accepted to SJC- and we got less than 80% on HSPT.
Don’t underestimate recommendations and great essays.
I do also think it matters which K-8.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 19:56     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Do kids coming from catholic schools do practice hspt? My DS refused to do anything to practice or even look at the test ahead of time
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 19:54     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:what is the best way to prepare for this test? St Johns had 1300 application and only admitted 300.

SJC admits a lot more than 300.
Their 9th grade will be ~300 - so they are probably admitting 500 - 700 to get that class size. (I have no insider info here - just guess at what they might shoot for.


Schools typically accept about 30 kids for every 25 they expect to enroll
Likely about no more than 400 accepted to fill the 300 slots. They can then go to the waitlist.

Btw 65 hspt accepted to GZ
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 19:46     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Yes. Stone Ridge
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 16:07     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:what is the best way to prepare for this test? St Johns had 1300 application and only admitted 300.

SJC admits a lot more than 300.
Their 9th grade will be ~300 - so they are probably admitting 500 - 700 to get that class size. (I have no insider info here - just guess at what they might shoot for.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 15:59     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know people don’t want to hear this, but the HSPT isn’t that hard. If your kid has good grades, they shouldn’t be getting a 60%.


Nobody is talking about their kids getting a 60%. They are talking about percentile.


The HSPT score is a percentile.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 15:51     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:I know people don’t want to hear this, but the HSPT isn’t that hard. If your kid has good grades, they shouldn’t be getting a 60%.


My kids had pretty bad HSPT scores, 50s and 60s. All As in 8th grade and good recommendations.
He got into the only ArchBalt school he applied to. He was placed in all standard (ie, no honors) classes as a 9th grader, I assume because of his HSPT scores, but has thrived and is in all honors classes as a 10th grader.
So yeah... for some kids standardized test scores aren't really reflective of their abilities.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 15:49     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:58 HSPT. Strong grades. Lots of extra-curriculars and sports but likely not competitive at the Catholics.

Accepted to Seton, McNamara, and Good Counsel

I'll add that we were hoping for STEM at OLGC and did not make the cut.

We focused on test prep for independent schools (ISEE), and spent zero effort preparing for the HSPT. The scores reflected that.

She will likely end up at an independent high school.


Do you know the cut for STEM at OLGC?
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 15:47     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:I know people don’t want to hear this, but the HSPT isn’t that hard. If your kid has good grades, they shouldn’t be getting a 60%.


Nobody is talking about their kids getting a 60%. They are talking about percentile.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 15:24     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know people don’t want to hear this, but the HSPT isn’t that hard. If your kid has good grades, they shouldn’t be getting a 60%.


Just because your kid is amazing and a great test taker doesn’t mean some other kids don’t find it hard. My DC has a learning issue.


Same. But Gonzaga never once mentions any support for any child with a learning need in their open house. They ignore that those kids exist entirely in all their school communications-done by design-so this approach of ignoring those same children who have a testing need or accommodation of any sort is not surprising. The other Catholic schools have support programs in place. Gonzaga has no interest in acknowledging that population exists. It’s a blessing in disguise to all those who didn’t get in as we are leaving Gonzaga because they could care less about my child struggling (and similar experience for others we know). Those children have applied out to other schools as it’s not a good fit.


Did you tell them that your child had learning needs?


As a parent with a dyslexic son coming from a Catholic K-8, I really appreciate this feedback about Gonzaga.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 15:11     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
58 HSPT. Strong grades. Lots of extra-curriculars and sports but likely not competitive at the Catholics.

Accepted to Seton, McNamara, and Good Counsel

I'll add that we were hoping for STEM at OLGC and did not make the cut.

We focused on test prep for independent schools (ISEE), and spent zero effort preparing for the HSPT. The scores reflected that.

She will likely end up at an independent high school.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 11:51     Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Resources are a major factor. Our nearly straight A student started off in the high 60s/low 70s, then we poured time and money into the situation and he ended up in the 90s. We were very fortunate to be able to do both. Not everyone is so fortunate.