Anonymous
01/14/2025 15:17
Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
One problem with the HPST is accommodations are extremely limited as to what can be offer. Students with dyscalculia, dyslexia, and ADD are not offered much beyond small group testing and extended time. For the first one (physical inability to align numbers and symbols), cueing and modeling is needed before a student performs a test. Graphic organizers---standard prescription for dyscalculia---are not allowed in most of the Catholic schools in this area. So it was not surprising when these children come back with lowered scores. Not just a function of the test being easy or hard. Students with special needs to do not always get full assistance required for this test.
Anonymous
03/12/2024 19:21
Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote: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.
PP, Gonzaga is well known for not being a supportive school for dyslexics or any learning issues above executive functioning needs.
Anonymous
03/12/2024 13:37
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.
Highly doubt they overadmit by that much.
Anonymous
03/12/2024 13:34
Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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
Yes. Ours did a practice class and two pre-tests.
Yes. Ours had a once a week class in school. We also did a weekly 3 hr class outside of school.
Who offers this weekly 3 hour class outside of school?
Mr. Dugan. Google.
Anonymous
03/12/2024 13:29
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
Yes, and many of them take a prep course.
Anonymous
03/12/2024 12:32
Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:This is a little off-topic, but if your kid isn't really into extracurriculars do you have a hope of getting into any of the Catholic high schools?
My kid has zero interest in sports, clubs, or leadership positions. We still have 2 years, but I'm wondering how much we should focus on getting him to do something next year.
His grades are good, but not straight As, and he has a learning disability. He does well on the standardized tests only when he has accommodations. Obviously we'd be looking at SJC and GC, since many of the others don't have supports for kids with learning issues.
What does he do after school? Does he play an instrument? etc. Yes, they want to see that your kid is involved in stuff- at least with the the things their school offers, and even better if they do things outside of school. It doesn't mean they have to be a nationally ranked athlete, but they want to see what your kid is into because 1) it shows how your kid will become a part of the school community and 2) it shows what they are interested in and thus gives a better idea of who they will be in HS. A kid who doesn't do any clubs or sports or activities in middle school may also be a kid who doesn't do those things in HS.
Anonymous
03/12/2024 11:51
Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
This is a little off-topic, but if your kid isn't really into extracurriculars do you have a hope of getting into any of the Catholic high schools?
My kid has zero interest in sports, clubs, or leadership positions. We still have 2 years, but I'm wondering how much we should focus on getting him to do something next year.
His grades are good, but not straight As, and he has a learning disability. He does well on the standardized tests only when he has accommodations. Obviously we'd be looking at SJC and GC, since many of the others don't have supports for kids with learning issues.
My kid has zero interest in sports, clubs, or leadership positions. We still have 2 years, but I'm wondering how much we should focus on getting him to do something next year.
His grades are good, but not straight As, and he has a learning disability. He does well on the standardized tests only when he has accommodations. Obviously we'd be looking at SJC and GC, since many of the others don't have supports for kids with learning issues.
Anonymous
03/12/2024 11:40
Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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
Yes. Ours did a practice class and two pre-tests.
Yes. Ours had a once a week class in school. We also did a weekly 3 hr class outside of school.
Who offers this weekly 3 hour class outside of school?
Anonymous
03/12/2024 05:35
Subject: Re:If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Gonzaga, STJ and good counsel. He got into st Andrews and Bullis too with painfully low scores.
Dyslexic
Dyslexic
Anonymous
03/12/2024 05:29
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.
This is so not true.
Anonymous
03/12/2024 05:26
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.
HSPT prep. The overall application is key. Extracurriculars, STRONG recommendations that describe the child’s attributes, extracurriculars, actions in school, clubs, etc. Make sure your Principal has good relationships with schools and you should have a good relationship with Principal and teachers. Also, be realistic and choose your top schools and try to form some relationships at those schools (sports, camps, etc.).
Anonymous
03/11/2024 21:18
Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
Anonymous wrote: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
Yes. Ours did a practice class and two pre-tests.
Yes. Ours had a once a week class in school. We also did a weekly 3 hr class outside of school.
Anonymous
03/11/2024 21:17
Subject: If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?
My dyslexic kid got a 59 after taking a 2 month prep class. This was a huge improvement from where he started. He does not test well regardless of how prepared he is.
He was accepted at his first choice.
He was accepted at his first choice.
Anonymous
03/11/2024 20:59
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
Athlete or legacy?
Anonymous
03/11/2024 20:37
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
Yes. Ours did a practice class and two pre-tests.