While parochial high schools are based in the Catholic faith, you do not need to be Catholic to attend a parochial school – many non-Catholics attend these schools. However, know that a religion class is often required at each grade level, regardless of whether or not you identify as Catholic.
Outside of a shared faith, parochial schools often differ from one another. Some schools are quite selective while others are not. Some schools have more specific dress codes. All of the schools are private and therefore charge tuition, but the amount of money a family can expect to spend at a parochial school depends on the specific school. Most schools do offer financial aid based on applicants’ financial needs. Some schools also offer merit-based scholarships, which reward students’ commitment to academics.
Schools to Consider (not an exhaustive list):
De La Salle Institute Website
DePaul College Prep Website
Fenwick High School Website
Holy Trinity High School Website
Josephinum Academy Website
Loyola Academy Website
St. Ignatius College Prep Website
Willows Academy Website
How to Apply:
Each school sets its own application process. Typically, this includes an application and taking an entrance exam (the High School Placement Test – HSPT). Some schools require essays, interviews, shadowing a student at the school or attending an information session, and/or recommendations from teachers or administrators.
Eligibility Requirements:
Anyone can apply for any Parochial school.
Required Testing:
The HSPT will be offered at a number of Catholic schools. Students should bring two #2 pencils and $25 the day of the exam, and they should take the exam at the Catholic school they would most like to attend. Some schools require students to take the exam at their school if they would like to be considered for admission and/or if they would like to be considered for scholarships (meaning, if your top choice is St. Ignatius, you need to take the HSPT there. If you take it at De La Salle, St. Ignatius will not even consider you as an applicant).
The exam has a language arts section, which covers language skills, vocabulary, and reading as well as a math section, which covers arithmetic, geometry, and algebra. Some schools may choose to add additional sections that asses students’ writing ability, mechanical aptitudes, scientific knowledge, and more. The test lasts approximately two hours, and students are not penalized for wrong answers, so it is to their advantage to guess if they do not know an answer.
Selection Process:
Catholic schools look at the whole student when considering applicants for admission, rather than just 7th grade grades and test scores. This means that students who turn it around in 8th grade still have a chance to be admitted. It also means that students who are not the strongest academically but have other strengths may be considered, depending on the type of student body the school wants to create.