Entrance Exam | Loyola Academy

Freshman Applicants

Begin your high school journey rooted in Jesuit values and the formation of the whole person. The freshman admissions process is designed to help families explore the Loyola Academy experience while guiding students through each step of applying as an incoming Rambler.

Steps to Apply as an Incoming Freshman:

  1. Submit an Inquiry Form
    Create your My Loyola account and stay informed throughout the admissions process.
  2. Register for the Entrance Exam
    Registration will become available on Friday, November 13.
Entrance Exam

The Loyola Academy Entrance Exam is open only to current eighth grade students and is required for admission consideration and eligibility for financial aid. Students may only take the exam at one Catholic high school.

Loyola Academy administers the High School Placement Test (HSPT) which consists of five sections:

  • verbal
  • quantitative
  • reading
  • math
  • language (English)
Exam Day Information

The exam will take place at Loyola Academy, 1100 Laramie Avenue, in Wilmette. 

Please enter through the Piazza entrance.

  • The exam begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 5. Students should allow extra time for traffic and for getting to the testing room.
  • All students should report to the West Gym to receive their testing classroom assignment.
  • Students must bring two #2 pencils.
  • Calculators and language translators are not permitted.
  • All application materials, including financial aid information, will be emailed to students on December 5*
  • Students will not have access to vending machines during the exam, but may bring their own snacks and water bottles.
  • The exam ends at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Registration and Fees
  • Online registration for the exam will be available Monday, November 9, and will conclude on Thursday, December 3.
  • Sign in to your My Loyola account to register.
  • Walk-in registration will also be accepted on exam day, December 5.
  • The testing fee is $25 and will be collected at the time of registration. If not registering online, students must bring the testing fee with them on the day of the exam. Cash or check, made payable to Loyola Academy, will be accepted.
Parent Presentation

On the day of the exam, parents are invited to a curriculum presentation in the McGrath Family Performing Arts Center beginning at 8:30 a.m. 

Loyola Academy administrators and department chairs will present information on Loyola's curriculum, placement process and course options. Current Loyola Academy students will also be available to answer questions. This presentation is optional.

Applying
  1. Complete the Online Application — Available December 5 to December 14, 2026, through your My Loyola account. Applications for admission are only distributed to students who test at Loyola.
  2. Upload Required Records — Submit school records and standardized test scores via your checklist.
  3. Apply for Financial Aid (Optional) — Details and application links are provided on the Tuition and Financial Aid web page. Eighth grade students must take the exam at Loyola Academy to be considered for admission or financial aid.

Admission is based on, but not limited to, entrance exam performance, academic record, extra curricular involvement, and alignment with Loyola’s mission. 

Accommodations for the HSPT

To pursue accommodations for the HSPT, please submit this form as soon as possible. We cannot process new requests for the HSPT after November 30, 2026. Please include all relevant information, including diagnostic reports from medical providers and psychologists, IEPs, 504s, or other formal documentation.

You will receive a response regarding your request for accommodations within five school days.

For information on accommodations available at Loyola Academy, please visit our Testing Accommodations web page.

North Shore Application Agreement for Girls

Beginning for the eighth grade graduating Class of 2026, eighth grade young women who test at Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican, or Woodlands Academy may simultaneously apply for admission at any of the three schools.

Students should still take the entrance exam at their top choice school on the first Saturday in December, as students will only be considered for merit scholarships at the institution where they take the entrance exam.

Parents will be able to indicate on the digital application for their student’s top choice school if they would like their daughter’s test scores to also be shared with one or both of the other schools. Parents are then able to fill out the application to one or both of the other schools as well.

Admissions decisions and financial aid considerations will be shared by early February, and the 8th grader and her family will decide which school to enroll in by the time of registration sessions in mid-February.

This agreement only pertains to the three high schools noted above and does not apply with any other Catholic high schools.