Quick answer
Fairfield County's Catholic high schools use the HSPT through the Diocese of Bridgeport Testing Cooperative: a student tests once, at any Cooperative school, and designates up to three additional Cooperative schools to receive the scores. Sittings come in the fall, typically late October and early November, with a December make-up. One test carries every application, so preparation is the highest-leverage move. Saso Prep prepares Connecticut families online with live Zoom classes and an on-demand self-study course, plus practice assessments and mock exams.
For families targeting a Catholic high school in Fairfield County, the HSPT is the gatekeeper, and the Cooperative structure raises the stakes: because an applicant can only take the test once among Cooperative schools, that single fall morning stands behind applications to Fairfield Prep and every other school on the list.
Which Connecticut Catholic high schools use the HSPT?
The Diocese of Bridgeport Testing Cooperative covers Fairfield County: Fairfield College Preparatory School (Fairfield Prep), the Jesuit anchor of the market, along with Notre Dame Prep, St. Joseph's, Immaculate, Kolbe Cathedral Prep, and Cardinal Kung Academy. Students take the test at any Cooperative school and, during the exam, designate up to three additional Cooperative schools to receive scores. Fairfield Prep also accepts the SSAT as an alternative. Outside the Cooperative, Connecticut Catholic schools set their own requirements, and some don't use an entrance exam at all, so verify with each target school.
School and diocese names are referenced for informational purposes only. Saso Prep is an independent test-prep provider and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by any of these schools or the diocese. Participation, test dates, and policies change every year; always verify directly with your target school.
How Fairfield County schools use HSPT scores
Cooperative schools use HSPT results in admission decisions, in placing incoming freshmen into honors and accelerated courses, and to inform merit scholarship consideration. Because the one sitting serves up to four schools at once, the score does more work here than in markets where each school tests separately; a strong percentile strengthens every application simultaneously. Each school sets its own criteria and awards change yearly, so verify current offerings directly. (For what counts as a strong percentile, see what's a good HSPT score →.)
Saso Prep's Ultimate HSPT Self-Study Course covers all five sections with 18 video lessons, 1,000+ practice problems, and 2½ model tests, on demand, so your child can start today and study on their own schedule. $499
When is the HSPT given in Connecticut?
Cooperative schools offer fall sittings, typically one in late October and one in early November (students choose one), with a make-up date in December. Registration runs through the applicant's admissions account at the school where they'll test. That October-November calendar makes summer the natural prep window for Fairfield County students; the practical first step is creating the admissions account and registering early. See the HSPT test dates page → for this year's dates across all regions.
How Connecticut families prepare with Saso Prep
Saso Prep has spent nearly three decades on one test, the HSPT, and prepares Connecticut families entirely online, so location is never the barrier. The dependable sequence is the same for every student: assess, build, rehearse.
- Assess with a full-length practice test, so you see the starting point and which areas need the most work.
- Build skills across every section with live classes or the self-study course.
- Rehearse under real timing with full-length tests, so test day feels routine.
Two paths fit most families:
- Live online. The Live Online HSPT Course ↗ is a ten-session Zoom program taught by Mr. Saso, and the summer session wraps up well before Fairfield County's October sittings. Live students average in the 90th percentile, and registration includes the self-study course, assessment, and mock exam at no extra cost.
- Self-paced. The Ultimate HSPT Self-Study Course ↗ covers all five sections on demand with 18 video lessons and 1,000+ practice problems, so your child studies on their own schedule.
New to the exam? Start with what is the HSPT → and how to study for the HSPT →. Ready to choose? Compare every option on the courses & practice tests page →.