Cretin-Derham Hall admissions for the Class of 2031 revolve around a placement test on December 5, 2026 or January 9, 2027, and a $2,500 scholarship for a score of 90% or higher. The St. Paul, Minnesota school lists the test as a morning of 3.5 to 4 hours with no calculators. I've seen families wait for January because it feels safer, then miss the earlier decision date.
Cretin-Derham Hall Admissions at a Glance
- Placement test dates: Saturday, December 5, 2026 (priority) and Saturday, January 9, 2027 (secondary), both at 8:30 a.m.
- Priority application: December 5. Secondary application: January 9. Applications after that are still accepted.
- Merit award: a $2,500 scholarship for a national cumulative of 90% or higher when you test at the school.
- Decisions by mail: mid-January for the December 5 group, early February for the January 9 group.
- Test details: $10 fee, number 2 pencil, no calculators, 3.5 to 4 hours.
- Incoming 9th grade registration for the Class of 2031: February 18.
Cretin-Derham Hall Admissions Timeline for the Class of 2031
The school runs two rounds. Families who submit by December 5 get the first answer, and those who submit by January 9 get the second.
- December 5: priority application date and priority placement test. The TADS application is also due for incoming 9th graders.
- January 1: merit scholarship applications for the Carondelet, Lasallian and JROTC awards.
- Mid-January: decisions mailed to students who applied by December 5, with placement test results, merit scholarship awards and any financial aid award.
- January 9: secondary application date and secondary placement test.
- Early February: decisions mailed to students who applied by January 9.
- February 18: incoming 9th grade registration.
The school adds that it still accepts applications after January 9 and mails decisions in a timely manner.
The Cretin-Derham Hall Placement Test: Format and Rules
The placement test begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs 3.5 to 4 hours. Students bring a $10 testing fee and a number 2 pencil. Calculators are not allowed. No RSVP is required, and the page says to enter through the main doors, Door 1, on Albert Street.
The page does not list the test's sections. The scholarship cutoff, a national cumulative of 90% or higher, tells you the result is a percentile against a national group.
In my experience, a long morning test is as much about stamina as about content. Students who have never sat that long lose accuracy in the second half, even when they know the material.
A 3.5 to 4 hour test with no calculator is hard to rehearse honestly at home, because stamina and pacing only show up in a timed run. Start the STEM Critical Thinking plan for timed test simulations with progress tracking.
The $2,500 Scholarship and Other Awards
Students who test at Cretin-Derham Hall and score a national cumulative of 90% or higher receive a $2,500 scholarship. That rule applies to both the December 5 and the January 9 sittings.
Separate merit applications for the Carondelet, Lasallian and JROTC scholarships are due January 1, 2027.
Financial aid has its own track. The TADS application is due December 5 for incoming 9th graders, with a secondary deadline of February 1.
Placement, Competency Tests and the First Year
The placement test results, together with academic information from the grade school, are used to recommend course level placement. In April 2027, students who plan to register for Spanish 2 or above take a Spanish competency test, and students who plan to register for Geometry or above take a math test. Algebra 1 students skip the math test.
Ninth graders take a class called Values, which combines English, social studies and religion and counts as two of their seven classes. The school says it covers essay writing techniques, among other topics.
I've worked with students who passed the placement test and then rushed the April math test. Keep the algebra and geometry fresh through the spring, because the second test decides the starting course.
Cretin-Derham Hall Admissions FAQ
Q: Is the placement test required for admission?
A: The page says all incoming 9th graders are encouraged to take the placement test at Cretin-Derham Hall. Results, together with academic information from the grade school, are used to recommend course level placement.
Q: What should we bring on test day?
A: Bring the $10 testing fee and a number 2 pencil. Calculators are not allowed. No RSVP is required for the placement test, so you can simply show up and enter through the main doors on Albert Street.
Q: How long does the test take?
A: The test takes 3.5 to 4 hours and begins at 8:30 a.m. on both dates.
Q: How does the $2,500 scholarship work?
A: Students who test at Cretin-Derham Hall and score a national cumulative of 90% or higher receive a $2,500 scholarship. The page does not describe how the national cumulative is calculated, so ask the admissions office.
Q: When are the other merit scholarship applications due?
A: The Carondelet, Lasallian and JROTC merit scholarship applications are due January 1, 2027. They are separate from the test-based award, so file them even if you plan to test.
Q: What are the TADS financial aid dates?
A: The TADS application is due December 5 for incoming 9th graders, and the secondary deadline for 2027-28 is February 1. A financial aid informational meeting for parents is held December 5 at 8:30 a.m. in the Commons.
Q: What are the April competency tests?
A: Students who plan to register for Spanish 2 or above test in Spanish, and those who plan to register for Geometry or above test in math. Students who plan to take Algebra 1 do not need to test in math.
Scored Practice for the Cretin-Derham Hall Placement Test
Cretin-Derham Hall ties a $2,500 scholarship to a national cumulative score. Use STEM Critical Thinking Practice Tests for timed test simulations with progress tracking, or compare all plans and pricing first.
