Jesuit High School admissions in Portland, Oregon begin with the High School Placement Test on Friday, December 4 or Saturday, December 5, 2026, and applications are due January 8, 2027 for the Class of 2031. The test includes a 10-minute writing sample at the start. I've seen eighth graders prepare for the multiple-choice sections and arrive with no plan for the writing.
Jesuit High School Portland Admissions at a Glance
- HSPT test days at Jesuit: Friday, December 4 (4:00 pm) and Saturday, December 5, 2026 (9:00 am). Cost: $25.
- The HSPT is required for all eighth grade applicants.
- A 10-minute writing sample comes at the start of the exam.
- Admissions and financial aid applications: due Friday, January 8, 2027.
- Family interviews: Saturday, January 23 or Saturday, January 30, 2027.
- Decisions mailed March 4 and online March 6. Enrollment deadline for the Class of 2031 on the page: March 18, 2027.
The Jesuit Admissions Steps
Eighth graders create an admissions account, visit through an open house or shadow experience, register and pay $25 for the placement test, then complete the application by January 8.
Teacher and principal evaluations and school transcripts are required. Students request them after the December test, and Jesuit asks that they be done before January 27.
The HSPT at Jesuit
Jesuit publishes a short test guide. The actual test time is about 2.5 hours, with sections for verbal (18 minutes), quantitative (30), reading (25), math (45) and language (25), and no calculators.
The quantitative section covers number sequences, numeric word problems and geometric and non-geometric comparisons. The verbal section includes analogies, syllogisms (logic) and classification.
The test can also be taken at another location if the results reach Jesuit by early February.
Written work and a timed test are both hard to judge on your own, because a familiar reader hides the gaps and an untimed attempt hides the pace. Start the combo plan for timed STEM Critical Thinking test simulations and detailed Essay Writing feedback.
The 10-Minute Writing Sample
The guide says there is a 10-minute writing sample at the beginning of the exam. Students choose from several topics and are not expected to know anything specific.
Ten minutes is short. A student who spends three minutes choosing a topic and four minutes on a plan has little time to write.
In my experience, a clear first sentence and one concrete example do more than a long, unfinished paragraph.
Dates After the Test
Applications and financial aid forms are both due January 8, 2027. Family interviews run on Saturday, January 23 or January 30, and sign-ups arrive in mid-January.
Decisions are mailed March 4 and available online March 6. I've worked with families who lined up the teacher evaluations in December so nothing waited on a school office in January.
Jesuit High School Portland Admissions FAQ
Q: Is the HSPT required at Jesuit High School in Portland?
A: Yes. Jesuit says the HSPT is required for all 8th grade applicants.
Q: When are the test days?
A: Friday, December 4 (4:00 pm) and Saturday, December 5, 2026 (9:00 am). Registration costs $25 through your admissions account.
Q: What is on the test?
A: Reading, language, verbal and quantitative cognitive skills, and mathematics. Section times are verbal 18, quantitative 30, reading 25, math 45 and language 25 minutes.
Q: Is there a writing sample?
A: Yes. A 10-minute writing sample comes at the beginning of the exam, with several topics to choose from.
Q: What is the application deadline?
A: January 8, 2027 for both the admissions application and the financial aid application.
Q: When are family interviews?
A: Saturday, January 23 or Saturday, January 30, 2027. Sign-ups come in mid-January.
Q: When are decisions released?
A: Admissions decisions are mailed March 4 and available online March 6, 2027.
Practice for the Jesuit HSPT and Writing Sample
Jesuit requires the HSPT, with a 10-minute writing sample. Use STEM Critical Thinking Practice Tests for timed test simulations with progress tracking and Essay Writing Practice Tests for practice essay prompts with detailed grading and feedback. The combo plan covers both, or compare all plans and pricing first.
