High School Admissions

Preparing for the next chapter of learning is an exciting milestone at Northern Light School. Northern Light School graduates go on to attend a range of prestigious private and public high schools, whatever is the best fit for them, and we are here to ensure a smooth and successful transition into high school.

Starting in seventh grade, students strengthen their foundational skills and take a practice High School Placement Test (HSPT) to set a baseline.

In eighth grade, students participate in a dedicated High School Prep class twice a week, where they:

Build confidence for admissions tests such as the HSPT and SSAT
Practice interview skills and essay writing
Explore high school options and application requirements

During the winter trimester, students take the HSPT and/or SSAT. They also begin shadow visit days, spending a full day at their top-choice high schools to experience the campus environment, academics, and community culture firsthand.

To stay organized, students use the High School Interest Chart, a tool that helps them track key details about each school and reflect on what feels like the right fit. At NLS, high school preparation is more than test prep, it’s about helping each student find a school where they will thrive academically, socially, and personally.

High School Interest Chart

Suggested Agenda for Eighth Grade Year:

Explore high school options and identify the best fit for your child.
Check dates for high school open houses and admissions fairs.
Review each school’s application process and deadlines.
Register for the SSAT (if applicable).
Sign up for the HSPT Workshop to prepare for the exam.
Register for the HSPT (High School Placement Test).
Schedule student visit days at all high schools of interest.
Use the High School Interest Chart to narrow down options and track key details.
High School Placement Testing Options

Seventh graders have one practice test opportunity. Eighth graders have three different test options for high school admissions.

Seventh Grade

Practice High School Placement Test (PHSPT)

Eighth Grade

High School Placement Test (HSPT)
Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT)
Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)

Click on the links below to learn more about each test:

Practice High School Placement Test (PHSPT)

High School Placement Test (HSPT)

The HSPT is taken by students who are interested in attending a Catholic school. It is created by the Scholastic Testing Service and is used mainly for students entering 9-12 high schools. The test lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes with breaks. It has five multiple-choice sections. The test covers Verbal Skills, Language Skills, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Concepts, and Quantitative Skills.

The test results are reported on a range from 200-800 point scale. The score report includes national and local percentile ranks. All of the report information is sent directly to the schools that are selected on the answer sheet.

Click here for more information about the HSPT and to register: High School Placement Test (HSPT).

Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT)

The SSAT is for students interested in enrolling in an independent school. It is created by the Secondary School Admission Test Board. The test can be taken by 3-11 graders. The test lasts 3 hours and 5 minutes. It has four multiple choice sections - Verbal, Reading, and two Quantitative - and an unscored writing sample.

The score report scores are based on how the entire group tests for that particular test not necessarily how well any one student does with the test. The score is scaled for each section and is then rolled into a cumulative score for the entire test. The Scaled Score Percentile Rank is the most useful in seeing how a student compares to their peers who took the same test. The SSAT testing group is very competitive, so it is not unusual that scores may seem lower than other exams due to the high performance of the applicant pool.

Read through the SSAT At-A-Glance Packet for more information regarding the test format, registration, score reporting, and interpreting results.

Click here for more information and to register for the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT).

Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)

The ISEE has three levels with the Upper Level for candidantes going into 9-12 grade. The ISEE is created by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). It consists of three parts: (a) carefully constructed and standardized verbal and quantitative reasoning tests that measure a student's capability for learning; (b) reading comprehension and mathematics achievement tests that provide specific information about a student's strengths and weakness in those areas; and (c) an essay section.

The ISEE cannot be taken for practice; it may be only taken for the purpose of providing scores to participating schools as part of the admissions process. An applicant can only take the ISEE once per admission season or six month window.

Click here to find sample questions, more information, and registration at the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE).