Ninth grade admissions process

Welcome to Cathedral High School, and thank you for your interest in applying!

Admission to Cathedral High School is outlined in detail below. If there are any questions along the way, please reach out to Elena Ardura, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management (212) 688-1545, ext 8652 or eardura@cathedralhs.org.

Step One: Application and Teacher Recommendations

Begin the admissions process by completing the application and two teacher recommendation letters. Applications should be completed and emailed to Ms. Ardura, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management. Teacher recommendation forms should be sent to the applicant's teachers, and the teachers shoud email or mail them back to Cathedral High School, Attn: Ms. Elena Ardura, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management.

All applications and recommendation letters are due to the Admissions Office by Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

Step Two: Entrance Exam

Choose the applicable entrance exam:

• TACHS - Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools

The remote online TACHS (Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools) is designed to measure school aptitude and scholastic achievement in Reading, Mathematics, and Language. Registration for the 2025-2026 TACHS exam is currently open. Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

Register for the TACHS online at www.tachsinfo.com, or by calling 1-866-61TACHS.  

The 2024 TACHS for Catholic High Schools in the Archdiocese of New York is scheduled for Friday, November 8, 2024. There is an 8:30 a.m. session and a 10:00 a.m. session. All extended time students will be assigned to the 8:30 a.m. session.

Students may list Cathedral as their first, second or third choice on the TACHS. 
*Cathedral’s TACHS code is 202.
 

• COOP/HSPT Exam (New Jersey Residents)

New Jersey residents may take the COOP/HSPT exam in place of the TACHS exam; the same process applies for the Application Form and the Teacher Recommendations.

Register for the COOP/HSPT exam online at www.njcoopexam.org or by calling 1-888-921-COOP. Registration closes Friday, October 25, 2024. 

The 2024 COOP/HSPT exam is scheduled for Friday, November 8, 2024.

NJ residents should request that their schools send their applicant records to Cathedral High Shool, and Cathedral will request her COOP/HSPT scores.
 

• Cathedral High School Entrance Exam (Administered after Jan. 22, 2025)

Applicants who did not take the TACHS or COOP exams must complete an admissions application and two recommendation letters (as outlined in Step 1). Applicants will also need their school to send their Applicant Record to Cathedral. Once Cathedral has received these materials, the applicant will be required to take the Cathedral High School Entrance exam. The cost for the entrance test is $71. After the exam, application materials will be reviewed and the applicant will be notified of her admissions status.

 

Step Three: Applicant Record

The Applicant Record must include the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade academic, disciplinary and attendance records. For Catholic elementary schools, this Applicant Record is sent automatically by the student's current school. Applicants who attend public schools must  download a copy of the Applicant Record from www.tachsinfo.com and ask her current middle school to complete and return the form to Cathedral High School no later than December 10, 2024.

Important Dates and Links:

October 30, 2024 - TACHS registration deadline.  Register online at www.tachsinfo.com.

December 10, 2024 - Cathedral High School Application and supporting materials due (Recommendation Letters and Applicant Record).

January 22, 2025 - Admission notifications released.

Please find additional information on scholarships and financial aid at https://cathedralhs.org/tuition-scholarships-financial-aid

*Scholarship consideration is given to applicants who are a "A" students in middle school and score well on their entrance exam. Scholarships range from Legacy, which covers more than 75% of tuition, to half and partial scholarships.  Scholarships will remain with the student as long as she maintains a class average of 85% or above. Students who receive an academic scholarship will be part of the Cathedral High School Honors Academy.

 

Step Four: Interview

Students who wish to come in for an optional but highly encouraged interview may schedule one once all materials have been submitted. The interview will last no more than 20 minutes and can be scheduled during the weekday. Interviews are an opportunity to know the students better and can be a determining factor in scholarships. Please email Ms. Elena Ardura, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, at eardura@cathedralhs.org to schedule an interview.
Interviews will run through mid-December, and can be done in conjunction with a Shadow Day.