Placement Test Information

We believe placement tests assist students in making informed decisions about their academic journey, ensuring they enroll in courses that align with their knowledge and skills, leading to a successful and rewarding educational experience. Holy Family Catholic High School does not use placement tests as a criteria for acceptance.

Star Reading Assessment

Evaluating and understanding your child's academic strengths and progress is an important component in getting know your child as an individual learner. Therefore, as a requirement for enrollment at Holy Family Catholic High School, incoming ninth-grade students complete the STAR Reading Assessment. While this test is not a criterion for acceptance and is a singular snapshot of your child's abilities, it does provide helpful information for the student, parents, and school on preparedness for high school academics.

The STAR Reading Assessment is given in January of your child's 8th-grade year. Students enrolling after that date will be also be asked to take the assessment. In addition, incoming ninth-grade students registering for advanced level math or Spanish courses may be required to take a subject specific placement test in mid-May or early-June.

STAR Reading Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any review materials for the STAR Assessment?

No review is needed for this test. Star Reading is a computer-adaptive test that measures student achievement on reading skills. As a student takes the assessment, the software selects items based on the student’s responses. If the student answers the item correctly, the software increases the difficulty level of the next item. If the student answers incorrectly, the software lowers the difficulty level of the next item. By continually adjusting the difficulty of an item to what the student has shown she can or cannot do, the assessment is tailored to accurately measure each student’s level of achievement.

What is the test like?

The test has just 34 multiple-choice questions assessing your child’s vocabulary and reading skills. For each question, students will select an answer from the choices offered as a list.

This is a timed test. Students should allow up to a one-hour block, but some students may complete the test in as little as 10 minutes. Ten questions allow 105 seconds to answer, and the remainder allow 150 seconds per question.

When will we receive the results?

Are there testing accommodations available for the STAR Assessement?

If your child currently has extended time accommodations and you have not provided your child’s plan to Holy Family, please send it to Annie Kandiko by January 13. Students whose parents/guardians have been in contact with Holy Family Admissions or the Holy Family learning specialist team AND provided documentation of an extended time accommodation in a current learning plan will be granted extended time for their tests.Students who do not currently have a learning plan with this accommodation will have standard testing time.

Math Placement Tests

Success in math is often predicated on a secure knowledge of current concepts before taking on new ones. To ensure students are ready for their ninth-grade math course, Holy Family administers the HFCHS Mathematics Placement Test.

Class of 2029 Mathematics Placement Test Dates

Saturday, May 17 at 9 a.m.
Saturday, May 31 at 9 a.m.

Please use the form found in your Blackbaud account to register for the date your child will take the placement test. Please only register if your child is required to take the placement test as described in the FAQs below.

If your child is unable to attend either of the two testing dates, please contact the school office by email to schedule a date and time for a test.

Math Placement Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any review materials for the math placement tests?

Does my child need to take the mathematics placement test?

Students in a Dual-Credit Affiliate Program

Students currently completing a Holy Family math class or earning credit through our dual credit program at one of our partner schools listed below are not required to take a math placement test.

Current Dual Credit Affiliated Schools: Notre Dame Academy, Our Lady of the Lake School, St. Hubert School, St. Joseph Catholic STEM School, St. Therese Catholic School , St. John the Baptist School in Jordan

Students Not in a Dual-Credit Affiliate Program

Students currently not completing a Holy Family math class or earning credit through our dual credit program at one of our partner schools listed above may be required to take a math placement test

The following are the requirements for students not participating in our dual credit program through one of our partner schools:

PreAlgebra - Test required; the department chair will contact parents to find a time that works best
Linear Algebra - Test required; the department chair will contact parents to find a time that works best
Quadratic Algebra - No test required
Geometry or Honors Geometry - Placement Test I required
Algebra 2, Honors Algebra 2, or higher - Placement Test II required

When will we receive the results of the placement test?

Spanish Placement Tests

Each middle school language program is unique, and we want to find the best course available for your student to find success with Spanish and meet your child's individual needs.

Students who Registered for Spanish 2 or Honors 2

Students wishing to take Spanish 2 or Honors Spanish 2 must take the online Spanish placement test. The student may take the Spanish 2 Placement Test online whenever he or she is ready but no later than June 15. Students should take this test independently and refrain from using any outside help such as dictionaries, Google translate, etc. Please contact Karen Kidrowski with any questions. She will contact you with the results and a recommendation for what class to take next year.

Students who Registered for Spanish 3, Honors 3 or AP Spanish

Students coming from a Spanish Immersion program or that registered to take Spanish 3, Honors Spanish 3 or AP Spanish will receive an email from Karen Kidrowski with instructions for an individual assessment.