Four Catholic high schools in Orange County have published their open house dates for fall 2027 entry (the Class of 2031): JSerra Catholic High School on October 5, Servite High School on October 18, and Santa Margarita Catholic High School and Rosary Academy both on October 19. For Irvine families with an 8th-grade student considering these schools, the earliest application deadline is November 1, and the High School Placement Test (HSPT), the entrance exam used by Catholic high schools, is concentrated in January 2027.
Who Is Affected by the October Orange County Catholic high school open houses
Families with a student entering 9th grade in fall 2027 who are considering Catholic high schools in Orange County. The key dates at the four schools:
| School | Open house | Application deadline | HSPT dates | Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JSerra Catholic High School | October 5 | Early November 1; regular January 15, 2027 | January 9 and February 6, 2027 | Early November 20; regular February 12 |
| Servite High School (boys) | October 18 | Early December 4; regular February 5, 2027 | January 23 and February 6, 2027 | Early before Christmas; regular no later than February 20 |
| Santa Margarita Catholic High School | October 19, 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. | Priority November 15 | January 16, 20, and 30, 2027 | Acceptance packets and tuition assistance awards mailed December 1 |
| Rosary Academy (girls) | October 19; shadow day October 21 | Not listed on the website | January 16, 2027, with a makeup date of January 23 | Not listed on the website |
On fees: Servite charges a $65 application fee; Rosary’s HSPT is free for its own applicants and $75 for non-applicants; Santa Margarita’s one-day HSPT review course costs $95 per session, and Rosary’s review course has an early-bird price of $100. JSerra’s financial aid application opened October 1. Rosary states that students seeking its Royal Merit Scholarship must take the HSPT at Rosary.
What to Do Now About the October Orange County Catholic high school open houses
Attend the open houses before choosing an HSPT date. The four schools’ HSPT dates are staggered and each school administers its own test, so the test site and date depend on where the student applies.
Put November 1 and November 15 on the calendar. JSerra’s early application and Santa Margarita’s priority application close on those dates, two months before the HSPT; the application comes first and the test follows in January.
Compare each school’s courses and college outcomes. A-G courses, AP offerings, and college destinations for the four schools are in the Orange County Private High School Guide, with individual pages for JSerra Catholic High School, Servite High School, Santa Margarita Catholic High School, and Rosary Academy.
Sources
- JSerra Catholic High School: Admissions (accessed October 2, 2026)
- JSerra Catholic High School: Admissions Process (accessed October 2, 2026)
- Servite High School: Admissions (accessed October 2, 2026)
- Servite High School: Class of 2031 (accessed October 2, 2026)
- Santa Margarita Catholic High School: Class of 2031 (accessed October 2, 2026)
- Santa Margarita Catholic High School: High School Placement Test and Review Course (accessed October 2, 2026)
- Rosary Academy: Admissions (accessed October 2, 2026)
- Rosary Academy: High School Placement Test (accessed October 2, 2026)
- CSU Transfer Priority Filing Ends Nov. 30CSU priority filing for fall 2027 transfer applicants ends November 30, 2026; $70 per campus. ADT admission guarantee, upper-division requirements, and next steps.
- Notre Dame REA Nov. 1; Tests Required Fall 2028Notre Dame Restrictive Early Action closes November 1, 2026. Scores stay optional this cycle; SAT or ACT is required for fall 2028 entry. Dates, essays, and rules.
- Pomona Two Essays, Early Decision Due Nov. 8Pomona College Early Decision I closes November 8, 2026, decisions by December 15. Two supplement prompts of 150 and 250 words, plus recommendation and testing rules.
- Portola High Financial Aid Workshop Oct. 19Portola High School holds a mandatory financial aid workshop for all seniors on October 19, 2026, led by Irvine Valley College, with FSA ID creation. Parent steps first.
