Catholic schools come in many shapes and sizes. In this article, we will introduce you to the different types of Catholic schools, how they differ from each other, and what you need to know to apply.

Here is a brief overview of the different types of Catholic schools in NYC:

These schools are run by the diocese and follow a different school calendar than either public or private schools. While not free, they are often relatively low cost compared to private schools. Each of them varies in quality, price, and other factors. For example, some may have lay faculty, while others may have Jesuit fathers as teachers. Students don’t need to be Catholic to attend, but there will definitely be religious components to the experience, such as daily prayer and regular attendance of mass.

These schools are Catholic, but are not run by the diocese. Some of these schools include Xavier High School, Fordham Preparatory School, Marymount, and Loyola. They are essentially private schools with the addition of Catholic elements, such as chapel, prayer, or religion courses.

Regis is one the Independent Catholic schools, but works a bit differently from the others. For one, it is completely free to attend. In fact, it is the only free, private all-scholarship school in the United States. However, you must be a “baptized Catholic boy” to apply, which makes it inaccessible for many students. Still, if you meet the criteria, Regis provides an excellent education and is definitely one to consider.

There are many reasons why a family may choose to send their child to Catholic school. For some families, the Catholic faith may be important, but there are many other potential benefits to attending these schools for catholics and non-catholics alike. Catholic schools that are run by the diocese can provide a more individualized education than public schools but at a lower price point than private schools.

Many Catholic schools also have excellent sports programs and strong relationships with college recruiters, making them a desirable choice for serious athletes. Last not but not least, many Catholic schools simply provide excellent educations for their students - reason enough for any family!

For the parish schools, students must register and sit for the TACHS exam, which is given once a year in November. Prior to the exam, students must choose their 3 top choice schools they would like their scores sent to. These scores are then evaluated, along with their school transcripts and other criteria, to determine acceptances. You can register for the TACHs exam online at Tachsinfo.com or by telephone at 1-866-61TACHS (1-866-618-2247). For more information on the TACHS exam, read our article here.

Each of the independent Catholic schools have their own admissions processes, but they function more or less like other private schools. Depending on the schools, there may be application essays, interviews, and other requirements. For testing, some schools may accept the TACHS, but like most other private schools, they tend to use the ISEE or SSAT. You should look up the individual admissions requirements for each of the schools you wish to apply for. For more information on private school admissions, check out our article 

When do Catholic high schools send acceptance letters?

Schools that base admissions on the TACHs will notify students of their acceptance in mid January.

Independent Catholic schools will notify students around the same time as other private schools, which is typically in mid March.

How to get scholarships for Catholic high schools

For parish schools, families can submit a Financial Assistance application once they have submitted their Admissions Application. Learn more about their financial aid programs 

The independent schools also have their own financial aid and scholarship program, which will vary depending on the school. Many schools use a 3rd party financial aid software to determine who gets tuition assistance, while others have their own in-house calculations. And Regis, of course, is completely free for all students who are accepted!

Work with professionals and get into the Catholic high school of your choice

We hope this overview was useful. Ivy Tutors Network is proud to offer test preparation for the 

, then match with one of our expert tutors to help your child gain confidence, reach their target score, and get into their top choice schools!

Want to get a head start on the NYC high school admissions process? Check out our FREE 

, designed by experts to guide you on your admissions journey!

How to Get into Catholic High Schools

The Test for Admission to Catholic High Schools, or TACHS, is the exam used for admission to the Catholic High Schools of New York. It is given once a year in November.

Prior to the exam, students must list their 3 top choice schools that they would like their scores sent to. They are then evaluated for admission based on these scores, along with their school transcripts and other criteria.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the TACHS exam and how best to prepare for it!

The three 2022 TACHS exam dates are as follows:

 - Archdiocese of Rockville Centre (Catholic High Schools of Long Island)

You can register for the TACHs exam online at 

 or by telephone at 1-866-61TACHS (1-866-618-2247).

In 2022, the Registration deadline is between August 22nd and October 27th. If you do not register by the deadline, your student will not be able to take the exam! You must also enter your high school choices at 

 sometime between registration and November 5th.

There are four multiple-choice sections on the TACHS exam: Reading, Written Expression, Mathematics, and Ability.

This section is fairly straightforward reading comprehension. Students are presented with short passages and then asked questions that test their undertaking and ability to synthesize the information in the passage. They may also be asked about the meaning of words in context, main ideas, and the author’s intent.

The Mathematics section tests students' knowledge of numbers and operations, data analysis/statistics, geometry, basic algebra, and measurement.

The Written Expression section tests students on standard English language conventions. Students are asked to identify and correct errors in sentences and short passages by attending to syntax, organization, clarity, and tone.

This is the most unique section of the TACHS exam. It purports to test students' reasoning abilities, and most of the problems involve spatial reasoning and pattern recognition. Students will definitely want to spend some time familiarizing themselves with these question types, as they are particular to the TACHS and wont come up in their preparation for the other HS entrance exams.

The TACHS exam is approximately two and a half hours long.

How many questions are on the TACHS exam?

The TACHS exam contains approximately 200 multiple choice questions.

Can you use a calculator on the TACHS test?

Students may NOT use a calculator on the TACHS exam.

Students receive both a scaled score between 200 and 800 points and a 

, ranging from 1st though 99th percentile, which indicates how well you performed compared to all other students who sat the exam. Most schools use the percentile score to evaluate applicants.

Although the TACHS exam may be challenging for some students, it is generally considered less difficult than the other high school entrance exams like the 

What is the passing score for the TACHS exam?

There is no passing score for the TACHS. Rather, students must receive a high enough percentile score to meet the admissions criteria of the schools they listed during registration.

A percentile score between 70 and 99 would be considered a good score on the TACHS exam.

You don’t fail the TACHS exam but you can fail to meet the admissions criteria of the schools you are applying to if your score is too low.

Students receive admission notices from the schools they listed in mid January, and will also receive their score reports shortly after.

Students can access their TACHS scores online at 

 - For any test prep regimen, taking a mock test is the best place to start, as it helps students assess their strength and weakness and get a sense of how much they will need to study. Ivy Tutors Network can administer the diagnostic exam and send you a score report. To register for a diagnostic, sign up 

 for more detail on dates, registration, and examples of the types of questions that will appear on the exam.

 - Based on the diagnostic, you will need to determine what content areas will need to be learned and/or reinforced. Perhaps a student needs to brush up on fractions, or learn more vocabulary. Now is the time to make sure that any knowledge gaps are being addressed through practice exercises in a test prep book or with a tutor. Much of the TACHS content is the same as that on other exams students may be taking, like the ISEE, SSAT, or SHSAT.

 - Independent reading of novels, short stories, magazine and newspaper articles etc., is truly the best way to prepare for both the Reading and Written Expression sections of the exam. It increases reading speed and comprehension and exposes students to more vocabulary and proper grammar and syntax.

 - Subsequent practice tests will help students reinforce the concepts they are learning and also allow them to master essential test taking strategies like time management and intelligent guessing.


Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Test prep can be very overwhelming, but working with an experienced 

 is a great way for students to structure their study plan, fill in content gaps, and build confidence. At Ivy Tutors Network, we have 20 years of experience helping students increase their scores and get into their top choice schools.


Don't hesitate to contact us to schedule a 

, or book a free consultation. No matter where you are in your test prep journey, IVY is here to support you every step of the way!

TACHS: Everything You Should Know

For many parents, applying to private school can be a daunting process. If your child is preschool-aged and older, admissions can seem even more taxing on top of an already busy school schedule. The most important step you can take to destress the admissions process is to plan ahead and stay organized.

Checking and rechecking deadlines, rushing to visit the last available open house, and chasing down necessary documents hours before the application is due - all of those harried and annoying steps can be avoided by familiarizing yourself with the process and making a plan long before deadlines approach. With that in mind, take the first step by reviewing this list of everything you need to know about private school admissions. Note that these tips apply to elementary, middle, and high school private school admissions processes.

Every private school uses a different application format, which is hosted on either their own website or on the application hub 

. Once applications launch in the late summer/early fall, take these first steps:

: Research each of your schools of interest to find out which application system they use. This information can almost always be found by visiting the school’s website, clicking on “Admissions,” and clicking on “Apply” or “Apply Now.”

: You’ll be taken to the application portal and invited to create an account. Go ahead and create an account now to save time later - create a username and password and save that information somewhere safe so you can access it easily in the coming months.

If you’re sure that you want to apply to a school, you can get even farther ahead by submitting Part 1 of the application. Part 1 usually asks for simple background information, like educational history, family history, and contact information, which shouldn’t take much time to submit. Note, however, that some Part 1 applications request parent statements, which must be carefully prepared and should not be submitted right away. In any case, the sooner you submit Part 1, the sooner you can be invited to an interview, so it’s advantageous to submit as soon as possible. Not every school has a Part 1, but if your school of interest does and you're positive that you want to apply, start filling out that form (and drafting that statement, if need be).

Most schools begin releasing fall open house and tour dates in roughly August of each year. These events are typically available on school websites under “Admissions” or “Events.” Many require registration, so fill out the form linked on the school’s website. These events are not required, but we highly recommend that you attend an event if you haven’t visited a school before. They are important for developing your understanding of the school’s philosophy and fit with your family. If you can’t make it to any admissions events, don’t worry - you’ll have an opportunity to see the school during interviews, so you’ll still be able to assess fit then.

Essays are a crucial component of the private school admissions process, and we’ve found that the best application essays and parent statements are the product of time. Therefore, we recommend that students and parents get started on essays far earlier than necessary to remove the pressure of drafting excellent responses within only a few days.

To get started, visit your schools’ applications, copy the parent statement and student essay prompts, and paste them into a blank document. These documents can be used to start brainstorming essay ideas, start writing anecdotes, and ultimately working toward a full draft. It’s best to draft your essays in a separate document - typing directly into the application risks losing your work or submitting an unfinished draft.

Review the “Admissions” section of each school’s website to double-check which standardized tests they require for students of your child’s age, such as the AABL, 

. Then, register your student for appropriate testing as soon as possible to get the test on the calendar. Don’t forget to check if your student is eligible for testing accommodations, and register for those if applicable.

Ivy Tutors Network offers indivudualzied 

 tutoring as well as semi-private group classes. The best place to start with test prep is to have your child take a diagnostic exam, which you can sign up for 

If you are looking to learn more about the New York City private school admissions process, the 

 is a rich source of information on the New York public and private school application processes, independent school placement, how to get accepted into competitive private schools, and much more.

If you’re seeking personalized support for your child’s admissions journey, 

: we provide customized guidance for each and every one of our families, and expertly partner with you to achieve your admissions goals.

Everything You Need to Know About Private School Admissions

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