Class of 2029 Information

A full summary calendar for the 2025-26 school year, including days off, early dismissals, and exam days, will be available soon!

Holy Ghost Prep students need to bring a laptop with them to HGP every day for schoolwork.  CLICK HERE to find out what type of device they should use.

During the first week of school, each of your son's teachers will tell him what specific supplies he will need. This may include notebooks, binders, loose leaf paper, writing utensils, etc.

All incoming students are required to purchase a TI-Nspire CX II CAS Color Graphing Calculator for their math class. HGP is able to purchase the calculators at a discounted price and distribute them to students on the first day of classes. Complete the form below to purchase the required calculator through HGP and have it distributed on the first day of classes. Students will not receive a calculator if the form below isn't completed by March 21 and will need to purchase it on their own before school begins.

Incoming freshmen register for courses for the 2025-26 school year by completing the "Freshman Course Selection and Placement Test/Design Thinking" Registration Form in School Admin. School Admin forms are available in the Application Portal, which you access from the "Apply" tab at the top of this page. This form must be completed no later than Friday, March 21.

All freshman are required to take the following courses:

• English: Academic Writing and Communication Skills*

• Math: Algebra 1, Intermediate Algebra, Algebra 2 Honors, or Geometry Honors/Trigonometry**

• Religion: Revelation of God and Faith and Christian Living

• Science: Biology*

• Social Studies: World History 1 or AP Human Geography*

• World Language: American Sign Language, Latin, or Spanish***

• Fine Arts: Studio Art, Music Fundamentals, Music Production, Intro to Guitar, or Intro to Theater

• Engineering: Design Thinking****

• Guidance: Digital Citizenship and Counseling, Health, and Wellness

*Placement in an honors/AP level section is determined by entrance exam scores.

**Placement in a specific course/honors level section is determined by placement test.

***Students who request American Sign Language or Latin will automatically be placed in level 1. For students who select Spanish, placement in a specific course/honors level section is determined by placement test. If your son has selected Spanish and chooses not to take the placement test, he will be placed in level 1.

****All incoming freshmen are required to take Design Thinking during the summer prior to the start of the academic year. The course is offered three times - June 9 to June 27, July 7 to July 25, and July 28 to August 15. It is the same course each session - students choose which session they want to take the course. They do NOT need to take it more than once. The course, offered through Schoology, HGP’s learning management system, is an online self-paced course and can be completed in the three week timeframe. You register for Design Thinking by completing the "Freshman Course Selection and Placement Test/Design Thinking" Registration Form in School Admin. School Admin forms are available in the Application Portal, which you access from the "Apply" tab at the top of this page.

CLICK HERE for more info on HGP's academic vision and philosophy, graduation requirements, grade scale, and full descriptions of the freshman year courses.

Design Thinking focuses on the engineering design process. Working within predetermined parameters, students will learn and participate in the engineering design process: identify the problem, brainstorm ideas, test the solutions, analyze the results, and iterate the process. By the end of the course, students will have produced an engineering notebook to be used for future curricular or personal designs. 

Design Thinking is a required course for all incoming freshmen. They must take it during the summer prior to the start of the academic year. The course is offered three times - June 9 to June 27, July 7 to July 25, and July 28 to August 15. It is the same course each session - students choose which session they want to take the course. They do NOT need to take it more than once. The course, offered through Schoology, HGP’s learning management system, is an online self-paced course and can be completed in the three week timeframe. Class of 2029 families will be emailed their Schoology login info prior to the start of your chosen Design Thinking session.

Incoming freshmen register for their Design Thinking session by completing the "Freshman Course Selection and Placement Test/Design Thinking" Registration Form in School Admin. School Admin forms are available in the Application Portal, which you access from the "Apply" tab at the top of this page. This form must be completed no later than Friday, March 21.

Holy Ghost Prep requires conservative attire. The dress code is in effect during the school day from the beginning of the school day and during special events, such as Masses or assemblies with guest speakers.  Upon entry into campus buildings, all students are expected to be properly attired.

The Dress Code is as follows:

• All clothes are to be worn in the manner in which they were intended.

• Conservative dress pants of a single color worn at the waist are required. The pants must be black, navy blue, gray, dark brown, or khaki. Unusual styles such as baggies, tapered pants, pants with rolled cuffs, pockets on the side of the legs, etc., are not permitted. Belts are mandatory at all times. The color of the belt must be appropriate to the color of the blazer and pants.

• A conservative oxford cloth dress shirt, short or long sleeve, is required. Visible writing underneath the dress shirt is not permitted. All shirts must be tucked in. Ties are mandatory at all times. Ties are to be worn in fashionable accord with the rest of the student's attire. Ties with offensive representations are not permitted.

• A neat and conservative cut blazer must be worn throughout the months of October through April. The exact dates for this requirement will be announced by the Dean of Students. The color of the blazer may be navy blue, gray, dark brown, tweed, black or another conservative color. Waist coats, oversized coats, or coats of an exaggerated style are not permitted. Sweatshirts, with or without hoods, are not permitted. Excessively wrinkled or damaged blazers are not permitted. Conservative v-neck sweaters may be worn in addition to but not in place of a blazer.

• Socks are mandatory at all times. The color of the socks can be black, dark blue, white or some other conservative color. Standard oxford or loafer-type shoes are required. No shoes resembling sneakers, boots, sandals, slippers, or clogs are permitted. Laces are to be tied. Eccentric style shoes of any sort are not permitted.

• In warm weather, polo shirts may be an alternative to dress shirt and tie.  This would be determined by the Dean of Students and Administration.

• A student's hair must be neatly trimmed at all times based on culturally appropriate guidelines.  Eccentric hair styles are not permitted. Head coverings are not permitted, however if you have a cultural or religious reason for an exception, please see the Dean of Students.

• Facial hair (including lengthy sideburns) or earrings are not permitted.  If facial hair is part of your religion, please see the Dean of Students in advance. Tattoos are not permitted.

• Visible jewelry is restricted to wristwatches for punctuality and Holy Ghost Prep Class Rings. Other jewelry is not part of our dress code and may be temporarily or permanently confiscated. The wearer of jewelry not in accordance with the Dress Code may also face detentions or other penalties as the Dean of Students determines appropriate.

• Sometimes, for specific purposes, a “Dress Down Day” is scheduled. At these times, the formal dress code is temporarily suspended and a more casual dress code is allowed. This casual dress, however, does not suspend all dress code regulations. Rather only the formal dress shirt, pant, and shoe may be substituted by a casual replacement still in the spirit of a college preparatory school such as Holy Ghost Prep.

Final determination of acceptable dress rests with the Dean of Students and the Principal. Violators of the dress code may be subject to various disciplinary actions. Frequent offenders are in opposition to the ideals of Holy Ghost Prep and may be removed from the community through suspension and/or expulsion.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21: First Day of Freshman Orientation. All freshmen will report for a day of welcome, food, fun, and community. Dress is casual. Additional information will be provided in the July opening of school packet sent via email.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22: First Day of Freshman Classes. All freshmen will report for an abbreviated class day. Students are expected to be in full dress code with blazers. Photo ID/Portraits will be taken. Additional information will be provided in the July opening of school packet sent via email.

Incoming freshmen register for placement tests by completing the "Freshman Course Selection and Placement Test/Design Thinking" Registration Form in School Admin. School Admin forms are available in the Application Portal, which you access from the "Apply" tab at the top of this page. This form must be completed no later than Friday, March 21.

**Study guides are not provided for placement tests. The objective of the placement tests is to determine what students already know so they can be placed in the proper class. Preparing for a placement test may lead to a skewed score, which can result in an inaccurate placement.**

MONDAY, APRIL 7 (3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, DINING HALL): Math Placement Test. Required for all students both to ensure proper honors math placement and to identify students of special concern. Any student interested in honors consideration in math at any level during his attendance at Holy Ghost Prep or any student trying to gain recognition of any other work accomplished in math must take this test. If your son chooses not to take the placement test, he will be placed in Algebra I. Also, many science honors courses require concurrent math honors enrollment. Bring a #2 pencil. No calculators may be used.

TUESDAY, APRIL 8 (3:30 PM - 4:30 PM, LIBRARY): Spanish Placement Test. This test is for students who have selected Spanish as their language and want to be considered for the honors level of Spanish 1. We strongly recommend that heritage speakers take the test. If your son has selected Spanish and chooses not to take the placement test, he will be placed in level 1. Students who request Latin or American Sign Language will automatically be placed in level 1. Bring a #2 pencil and a pen.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 (3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, LIBRARY): Placement Test Make-Up Date. Students who cannot make the other scheduled dates may take one of their placement tests on this date. If you need to take a test on this date, please call our Main Office at 215-639-2102 to specify which of the placement tests your son will need to take on this day.

Holy Ghost Prep offers extensive summer sports camps for students of all ages, including incoming students. Click HERE to learn more about HGP's summer sports camps.

Information on summer assignments will be available on June 9, 2025.

What are the language requirements at HGP?

At HGP, students are required to take three consecutive years (six semesters) of ASL, Latin, or Spanish beginning their freshman year. A fourth year of language study is strongly recommended and available in all languages. AP courses are also available in Latin and Spanish. We also encourage students to take a second language as an elective, which they can begin as early as sophomore year.

Which language should I study?

Choosing which of the three languages we offer - ASL, Latin, or Spanish - is an important decision. Each language offers its own unique benefits. We believe that it is good for a student and his parents to make an informed decision together. If you have any questions about what language to choose, contact Mr. Patrick Hoelzle, Dean of Academics, at phoelzle@holyghostprep.org.