Frequently Asked Questions
The process for selecting a high school for your child can be overwhelming at times. There is so much information and each high school operates differently. To help you understand our process a little better, here are some answers to frequently asked questions.
Q: When should I apply for the incoming 9th grade?
A: Fall of your 8th grade year. Priority Application due date is December 7, 2024 for the Class of 2029. Secondary application due date is January 18, 2025. Please find the online application here.
Q: Why did the priority admissions application deadline move up to December from January?:
A: The primary reason for moving the deadline date up is to provide families information regarding tuition assistance and merit based scholarship awards in a more timely manner.
Q: Can we still apply to CDH after the priority deadline date of December 7?
A: Yes, CDH's secondary application deadline date is January 18, 2025. Students that apply by January 18th and take the placement test on January 18th will be notified on admissions status in February. All applications after January 18 will be processed on a case by case basis.
Q: Is there an application fee?
A: No, we do not charge an application fee.
Q: When will I know what my final financial aid package is?
A: If a financial aid assessment application is completed through TADS by December 1, you will be notified in January with a range of the tuition assistance you can expect for the 2025-26 school year. For applications submitted after December 1, CDH will provide award packages on a case by case basis. You will find the TADS application here.
Q: When will I know if I my child received a merit based (JROTC Schaller, Carondelet and/or Lasallian) scholarship?
A: For students that complete both the merit based scholarship application and obtain a teacher endorsement by January 1, 2025, CDH will notify you of an award by the end of January. Merit based scholarship applications can be found here.
Q: Do I need to register my child for the placement test on December 7, 2024?
A: No, please arrive at door #1 off Albert St. with a #2 pencil and a $10 testing fee by 8:15. The test will start at 8:30 and is approximately 3.5 hours.
Q: If I can't attend the placement test date on December 7, 2024 is there a makeup placement test date?
A: Yes, the makeup placement test is on January 18. Same details as original test date.
Q: When do incoming 9th grade students register for classes?
A: Incoming 9th grade (Class of 2029) register for class on March 6 at CDH. All accepted students will receive further details regarding this registration event.
Q: How many students apply every year?
A: Annually, we receive more than 300 applications, for a typical class size of 225.
Q: Does my family need to have an alumni relation to be accepted?
A: No. We offer admittance to all students who meet our admission criteria.
Q: What is the admission criteria?
A: There are two main criteria we focus on for admittance to CDH:
1. Academic potential including attendance history.
2. Overall good-standing behavior and student conduct.
Q: How many students are at CDH?
A: We currently have 920 total students in grades 9-12. Each grade has approximately 225-260 students.
Q: What is the average classroom size?
A: Nineteen (19). Most core classes are between 20 and 25; many of the elective classes are between 15 and 20.
Q: What percentage of students are Catholic?
A: Eighty-four percent (75%)
Q: How many different grade schools does CDH attract students from?
A: More than 120.
Q: If my child has a learning disability or plan, does CDH make any accommodations?
A: Yes. We have an academic learning program called Learning Lab. This program provides assistance to students in need of academic support with homework, test taking, and organizational skills. The program also assists teachers in accommodating each person’s need so as to allow students to achieve to their full ability.
Q: How many course level placements does CDH offer?
A: We offer four levels of course placement. College prep is our standard level placement. Advanced is one step further beyond college prep. Honors is one step further beyond advanced. And, Advanced Placement offers students a college course with the opportunity to earn college credit.
Q: What are the school day hours?
A: School hours are 8:15am - 2:45pm. CDH is on trimesters.
Q: How many of your students graduate and go on to colleges or universities?
A: One hundred (100%) of our students graduate. Ninety-five percent (95%) go on to post-secondary education, with the remaining five percent choosing military, a gap year, or athletic/work opportunities.