Application Process

Step 1: Visit Campus

Experience what it means to be a Chief by visiting Cardinal Gibbons High School. Our small-group campus tours give prospective families the opportunity to explore campus, meet faculty and students, and learn more about academics, student life, and the admissions process.

Tours are led by members of our Admissions team along with student ambassadors, offering families both an informative overview and authentic insight into the Gibbons experience.

Tour availability is limited during the summer, as applications for the 2026–2027 school year are now closed. Families interested in applying for the 2027–2028 school year are encouraged to attend a campus tour in the Fall or join us for our annual Open House.

2026 Open House
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Two Sessions Available:
• 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM
• 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

RSVP to Open House HERE!

Available small-group tour dates can be viewed here. Schedule your tour HERE!

We look forward to welcoming you to Cardinal Gibbons and sharing what makes our community so exceptional.

*Campus tours are optional and are not required as part of the admissions process.

Step 2: Gather Your Application Materials

Before starting your application, please have the following ready:

Applicant’s birth certificate
Credit or debit card for the application fee
Current school information including email address for the school registrar or official responsible for academic records
Applicant’s current Math teacher’s email address
Applicant’s current English teacher’s email address

Step 3: Complete Your Application

Step 4: Submit Required Documents

Required documents vary by applicant. Please review the Admissions Requirements Checklist and monitor your Admissions Portal regularly for updates.

Freshman Applicants (9th Grade):

6th, 7th, and 8th grade academic records
Standardized test scores (Terra Nova or equivalent)
Recommendation form(s)
Admissions Entrance Exam (HSPT)
Student interview (may be required)

Transfer Applicants (10th–12th Grade):
*Must have a current minimum unweighted GPA of 3.1

Middle school transcripts showing any high school credits earned
Current high school academic transcripts
Standardized test scores
Recommendation form(s)
Student interview
Admissions Entrance Exam (HSPT) or previous results

Cardinal Gibbons does not accept local 12th-grade transfer students. Only students applying from outside Broward County will be considered for admission.

Step 5: Take the HSPT

All applicants are automatically registered for the mandatory High School Placement Test (HSPT) after submitting an application.

2027-2028 HSPT Date:
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Cardinal Gibbons High School

Applicants should take the HSPT at their first-choice school to be considered during the first round of admissions decisions.
Applicants requesting testing accommodations must submit a current educational plan along with either a psychoeducational evaluation (within the last 3 years) or a doctor’s note confirming eligibility. All documentation must be sent to ese@cghsfl.org and approved by the ESE Coordinator at least 2 weeks before the exam date.

Step 6: Check Your Application Status

Information

Admissions Deadlines & Important Dates

September
September: Cardinal Gibbons Applications OPEN

October
October 10: Open House

November
November 18: HSPT Information Session (Registered Applicants Only)
November 20: Accommodations Documentation Due (Applicants Requiring Extended Time Only)
November 29: Early Admissions Application Deadline

December
December 2: Final Admissions Application Deadline
December 5: Admissions Entrance Exam (HSPT)

January
January 22: 9th Grade Applicants: Admissions Decisions Released
January 29: 10th - 12th Grade Applicants: Admissions Decisions Released

February
February 12: All New Student Registration Deadline

March
March 13: (Optional) 9th Grade Course Advancement Exams

June
June 8 - 25: Summer School

Admissions Entrance Exam (HSPT) Information

The Admissions Entrance Exam (HSPT) is required for all applicants applying to Cardinal Gibbons High School. It is used alongside academic transcripts, standardized test scores, and recommendation forms to evaluate and determine admission.

Below are the exam’s subsections, timing, and amount and categories of questions on the HSPT:

First Test Section: Verbal Skills

16 minutes, 60 multiple-choice questions
Synonyms and antonyms, analogies, logic-based questions, and verbal classifications.

Second Test Section: Quantitative Skills

30 minutes, 52 multiple-choice questions
Number series & manipulations, geometric and non-geometric quantitative comparisons. Calculators cannot be used.

Third Test Section: Reading Comprehension

25 minutes, 62 multiple-choice questions
Recognizing the central thought or purpose, logical inferences, interpreting literary elements and techniques, and understanding vocabulary in context.

Fourth Test Section: Mathematics

45 minutes, 64 multiple-choice questions
Computation and problem-solving skills, important concepts in areas of numbers & numeration, measurements, geometry, algebra, and statistics. Calculators cannot be used.

Fifth Test Section: Language Skills

25 minutes, 60 multiple-choice questions
Punctuation, capitalization, spelling, grammar, usage, and composition.

Admissions Requirements Checklist by Grade

The following documents are required to receive an Admissions decision:

9th Grade Applicants:
ADOM Catholic School Applicants:
- 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Academic Report Cards
- 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Terra Nova Test Scores
- Principal Recommendation (Collected by CGHS)
- Admissions Entrance Exam (HSPT)
* Student Interview (may be required)

Public / Private School Applicants:
- 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Academic Transcripts
- 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Standardized Test Scores
- Math & English Recommendations Forms in the Admissions Portal
- Admissions Entrance Exam (HSPT)
* Student Interview (may be required)

10th Grade Applicants:
- Any Middle School Transcripts containing High School credits (ie: Algebra I)
- 9th Grade & current 10th Grade High School Academic Transcripts
- Standardized Test Scores
- Math & English Recommendations Forms in the Admissions Portal
- Student Interview
- Admissions Entrance Exam (HSPT)

11th Grade Applicants:
- Any Middle School transcripts containing High School credits (ie: Algebra I)
- 9th Grade & current 10th Grade High School Academic Transcripts
- Standardized Test Scores
- Math & English Recommendations Forms in the Admissions Portal
- Student Interview
- Admissions Entrance Exam (HSPT) Results

12th Grade Applicants:
*Cardinal Gibbons High School does not accept local 12th-grade transfer students. Only applicants applying outside of Broward County will be considered for admission.
- Any Middle School transcripts containing High School credits (ie: Algebra I)
- 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, and current 12th High School Academic Transcripts
- Standardized Test Scores
- Math & English Recommendations Forms in the Admissions Portal
- Student Interview
- Admissions Entrance Exam (HSPT) Results

All Transfer Applicants must have the following to be considered an applicant.
- An unweighted GPA of 3.1 or higher
- Cardinal Gibbons High School does not accept local 12th-grade transfer students. Only applicants applying outside of Broward County will be considered for admission.

Prior to attending school, each student must provide the Admissions Office a School with a current Florida Certification of Immunization (Form DH 680) indicating the student has received all required immunizations (vaccinations). Per the Archdiocese of Miami Department of Schools, an exemption from immunization requirements is not permissible for religious, philosophical, personal, or other reasons.

International Students

International Applicants:
International applicants must follow the same admissions process as a local/domestic student by submitting an application through the Admission Portal and selecting their corresponding grade level.

International applicants' academic documents must include:

Contact hours
GPA
Credits

- If a transcript does not align with the U.S. education system, the student must provide an official translation and evaluation of all academic transcripts from an FLDOE-approved Foreign Credential Evaluation Company. Please refer to Admissions Requirements by Grade dropdown to see what documents need to be translated and evaluated per applicant.
https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/foreign-trained-grads/approved-credential-evaluation-agencie.stml

Our school, in accordance with federal law, does not inquire about the immigration status of our students. However, it is our responsibility to remind all families that it is a violation of the Tourist B-1 or B-2 Visa to attend classes while on a B-1 or B-2 Visa, and doing so could result in a cancellation of that visa. If a family is considering changing a B-1 or B-2 Tourist Visa for an F-1 Student Visa, they should consult with an immigration lawyer to help them understand the implications of completing the application.

Should the family decide to apply for an F-1 Visa, Cardinal Gibbons High School will assist the family accordingly. The student may not attend school until his/her status in the United States allows the student to attend school. An I-20 application will be processed after the student is accepted and registered.

If you have any questions, please contact the Registrar at 954-491-2900 ext. 138 or registrar@cghsfl.org.

Pastor Recommendation Form

The Pastor Recommendation Form is optional and is not required as part of the admissions process. Families who wish to submit a recommendation from their Pastor or Parochial Administrator may do so as part of the applicant’s admissions file. All forms must be submitted before the HSPT test date to be considered in the admissions process.

Click here to access the Pastor Recommendation Form.

Completed forms must be submitted directly by the recommending Pastor or Parochial Administrator to pastorrec@cghsfl.org. Recommendations remain confidential and will only be used by Cardinal Gibbons High School as part of the admissions review process.

Tuition Assistance

Cardinal Gibbons accepts need-based financial aid through the following State-Sponsored Programs:

Step-Up for Students (SUFS) www.stepupforstudents.org
Florida Private School Scholarship (AAA) www.aaascholarships.org

Families may also apply for additional need-based financial aid through Cardinal Gibbons Tuition Assistance Program, FACTS Grant and Aid. http://online.factsmgt.com/signin/3TNs1

OPEN ADMISSION POLICY - ADOM POLICY. The school has an open admission policy. No person, on the grounds of race, color, disability or national origin, is excluded or otherwise subjected to discrimination in the receiving of services. Nor does the school discriminate in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral and other aspects of employment on the basis of race, color, disability, age, gender, or national origin.

Admissions FAQs