ADMISSION FAQ

I want to attend Xavier. How do I begin the application process?
First, follow the link for the ìAdmissions Timelineî from this webpage to note the important dates. We hope that you will take advantage of the opportunities that are available for you to become familiar with Xavier at Eighth Grade Day, November 2nd (just for students) and at the Open House, November 4th (for students and parents). Any eighth grader is welcome to take the Placement Exam on January 12 & 26, 2008. Taking this test will begin the formal process of application. Applications for admission are distributed at the Placement Exam. The application is not available online. How are the admissions decisions made?

An Admissions Committee consisting of the Admissions Director and representatives from the faculty and administration reach the admission decisions. This committee recommends students for admission to the principal of the School. The primary goal of the Committee is to select students who will have the greatest chance of success as active members of the Xavier community.

Are letters of recommendation required?
Yes. Academic letters of recommendation are required from your current math and English teachers. A third letter from an academic teacher of your choice from seventh or eighth grade who is not your current English or Math teacher is also required. Your principal will be asked to complete a form that addresses your parentsí support for your schoolís policies and tells us if there are any discipline issues in your records that we should be aware of.

Do I have to be Catholic to apply?
No, but because Xavier is a high school in the Diocese of Phoenix, students who are Catholic and in a Diocesan elementary school are given a higher priority in the admissions process. We welcome students of all faiths to apply to Xavier, and we celebrate the diversity of our students. Currently 80% of the Xavier student body is Catholic.

What score do I need on the entrance exam to be accepted?
Although the entrance test scores are a very important part of the admissions process, they are never the sole basis for an admission decision. Your seventh and eighth grade grades, standardized test scores (Iowa Basics, Stanford-9ís) , recommendations from your teachers and principal, your essay written at the entrance exam, are all considered while making admissions decisions.

Can I take the entrance test at one of the other Catholic schools?
Yes. Any 8th grade applicant who wishes to be considered in the priority pool of candidates at Xavier must take the standardized High School Placement Test (HSPT) but can do so at any one of the Diocesan high schools in January. She must request that her test results be sent to Xavier if she doesnít take the test at Xavier . As per the admissions policy of the Diocesan School Board, while it is not mandatory that an applicant take the test at Xavier to be considered in the priority admissions pool, it is recommended that she take the test at Xavier if it is her first choice because it just makes the process easier. The applications for admissions are distributed at Xavier on the testing dates and the required writing sample is also done at Xavier at that time. If an applicant takes the test at another high school (it is the same test at all locations), she will need to come to Xavier to pick up the application and make arrangements with the Admissions Office to complete the writing sample at Xavier. The applications will not be mailed to applicants who live in the Phoenix area and will not be available for pick up until after the first testing date (January 12th, 2008). (Out-of-state applicants who test in their home area may request that an application package be mailed.) † If the testing results and all the components of the package are submitted by the application deadline (January 31st), applicants will be placed in the priority pool, regardless of where they tested.

How many students are accepted in the ninth grade class?
This yearís class of 2012 has 335 members, selected from the more than 550 candidates who took the entrance exam. In the other grade levels, every year we have a very limited number of openings due to attrition. As an example, this past school year (07-08) there were only 10 new students total between tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades. We generally only accept twelfth grade students with special circumstances who are transferring from Catholic schools out-of-town.

How many students apply to Xavier?
The number varies from year to year, however, we always have many more qualified applicants than we can accept.

Is there a fee to apply?
Yes. There is a $35 testing fee, payable at the time of the entrance exam, as well as a non-refundable $50 application fee, which is due when the application is submitted. If you are accepted and plan to attend, then a non-refundable registration fee will also be required at the time of your registration.

What are the other costs to attend Xavier if I am accepted?
* Tuition: Tuition for the 2008-2009 school year is $12,861.00. For registered Catholics who are active and participating members of their parishes, a reduced tuition rate of $9,963.00 is available. Tuition can be paid in full at the beginning of each year, in two installments (once each semester), or in nine installments (monthly August through April). Tuition usually increases approximately seven percent each year.†
* Fees: In addition to tuition, there is an added annual fee of $400.00, which helps defray the costs of student activities, publications and technology. If a student is enrolled in an AP class, there will be an additional test fee for the AP exam (a fee determined by the AP Board) before the AP exam is taken in the spring.
* Uniforms: The Xavier plaid skirt has been unchanged for more than 40 years and is a rich part of the Xavier tradition. There are many options available for the official uniform shirts that are worn with the skirt, from oxford style long-sleeved shirts to polo-style shirts. The Mothersí Guild also sells many different Xavier sweatshirts that can be worn with the uniform. When you visit Xavier on Eighth Grade Day or at the Open House, youíll see the many examples of the student uniform. The average yearly uniform costs are $350-$500. There are generally two used uniform sale days in early August, and each year graduating Seniors are asked to donate their uniforms to this sale.
* Books: Students purchase their own books, which average about $400 - $600 per year. The Xavier bookstore only sells new books due to storage space limits, but students are encouraged to purchase used books that are still on the book list from other students. Many students come to the book sale days at the beginning of the school year armed with their used books and find willing buyers. At the end of the school year, too, many students make private arrangements to sell and/or buy used books.

Is financial tuition assistance available?
Yes, but tuition assistance is awarded based solely on need. Funds are available through the Catholic Tuition Organization of the Diocese of Phoenix (CTODP) and from the fundraising efforts of the Xavier community. If you and your parents are interested in being considered for tuition assistance, you may pick up a financial aid application once you are registered. For this school year, more than $800,000 was distributed to Xavier students for tuition assistance. Specific deadlines are strictly adhered to and applications for financial aid must be submitted every year.

What about the curriculum?
The curriculum at Xavier is a traditional, rigorous and challenging college prep program. Honors classes are available in all areas of study, and AP Classes ranging from English Literature to Art History are also an integral part of the curriculum. All Xavier Seniors take the AP Literature exam. †In the spring of 2006, students took Advanced Placement exams, 1014 AP exams were administered and 62% of the students scored a 3 or higher. Through Rio Salado College, students have the opportunity in selected classes to earn concurrent college credit with their Xavier credit.

Do you have National Merit Scholars?
Xavier students consistently score high on standardized tests. In the last ten years (1996-2006), Xavier ës graduating classes have included 84 National Merit Scholars, 139 National Merit Commended Scholars, 40 National Hispanic Scholars and 9 national Black American Scholars.

The class of 2008 (241 members) counted 5 National Merit Finalists, 9 National Merit Commended Scholars, 6 National Hispanic Scholars and 1 National Black American Scholar and one United States Presidential Scholar.