Class of 2026

First things first! You must create a Parent Portal Account to complete school forms (including the Admissions Application), upload documents, and register for upcoming events. Your Parent Portal Account will include a Student Checklist to remind you of all the required steps of the admissions process. Click HERE to create your Parent Portal Account!

Mercy McAuley offers a 4-week prep course to help 8th graders prepare for the High School Placement Test (HSPT). Taught by Mercy McAuley Math Teacher Mrs. Samantha Duncan, the course covers academic content on test, familiarizes students with test format, teaches test-taking strategies, and eases apprehension about the test. There is a $75 fee for the four-week course.

The HSPT Prep Course is from 9  - 11 a.m. on the four Saturdays leading up to the test: October 23, October 30, November 6, and November 13. Register HERE.

Submit the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Release of Records Authorization to your daughter’s elementary school. The form can be obtained from your daughter’s elementary school (if she currently attends a Catholic school), or the form can be downloaded HERE.

The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is required to be considered for admission to Mercy McAuley. The test will be administered at all Cincinnati area Catholic high schools on Saturday, November 20, 2021. When registering to take the test, the registration form will require you to designate up to three high schools to receive your scores. To have your scores sent to Mercy McAuley, you must designate “Mercy McAuley High School" where indicated. (Even if you are taking the test at Mercy McAuley, you must still select Mercy McAuley to have your scores sent to us.) There is a $30 fee to take the test. Online registration is now closed; however, walk-ins are welcome. At Mercy McAuley, doors will open at 8 a.m. and all students should arrive no later than 8:15 a.m. The test will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m.

At Mercy McAuley, the test will be administered on Saturday, November 20, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. - noon. Doors will open at 8 a.m., and all students should arrive no later than 8:15 a.m.

For anyone who missed the Nov. 20 test, a make-up test will be administered at Mercy McAuley on Dec. 2 at 2:30 p.m. Click HERE to register for the Dec. 2 make-up test.

A completed Admissions Application must be submitted to be considered for admission to Mercy McAuley. The application also requires two short essays; one from the student and one from the parent. (There is a space to write these essays within the application form itself.) The application must be completed within your Parent Portal Account. Click HERE to login to, or to create, your Parent Portal Account. *We do NOT require teacher recommendation letters.

Financial assistance is available through the Circle of Mercy Education Aid Fund. Families who wish to apply for Mercy McAuley financial assistance must complete and submit a FACTS financial aid application. There is a one-time, non-refundable fee of $35 to submit the FACTS application. FACTS is an independent service used throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to determine financial need. Mercy McAuley will use the FACTS form as the basis for distributing assistance. Visit the FACTS site for details and to apply for financial assistance.

Incoming freshmen may apply for a one-year Catherine McAuley Scholarship. Finalists in each of the three categories will be asked to participate in interviews with school leaders on the evening of December 1. More information and application details about the Catherine McAuley Scholarship can be found HERE.

To submit your application(s) for the Catherine McAuley Scholarship, log into your Parent Portal Account HERE. (When logged in to your account, you will see an upload button for the Catherine McAuley Scholarship within your admissions checklist.)

Incoming freshmen may apply for a one-year Spirit Scholarship. The applicant must submit a short video introducing herself, stating why she wishes to attend Mercy McAuley and describing her gifts and talents that she would bring to our school. Click HERE for more details about the Spirit Scholarship.

To submit your Spirit Scholarship application, log into your Parent Portal Account HERE. (When you are logged in to your account, you will see an upload button for the Spirit Scholarship within your admissions checklist.)

One of the best ways for 8th graders to experience Mercy McAuley is to attend a Shadow Day! On Shadow Days, our 8th grade guests are paired with a Student Ambassador for the day and will see firsthand what it's like to be a Wolf! Guests will attend classes, meet teachers and students, learn more about sports and extracurriculars, and they'll experience the amazing school spirit of our Pack at an all-school Pep assembly! Lunch is provided to all 8th grade guests, who will leave with a special Mercy McAuley T-shirt and other giveaways.

Our 2021 Shadow Days are scheduled for the following dates.* Each Shadow Day is from 7:40 a.m. to 3 p.m. except where noted below. Space is limited for each day; once a date is full, we will indicate this below.

• Friday, September 17
• Wednesday, September 29
• Friday, October 1
• Friday, October 22
• Friday, October 29 (*On this day only, school starts at 9 a.m.; please arrive by 8:40 a.m.)
• Wednesday, November 3

*  Our 2021 "Group" Shadow Days are complete, but we are happy to schedule an individual Shadow Day for your daughter on a day that works for your schedule. Please contact Kevin Brinkman, Director of Admissions, at (513) 681-1800 x2272 or brinkmank@mercymcauley.org to arrange your Shadow Day.

Eighth grade parents are invited to learn more about Mercy McAuley from our school leaders in a conversational setting. Join President Denise Krueger, Ph.D., Principal Connie Kampschmidt, and Admissions Director Kevin Brinkman for coffee and discussion about Mercy McAuley's values, our academic and extracurricular offerings, and get answers to all of your questions. Optional tours are available following the conversation. These Coffee Sessions are held on the scheduled Shadow Days, which makes it convenient for parents who are dropping their daughter off to shadow.

The dates/times of our 2021 Parent Coffee Sessions are:

• Friday, September 17 / 8 to 9 a.m.
• Wednesday, September 29 / 8 to 9 a.m.
• Friday, October 1 / 8 to 9 a.m.
• Friday, October 22 / 8 to 9 a.m.
• Friday, October 29 / 9 to 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, November 3 / 8 to 9 a.m.

*Our 2021 Shadow Day Parent Coffee Sessions are complete, but we are happy to schedule a meeting with prospective parents at any time. Contact Admissions Director Kevin Brinkman at (513) 681-1800 x2272 or brinkmank@mercymcauley.org to schedule a meeting.

Prospective parents of all grade levels are invited to attend one of our Parent Information Nights to learn more about Mercy McAuley directly from the perspectives of our school leaders, teachers and students. These sessions will cover topics including:

• Academics, Schedule and Technology
• Counseling and Student Services
• Faith, Service and Campus Ministry
• Athletics and Extracurriculars
• Tuition, Scholarships and Financial Aid

The dates/times of our 2021 Parent Information Nights are:

• Wednesday, September 22 / 6:30 - 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 6 / 6:30 - 8 p.m. (*This session will focus exclusively on tuition, financial aid and scholarships.)
• Tuesday, October 19 / 6:30 - 8 p.m.
• Thursday, November 4 / 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Register for a Parent Information Night HERE. Or, you may register by logging in to your Parent Portal Account.

Navigating the waters of the high school admissions process can seem overwhelming. Whether this is your first time going through the process or your last, Admissions Director Kevin Brinkman is here to assist you! Kevin invites prospective parents to join him for an informal Q & A session to learn more about the admissions process and important dates and deadlines.

The dates/times of our 2021 Q & A with Kevin are:

• Thursday, August 26 / 8 - 9 a.m.
• Tuesday, September 14 / 8 - 9 a.m.

*Our Q & A with Kevin sessions are complete, but we are happy to arrange a session with prospective parents at any time! Contact Admissions Director Kevin Brinkman at (513) 681-1800 x2272 or brinkmank@mercymcauley.org to schedule a meeting.

Open House
Sunday, October 10, 2021
1- 4 p.m.

Prospective families of all grade levels are invited to join us for our Open House! Take a student-led tour, learn about our academic, athletic and arts programs and extracurricular activities, meet our leaders, faculty, staff and students, and enjoy refreshments and giveaways!

Future Wolves and their parents/guardians are invited to explore Mercy McAuley by taking a personal tour of the campus! To schedule a tour, contact Kevin Brinkman, Director of Admissions, at (513) 681-1800 x2272 or brinkmank@mercymcauley.org.

Mercy McAuley is offering prospective students and parents one more opportunity to learn more about the school before the November 20 admissions application deadline. Join us for the “Last Act Before the App” event on Wednesday, November 17, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. This event is perfect for any families who may have missed Open House, or for those who simply want to take another look or ask questions before submitting their admissions application. Future Wolves and parents will see key locations within the school while learning more about our mission and values, faith and service, academics, arts, athletics, clubs, financial aid and scholarships, and the admissions process. Register HERE.