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St. Mary's Academy Denver accepts both the HSPT and the ISEE — but which test your daughter takes directly affects her scholarship eligibility. This guide compares both exams, explains the 90th-percentile Academic Excellence Award threshold, and lays out why the HSPT one-shot rule makes September prep non-negotiable for SMA applicants.
If your 8th grader is applying to Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak, the HSPT is the single most important test they will take this fall. This guide covers Shrine's exact admissions timeline, the percentile scores that unlock $2,250–$4,500 in merit scholarships, and how to prepare for both the HSPT and the required application essay.
Getting into Southeastern High School Detroit means acing the DPSCD HSPT and submitting a strong 750-word persuasive essay — both are scored and both count. This guide covers every section of the exam, the essay rubric, bonus points, and round-by-round deadlines so your 8th grader walks in prepared.
If your child is eyeing Science Leadership Academy @ Center City, their 7th-grade PSSA Math and ELA scores are the first gate they must clear. This guide connects PSSA practice test prep directly to Philadelphia magnet school eligibility — covering the 50th percentile threshold, the digital 2026 test format, and SLA's unique project-based admissions presentation.
The Blair Magnet selection committee reviews your child's personal essay alongside MAP-M scores and teacher recommendations — and most families have no idea how much weight that essay carries. This guide explains exactly what the committee is looking for, how MAP-M scores fit into the holistic review, and how targeted essay writing practice can make your 8th grader's application stand out in a pool of 750+ applicants.
The School Without Walls on-site writing sample is the single highest-stakes moment of SWW interview day — and almost no prep resources explain what it actually scores. This guide breaks down every rubric dimension, the full interview-day sequence, and how timed essay practice gives your child a real edge.
PGCPS 8th graders are automatically evaluated for the S&T program using their December PSAT 8/9 scores — no application required, but no second chances either. This post maps a 12-week PSAT 8/9 study plan from September to November, explains the exact S&T composite admissions formula, and shows you how to target the score your child needs for S&T at Charles Herbert Flowers High School.
Most Saint Ignatius HSPT prep stops at multiple choice — but the Student Writing Prompt that follows can quietly shape your child's admissions file. This post explains exactly what the post-HSPT essay involves, what Ignatian-aligned reviewers look for, and how to prepare at home with timed essay practice.
The School of Science and Engineering at Townview is one of the top-ranked STEM high schools in the country — and its on-campus admissions test includes a logic and critical thinking section that most students never practice for. This guide covers exactly what the SEM Townview logic test tests, how it is scored, and the most effective way to prepare before the January 31 deadline.
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory admits roughly 300 students from a pool of 1,100 applicants — and one timed test with no retakes decides much of that outcome. This guide covers HSPT score targets, scholarship thresholds, the December 6 test date, and exactly how to prepare your 8th grader for every section before applications close January 30.