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How to Get Into St. Pius X High School Houston (2026–2027 Complete Guide)
School Prep Guides
July 23, 2026 10 min read

How to Get Into St. Pius X High School Houston (2026–2027 Complete Guide)

St. Pius X High School admissions requires the ISEE Upper Level, two written components, and a January 15 application deadline. This guide covers every requirement for the 2026–2027 cycle — from target stanine scores to the portal essay prompt — so your 8th grader walks in prepared.

How to Score in the 90th Percentile on the HSPT for St. Mary's Academy's Academic Excellence Award (2026–2027 Guide)
School Prep Guides
July 23, 2026 9 min read

How to Score in the 90th Percentile on the HSPT for St. Mary's Academy's Academic Excellence Award (2026–2027 Guide)

St. Mary's Academy's Academic Excellence Award requires a 90th-percentile HSPT score — and your daughter only gets one shot at the exam. This guide covers the exact score threshold, the sections that move the needle most, and a month-by-month prep plan built around SMA's January test date and December deadline.

St. Mark's School of Texas Admissions Essay: What to Write (and What to Avoid) in 2026
School Prep Guides
July 22, 2026 9 min read

St. Mark's School of Texas Admissions Essay: What to Write (and What to Avoid) in 2026

Getting into St. Mark's School of Texas means more than strong grades — your son's admissions essay and ISEE writing sample both land on the same desk. This post gives grade-specific essay strategies, an ISEE prep timeline, and writing tips aligned to St. Mark's core values of character and leadership.

How to Prepare for the HSPT at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School (2026 Guide)
School Prep Guides
July 22, 2026 9 min read

How to Prepare for the HSPT at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School (2026 Guide)

The St. Joseph Notre Dame High School HSPT is a one-shot test administered every January by the Diocese of Oakland — and your child's score affects admission, course placement, and scholarship eligibility all at once. This guide covers what SJND actually reviews, which sections matter most, and how to build the quantitative reasoning skills that move 8th graders from average to honors placement.

The SI Post-HSPT Writing Prompt: What It Is, How It's Scored, and How to Practice (2026 Guide)
School Prep Guides
July 21, 2026 9 min read

The SI Post-HSPT Writing Prompt: What It Is, How It's Scored, and How to Practice (2026 Guide)

St. Ignatius College Preparatory is one of the only Bay Area Catholic high schools that requires a same-day timed essay immediately after the HSPT. This guide explains exactly what the SI Post-HSPT writing prompt is, how admissions staff evaluate it, and how to build a realistic 8–10 week practice plan before December 6, 2025.

DPSCD Student-Authored Essay Tips: How to Write Your Southeastern High School Admissions Essay (2026)
School Prep Guides
July 20, 2026 8 min read

DPSCD Student-Authored Essay Tips: How to Write Your Southeastern High School Admissions Essay (2026)

The Southeastern High School application requires a scored, 750-word persuasive essay graded by two independent reviewers — and most Detroit 8th graders don't know it counts. This post breaks down all four guiding questions, the DPSCD HSPT format, scoring weights, and a step-by-step writing framework built specifically for the DPSCD examination high school application.

Shrine Catholic High School Application Essay: Tips, Prompts & Examples (2026)
School Prep Guides
July 20, 2026 10 min read

Shrine Catholic High School Application Essay: Tips, Prompts & Examples (2026)

Shrine Catholic High School requires both an HSPT score and a separate written essay — and most families don't know how to prepare for both. This post gives you school-specific essay tips aligned to Shrine's mission, plus HSPT score benchmarks that unlock up to $4,500 in merit scholarships.

How to Prepare for the MAP-M Test for Montgomery Blair Magnet Admissions (2026–2027 Guide)
School Prep Guides
July 19, 2026 9 min read

How to Prepare for the MAP-M Test for Montgomery Blair Magnet Admissions (2026–2027 Guide)

Montgomery Blair's Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science Magnet Program now uses MAP-M scores — not a separate exam — as a key admissions criterion. This guide explains what RIT score is competitive, how the adaptive format changes your prep strategy, and what your 8th grader should practice right now before the November 7, 2025 application deadline.

SLA Beeber Project-Based Presentation: What to Prepare, What to Expect, and How to Stand Out
School Prep Guides
July 19, 2026 8 min read

SLA Beeber Project-Based Presentation: What to Prepare, What to Expect, and How to Stand Out

SLA Beeber replaces the bubble-sheet entrance exam with a project-based presentation — but two gatekeepers stand between your child and a lottery seat. This guide walks you through PSSA eligibility thresholds, how to choose a strong project, and exactly what SLA evaluators are listening for.