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Washington DC School Entrance Exam Prep Guides

We publish 3 in-depth prep guides covering 3 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in Washington DC, including Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, McKinley Technology High School and School Without Walls High School — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.

Benjamin Banneker High School Admissions 2026–2027: Deadlines, Rubric & Interview Prep for DC Families
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
June 01, 2026 9 min read

Benjamin Banneker High School Admissions 2026–2027: Deadlines, Rubric & Interview Prep for DC Families

Benjamin Banneker Academic High School is one of DC's most competitive selective high schools — and its admissions process includes two separate writing assessments, a scored interview, and three teacher recommendations. This guide walks DC parents through every stage of the 2026–2027 application, from the February 2 MySchoolDC deadline to the onsite written prompt at the interview.

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McKinley Tech Admissions Writing Sample: What Judges Look For + 5 Practice Prompts (2026–2027)
McKinley Technology High School
July 02, 2026 9 min read

McKinley Tech Admissions Writing Sample: What Judges Look For + 5 Practice Prompts (2026–2027)

The McKinley Tech writing sample is not graded on grammar — it judges your STEM passion, community commitment, and perseverance under pressure. This guide decodes the 300-point scoring rubric and gives you 5 practice prompts modeled on the real on-site format so your child walks in prepared.

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School Without Walls Admissions 2026–2027: Complete Parent Guide to GPA, Interview & Essay
School Without Walls High School
July 17, 2026 10 min read

School Without Walls Admissions 2026–2027: Complete Parent Guide to GPA, Interview & Essay

School Without Walls admissions 2026 is more competitive than most DC families realize — roughly 1,400 students compete for about 150 seats. This guide covers the GPA you actually need, what happens inside the panel interview, and exactly what the on-site writing sample rubric scores so your child walks in prepared.

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