We publish 13 in-depth prep guides covering 13 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in Maryland, including Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic High Schools (HSPT Cohort), Baltimore City College High School, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Eastern Technical High School (Magnet Programs), G.W. Carver Center for Arts and Technology — Information Technology / Interactive Media Production (IT-AI/IMP) Magnet, Montgomery Blair Magnet, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Poolesville High School — Science, Math, and Computer Science (SMCS) House Magnet Program, and 5 more — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.
Every 8th grader applying to one of the 18 Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic high schools takes the HSPT once — no retakes. This guide covers the November test dates, no-retake rule, the hardest section most students ignore, and how to build a prep plan before the December 10 common application deadline.
Baltimore City College High School admits roughly 425 students from nearly 3,000 applicants each year. This post breaks down the BCPS composite score formula — including how MCAP ELA and Math percentiles feed into your child's total — and tells you what score range is actually competitive, not just the 610 minimum floor.
Getting into Baltimore Polytechnic Institute means mastering the BCPSS Composite Score — a formula most parents have never seen explained. This guide breaks down every component of the composite, shows the MCAP score ranges competitive Poly applicants actually hit, and tells you exactly what your child can do starting in 7th grade to build a winning application.
The Eastern Tech magnet assessment includes 70 multiple-choice questions — and the biggest section is 30 questions of pure Critical Thinking. This guide breaks down every section, explains the lottery scoring system, and gives Baltimore families a concrete prep plan for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle.
The Carver Center IT/IMP admissions assessment has more moving parts than most Baltimore County families expect — a pre-made brochure, an on-site math test, a practical drawing, and a 70-question centralized test with a 30-question Critical Thinking section. This guide covers every component with a concrete prep plan for the January 2026 dates.
Montgomery Blair Magnet admissions 2027 explained: MAP-M test prep, application essay tips, deadlines, and Blair Magnet practice test strategies for 8th graders.
Your child's MCAP ELA essay score directly affects their BCPS Composite Score — and their shot at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. This post breaks down the MCAP ELA written response rubric in plain language and gives Baltimore City 7th and 8th graders a concrete plan to score higher before spring testing.
The Poolesville SMCS magnet application requires two separate essays — and most students prepare for neither. This guide covers the 30-minute on-site timed essay and the ParentVUE application essay with concrete writing strategies, sample prompt types, and a scoring framework. Learn exactly what the selection committee reads for and how Essay Writing Practice Tests can sharpen your child's skills before December.
S&T @ Charles Herbert Flowers uses a precise composite formula — PSAT 8/9 score plus Core Content GPA multiplied by 360 — to rank every applicant. This guide decodes that formula, explains the difference between PGCPS and non-PGCPS applicant paths, and maps every key deadline from August to March. If your child is aiming for one of the most competitive STEM programs in Prince George's County, start here.
Your 8th grader gets one shot at the PSAT 8/9 this school year — and the score counts for 50% of the S&T @ Oxon Hill composite. This month-by-month prep plan walks Prince George's County families through exactly what to study, when to study it, and how the 2880-point admissions formula works.
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.
The Ingenuity Project at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute requires every applicant to pass two tests on a single Saturday — the CogAT Form 7 and an Algebra I exam. This guide explains exactly what's on the CogAT Form 7 Level 14 practice test, how Ingenuity calculates its composite score, and the one prep step most 8th graders miss before Test Day.