We publish 28 in-depth prep guides covering 14 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 6 more — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.
Montgomery Blair Magnet admissions 2027 explained: MAP-M test prep, application essay tips, deadlines, and Blair Magnet practice test strategies for 8th graders.
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School admissions in Baltimore is decided by a composite score up to 800 — built from MCAP ELA and Math percentiles plus weighted grades. This guide explains the exact formula, the 610 minimum threshold, and how targeted MCAP practice can raise your child's composite score before the spring test window closes.
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The Poolesville SMCS magnet test is changing for 2025-26 — and most prep guides are already out of date. This guide covers the current test format, the October-February admissions timeline, and exactly how to prepare for every component of the SMCS application, from the on-site essay to the written application responses.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Getting into the Ingenuity Project at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute means sitting two separate admissions tests on the same Saturday morning — the CogAT Form 7 and an Algebra I exam. This guide breaks down exactly how both tests feed into the composite score and what Baltimore 8th graders should do right now to prepare.
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.