We publish 20 in-depth prep guides covering 10 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in Michigan, including Brother Rice High School, Cass Technical High School, De La Salle Collegiate High School, Detroit Examination High Schools, Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School, Mercy High School, Renaissance High School, Shrine Catholic High School, and 2 more — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.
Brother Rice High School requires every applicant to take the HSPT — and the Archdiocese of Detroit allows only one attempt, ever. This guide covers what's on the test, how scores determine APEX vs. PREP placement, and when Detroit 8th graders need to start preparing to compete.
Getting into Cass Technical High School starts with the DPSCD High School Placement Test — a 150-minute, four-subject exam your student gets one shot to take. This guide covers the full admissions scorecard, essay strategy, and a realistic prep timeline for Detroit 8th graders applying for fall 2027 enrollment.
The Cass Tech admissions essay is worth up to 20 points on the DPSCD scorecard — and almost no one prepares for it strategically. This guide covers the 2026-27 essay prompts, what graders reward, and how Detroit 8th graders can write a persuasive argument that stands out.
At De La Salle Collegiate High School, your son's HSPT score determines admission, up to $32,000 in merit scholarships, and his freshman STEM track — all from one test he can only take once. This guide covers the HSPT Quantitative Skills section in detail and explains exactly how STEM Critical Thinking practice from stemcriticalthinking.com builds the reasoning skills that move the needle on this high-stakes subtest.
The De La Salle Collegiate HSPT is a one-shot exam that decides admission, up to $32,000 in scholarships, and your son's freshman STEM track — all at once. This guide covers the Archdiocese of Detroit's no-retake rule, every scholarship percentile bracket, and a prep timeline starting the summer before 8th grade. If your son is applying to DLS for fall 2027, start here.
The Detroit Examination High Schools admit students through the High School Placement Test — a 298-question, paper-and-pencil exam that can only be taken once. This guide gives 8th graders a concrete 3-month HSPT prep plan, free practice questions for every tested subject, and a full breakdown of the essay and scoring system specific to Detroit admissions.
Detroit has five examination high schools, and picking the right one for your 8th grader matters more than most families realize. This guide compares Cass Tech, Renaissance, MLK Jr., Southeastern, and Marygrove across GPA requirements, career pathways, and STEM programs — plus a clear breakdown of the HSPT and 750-word essay that decide admission.
The Round 2 Detroit exam schools application deadline is May 1, 2026 — and your child needs an HSPT score, a 750-word essay, transcripts, and 3 references ready before then. This checklist walks you through every requirement, scoring weight, and prep step for Detroit's five examination high schools, including Cass Tech and Renaissance.
The Detroit examination high school essay is 750 words that can make or break your child's application. This guide covers all 4 required essay questions, how the essay is scored, and exactly how to help your 8th grader write a winning persuasive response for Cass Tech, Renaissance, and all five exam schools.
Getting into Detroit Examination High Schools means mastering the HSPT exam, writing a compelling 750-word essay, and understanding a scoring system most families never see explained. This guide covers all five exam schools — Cass Tech, Renaissance, MLK Jr., Southeastern, and Marygrove — with real numbers, real deadlines, and targeted prep advice.
Detroit 8th graders applying to MLK Senior High face a one-shot HSPT with a Science section and a scored 750-word persuasive essay — and most prep resources miss both. This guide covers exactly what the DPSCD HSPT tests, when your child takes it, and how to build a composite score strong enough to earn a seat at Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School.
Mercy High School Farmington Hills requires the HSPT for all 8th-grade applicants — and your daughter gets exactly one attempt. This guide covers test dates, scholarship score thresholds, the Quantitative Skills section Mercy values most, and a summer prep timeline to maximize her score before the November test date.