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.
The HSPT Quantitative Skills section is the part of the Mercy High School placement test most 8th graders underestimate — and it directly determines scholarship eligibility. This post breaks down exactly what the section tests, why it demands STEM critical thinking over memorized math, and how to prepare when your daughter only gets one shot at the exam.
Renaissance High School Detroit uses a three-part scoring system — HSPT score, GPA, and a 750-word persuasive essay — to select incoming 9th graders. This post breaks down every component of DPSCD's High School Placement Test and shows exactly how to prepare before the November exam. Detroit 8th graders applying through DPSCD have a clear prep roadmap here.
Getting into Renaissance High School Detroit means mastering a four-part admissions scorecard — HSPT, GPA, essay, and references. This guide breaks down every scoring category, exact point values, and what Detroit 8th graders must do right now to maximize their Total Application Score before the November deadline.
If your 8th grader is applying to Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak, the HSPT is the single most important test they will take this fall. This guide covers Shrine's exact admissions timeline, the percentile scores that unlock $2,250–$4,500 in merit scholarships, and how to prepare for both the HSPT and the required application essay.
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.
Getting into Southeastern High School Detroit means acing the DPSCD HSPT and submitting a strong 750-word persuasive essay — both are scored and both count. This guide covers every section of the exam, the essay rubric, bonus points, and round-by-round deadlines so your 8th grader walks in prepared.
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.
The School at Marygrove requires a persuasive 750-word Student-Authored Essay scored by two independent reviewers — and almost no prep resources tell Detroit families how to prepare for it. This post covers exactly what the DPSCD writing sample requires, how it fits into your child's composite application score, and how timed essay practice gives 8th graders a real advantage before the application window closes.