• This web page is for students who already attend a high school and are considering transferring to an examination high school.
    If the student is currently in 8th grade, click here

    Getting Started

    There are two applications for transfer students. Please select the appropriate one for your situation.

    • Current Exam High School Students: Previously applied, took the exam and currently attend one of the following schools: Cass Technical High School , Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School, Renaissance High School, Southeastern High School or The School at Marygrove.
    • Other High School Students: Attend Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School or Southeastern High School as a neighborhood student (not admitted via exam) or attend any other high school.

    When to Apply

    Round 1: 12 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6 - 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025
    Round 2: 12 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 - 11:59 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2026

    Update: 
    There will be no Round 3 for the 2025-26 admission cycle. All applications must be received by May 1, 2026 and all exams must be taken by the end of Round 2. 

    Application for Students Already in High School 
    Students who do not currently attend an Exam High School

    Application for Internal Transfers 
    For current exam students at: Cass, King, Renaissance, Southeastern and The School at Marygrove

    Applications available after 12 p.m. Oct. 6, 2025

  • The Admission Process for External Transfer Students

    Application Requirements

    An electronic application is required for ALL applicants seeking admission to any examination high school. Students will not be admitted without an application and exam. Please review the application requirements below.

    • Student-Authored Essay 
      The essay will not be scored. Schools review them to learn about the applicant. This is submitted as part of the application. 
    • High School Transcript
      Mandatory for all students entering Grades 11 and 12
      Report cards will be accepted for students currently in 9th or 10th grade. At least two school years' worth of grades are required.
    • Take the High School Placement Test
      The exam is required unless the student receives a waiver (see details below). You will select your exam date as part of the application.
    • IEP/504 Plan/WIDA Scores
      If applicable. Submitted documents will be reviewed to determine whether the student is eligible for accommodations on the exam. 
      All documents must be current. Expired IEPs (older than 1 year) will not be accepted.

    Admission Decisions

    Each year, exam high schools have a limited number of seats available in grades 9-11. The low supply of seats means schools are looking for the best-qualified applicants to backfill spaces created by attrition and student dismissals.

    Students who apply and take the exam (or obtain a waiver) will have their application reviewed by their selected schools ONLY after confirmed receipt of complete academic records. Incomplete applications are not sent to schools for review. 

    Decision Points

    All transfer applicants must be academically on track for an on-time graduation based on the Michigan Merit Curriculum. Students with F's that have not been remediated will not be considered for admission. 

    Strong GPA: Transfer applicants for Cass and Renaissance should have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.5. Transfer applicants for the other schools should generally have at least a 2.8 GPA. Your GPA should be visible on your transcript and report cards.

    Acceptance to all schools is subject to student qualifications and availability of seats at the student's grade level at the school(s) to which they are applying. School decisions are final. 

    Entering 12th Grade

    Cass and Renaissance do not admit applicants into 12th grade unless one of the following is true:

    • They previously attended the school to which they are seeking admission. Re-admission is subject to the applicant's qualifications and available eats. 
    • The student recently moved (or will be moving) to the Detroit area from another city that is not in the immediate vicinity of Detroit
    • The student's school will be closed during the next school year, when they will graduate (this is rare)

    Applicants to Martin Luther King, Southeastern and The School at Marygrove must be on track for on-time graduation. 

    Petitions

    There is no petition process for students who are already in high school. All applications are directly reviewed by the schools to which they are applying. School decisions are final.

    High School Placement Test Waivers

    Some students may be eligible for an exam waiver if they previously took the HSPT and were admitted to an exam high school. 

    Previously Accepted: Students who took the exam in the 2024-25 admission cycle and were accepted to their first-choice exam high school, but did not attend, may be exempted from taking the test pending a review of their current and previous applications. An application is still required. 

    Current Students: Students who currently attend an exam high school and are not at risk of dismissal, regardless of when they took the exam, may apply to transfer to another exam high school without taking the exam. An application is still required, and will be reviewed by the school to which the student wants to transfer. The school's decision is final. Acceptance is subject to availability of seats at the grade level the student is seeking.

    Previous Students: Students who previously attended an exam high school, regardless of when they took the exam, may apply for re-entry without taking the exam if there is evidence the student left the school in good standing within the past year. Students in good standing were not academically dismissed or in jeopardy of being academically dismissed, had clean disciplinary records, and would otherwise have maintained their enrollment if they had not left. Students who were not enrolled during the 2024-25 school year must retake the exam. The school to which they are seeking re-entry will determine whether the student left in good standing. Students who were academically or otherwise dismissed from an examination high school are not eligible for an exam waiver. 

    The factors outlined above are general. Additional details such as school, year admitted, etc. may impact waiver eligibility. To see if you are eligible, email:  exam.schools@detroitk12.org. Use the subject line: HSPT Waiver

    Notice of HSPT Waiver Eligibility

    All applicants are required to select an exam date as part of their application. If eligible for a waiver, you will be notified via email and will not be required to take the High School Placement Test. Please check your email the week of your scheduled exam. Notices will be sent to the email address of the application submitter (the email address used to set up the Submittable account.)

    The Admission Process for Internal Transfer Students

    Application Requirements

    An electronic application is required for applicants who currently attend an exam high school and want to transfer to another. A new examination will not be required. As with all transfer applications, admission is subject to availability of seats at the desired grade level. 

    Eligibility

    • Eligible students must have been admitted as an exam high school student and have attended for a full school year. Applications from current 9th grade exam school students will be accepted during Round 1, but will not be reviewed until after the completion of the third quarter of the academic year. 
    • Students must be in good standing at their current school. Their GPA should be at least 2.5 and they should not be at risk of dismissal due to attendance or behavior. 
    • Students who were previously dismissed must reapply for admission no earlier than a year after they were dismissed.

    Application Requirements
    Applicants are asked to state why they are interested in transferring. 
    Academic records and a new exam are required.

  • The applicant's grade point average (GPA) is a critical part of the application. We require two full years of academic records from all applicants. 

    Students who Attend DPSCD

    Applicants who currently attend a DPSCD school and have continuously attended school in DPSCD for at least 2 years will be required to enter their DPSCD Student ID. This is the number you use to log into Clever and other learning tools. You can find your ID number on your report card and in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. The Student ID number will be used to access student academic transcripts and GPA. You will not be required to upload any academic records.

    If you recently transferred to DPSCD and attended a DPSCD school for less than 2 full school years, please submit a transcript or report card for the years you did not attend a DPSCD school. Please refer to the submission requirements under the Non-DPSCD Current High School Students section.  

    Students Who Do Not attend DPSCD

    Applicants who currently attend a high school outside of Detroit Public Schools Community District are required to submit a transcript showing their Cumulative Grade Point Average. Report cards will be accepted from students who are currently in 9th and 10th grade, though 10th grade students must also supply a transcript for 9th grade. All other students must provide a high school transcript and, if needed, report cards for any period not included on their high school transcript (eg. the current academic term.)

    Academic Record Requirements

    Transcripts must clearly display the following information:

    • Student’s Name
    • Student’s Grade Level
    • School Name and Address
    • All Courses and Grades Earned
    • Cumulative Grade Point Average

    Resource: High School Transcript Request Form

    Exam High School Student Requirements

    Examination high school students are required to meet the following expectations to remain in good standing:

    • Maintain a cumulative weighted grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher
    • Earn no more than 9 unexcused absences in a single school year.
    • Maintain fewer disciplinary infractions than outlined below: 
      • Five level A 
      • Two level B 
      • Combination of three level A and one level B 
      • One level C 
      • One level D

    Infraction types are defined in the 2025-26 Student Code of Conduct, which can be found at: detroitk12.org/Page/7751