Examination High Schools

Our Examination High Schools

Detroit Public Schools Community District offers enrollment in five examination high schools that offer rigorous college and career preparation. Admission to these programs is competitive and requires an online application and exam for admission consideration.

Entering 9th Grade

For students who are currently enrolled in 8th grade and are seeking high school admission for next Fall.

Transferring to Exam

For students already enrolled in a DPSCD high school who are seeking a transfer into an exam high school. Includes neighborhood students attending King and Southeastern.

Transferring Between

For students already enrolled in an exam high school who are seeking a transfer to a different exam high school.

Submit your application

The application cycle for Fall 2026 admission has closed and there are no additional exam opportunities. The next opportunity to apply and take the admission exam will be in Fall 2026 for admission in 2027. To receive information about admission for 2027, please complete the Interest Survey.

Our Examination High Schools

A green and white stylized letter "C" against a white background with faint grid-like lines.

Cass Technical High School (opens in new window/tab)

Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School (opens in new window/tab)

Renaissance High School (opens in new window/tab)

Southeastern High School (opens in new window/tab)

The image depicts a circular emblem featuring a stylized castle or palace-like structure in the center, surrounded by a navy blue border. The castle is rendered in a minimalist, geometric style with yellow accents. The text "EST. 2019" is displayed below the central structure, and the text "THE SCHOOL AT MARYGROVE" is shown below that.

The School at Marygrove (opens in new window/tab)

Application Assistance

Detroit Public Schools Community District offers safe, convenient support for families who need assistance completing the examination high school application. Our offerings include in-person and virtual support via webinars, phone/video/in-person 1:1 appointments, open houses, and office hours. Application support will resume in Fall 2026 during the application window.

Phone and Video Application Assistance
In-Person Assistance

Phone and Video Application Assistance

Make a 15-minute or 30-minute appointment to receive one-on-one assistance with your application. Trained support team members will be available via phone or Microsoft Teams video conference. Sessions are offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays through May 1, 2026.

2026 Support Schedule
Tuesdays	5 – 7 p.m.
Thursdays	9 – 11 a.m.
Fridays	5 – 7 p.m.

Make an Appointment

In-Person Assistance

Make a 30-minute appointment to receive one-on-one assistance in a safe environment. Participants will have access to a computer and printer/scanner so they can complete the application on-site. Two guests per party, please, capacity will be limited. Make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

Location	Date & Time
East English Village Preparatory Academy 5020 Cadieux Detroit, MI 48224	Saturday, April 11 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Location

Date & Time

East English Village Preparatory Academy
5020 Cadieux
Detroit, MI 48224

Saturday, April 11

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Let's Talk

Have a question or want to contact the Selective Admissions Team?

Taking the Exam

About the Exam

All examination high school applicants are required to take the High School Placement Test (HSPT) for admission consideration. The exam, which covers Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Science, may only be taken once per application cycle. This means students who take the test in November or December may not take it again in the Spring. The duration of the exam is about 2 hours and 25 minutes. Students can expect to be on site for about 3-3.5 hours. Students with extended time accommodations, as outlined in their IEP, NPSP or 504 Plan can expect to be on site for 4-5 hours. The exam is administered using paper and pencil. Students are allowed to bring a snack. This is strongly recommended for students who will have extended time on the exam.

Current DPSCD 8th Grade Students

The test window for eighth graders who attend Detroit Public Schools Community District will be November 11-14, 2025.Your student's school will provide details before the exam. District students must complete the application to be considered for admission. Students who enroll in the district after the application deadline may apply during Round 2 of the application cycle, which will begin in spring 2026.

Out-of-District Students and Current District High School Students

Students who do not attend a District school or who are already in high school must apply in order to be scheduled for testing. The exam dates will be in November and December. Applicants will select their preferred exam date as part of the application. Students who want to transfer for a January 2026 start must take the High School Placement Test no later than December 6, 2025.

An email confirmation that contains the student's designated arrival time will be sent to the email address that was used to submit the application in Submittable at least 3 days before the exam.

If you don’t get a confirmation email after submitting your application, immediately contact DPSCD Selective Admissions, exam.schools@detroitk12.org or (313) 873-6345.

Exceptional / Special Education Students

Students who have Individualized Education Plans (IEP), 504 Plans, or Non-Public Service Plans (for applicants who attend a private school) must upload their IEP, 504 or Non-Public Service Plan as part of their application. Please be sure to submit the complete document.

Students whose IEPs/NPSPs/504 Plans identify accommodations will be given the applicable accommodations identified. Please note that not all plans will indicate that students should receive accommodations.

Students who qualify for extended time should be prepared for a longer day. Breaks, snacks and water will be provided. Students may also bring their own snacks and water.

Have questions? Please email exam.schools@detroitk12.org.

English Language Learners / Multi-Lingual Learners

Accommodations for the exam will be provided to eligible students who are multilingual learners or newcomers.

Applicants who do not attend a District school will be asked to upload their most recent WIDA scores if they earned less than a 2.9 overall or on the language portions of their most recent WIDA test. Students may also be asked to provide additional information.

Students Who May Be Exempt from Testing

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.

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

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. 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. 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 required to apply and take the exam to gain re-admittance. They must attend another school for at least one (1) full school year before they can be considered for readmission.

Examination Procedures (Non-DPSCD/Current High School Students)

Signing in and signing out

For students testing on out-of-district/ high school days, sign-in and sign-out will be a paperless process. Students may sign themselves in, but will not be allowed to leave the building unaccompanied after their exam without a consent form signed by a parent/guardian. Consent forms will be available at the test location. It may also be downloaded and brought in on the day of the exam. The form is only required if the student is leaving on their own (eg. via Uber/Lyft, bus, taxi, etc.)

Download the consent form

All students under 18 must be checked out by an adult, such as a parent, guardian, or designated adult. They will not be allowed to leave unaccompanied after their exam. Please make arrangements for pickup. Students can expect to spend about 3.5 hours from the time they arrive until the time they are done. Students are allowed to call or text their ride once the exam is over and phones have been returned to students.

If the student's IEP/NPSP/504 Plan requires them to have extra time, you will need to plan for them to be on-site for up to five hours.

Test duration

Students can expect to be on-site for about three and a half (3.5) hours. Please be sure your student is well-rested and has a nutritious meal before arriving. You may send your student with water and a snack if they will need one. Be sure to arrive on time for pickup no later than 3.5 hours after drop-off, unless your student has extended time.

Electronic Devices

Students must turn in cell phones at the door. Electronic devices are not allowed inside the exam room. Students may turn in their electronic devices, and they will be securely stored during testing. They will be labeled and stored in an individual storage bag during testing. They can retrieve their electronic device after completing the exam.

If your student is found with an electronic device, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches at any time during testing or during breaks, his or her test section will be invalidated and the student will not be eligible for admission for the coming year.

Pencils and Scratch Paper

Pencils and scratch paper will be provided, though students may bring their own pencils if they would like.

Dismissal

After the exam, all individuals who are picking up students will be required to complete a brief electronic survey providing the name of the student(s) they are collecting, the respondent's name, and their cell phone number. Students will be released from the building after completing the exam. Please note that students arrive on a rolling basis and will be dismissed on a rolling basis as exams are completed.

Leaving Campus

If the student leaves campus before completing a test section (for an appointment, illness, etc.), they will not be allowed to complete that test section.

Illness or Emergency

If there is a family emergency or if your student does not feel well on the day of testing, it may be best to reschedule for the next test date provided by the district. You must submit a request by completing this survey within 72 hours of missing the exam.

Alternate Exam Dates

In some instances, an alternate test date may be provided if the student has a religious objection to the dates provided, or can provide documentation that they are unable to participate on any of the provided dates.

An alternate date must immediately be requested by completing this survey. We must have an application on file in order to facilitate a request for an alternate exam date.

Exam Scoring

Test-Taking Tips

Listen to and read the directions for each subtest carefully.
Pace yourself – Time limits are set for each subtest. The test administrators should announce when time is halfway through so you can determine if you are working at a pace that will enable you to finish. Try not to spend too much time on one item.
Read each question carefully.
Work out the problem – Calculators are not permitted for the Mathematics subtest. You may use scratch paper or your test booklet to do any figuring.
Answer every question – If you are unsure of an answer, take your best guess. Your score is determined by the number of items you answer correctly; there is no penalty for answering incorrectly.
Check your work – If there is time left, go back and review your answers. Check to make sure each item has only one response. Throughout the test, continuously check that the answer you are marking on your answer sheet corresponds to the item number in the test booklet.

Source: High School Placement Test

Calendar

9th Grade Petitions

2026 Examination High School Petitions

Current 8th-grade students who applied to an examination high school and took the exam, but did not receive their desired placement, may petition for admission consideration. Formerly called appeals, the petition process allows students to apply for reconsideration of their school assignment or denial of admission. There is no opportunity to petition admission decisions for students beyond 8th grade.

Applicants may submit one petition to seek admission for up to five schools, which the applicant must rank in order of desire to attend. Each ranked school will review the admission and decide whether to admit the student. School decisions are final. If accepted, students will receive one placement - the highest-ranked school that offers them admission. Students who receive a placement in one school and petition to another school will not lose their original placement unless they are accepted to another school via the petition process.

Petition deadlines are strictly followed. Round 1 petition applications submitted after the deadline will be considered in Round 2, after Round 2 placement decisions have been made.

For fall 2026 admission, the key petition dates are:

Round 1

Petition Window Opens: 9 a.m. Friday, January 30, 2026
Petition Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Thursday, February 12
Reference Form Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Friday, February 20
This is the deadline for recommenders to submit. This only applies if the applicant sends an electronic form.
Petition Decisions: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 25

Round 2

Petition Window Opens: 6 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2026
Petition Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 14
Reference Form Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 16
This is the deadline for recommenders to submit. This only applies if the applicant sends an electronic form.
Petition Decisions: 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 30

About the Petition Process

Petition Requirements Overview

Petition Applicants must submit the following:

A student-authored essay about why they should be admitted
Two (2) letters of recommendation
Either a third letter of recommendation or an artifact that supports their persuasive argument for admission. Artifacts can include photos or videos highlighting the student's achievements.
Optional: An updated report card. (This is strongly recommended.)

How to retrieve your Petition Form

Petition Application Forms will be sent via Submittable and email on Friday January 30 to qualified Round 1 applicants (all students who took the exam).

To retrieve your Petition Application, please follow these steps:
1. Log into your Submittable account by clicking the "View Application" button in your email or login here.
2. This should route you to your Submissions page, where you will see the student's full name at the top of the page
3. Click on the "Forms" tab and select “Open.”
4. Complete the application requirements
5. Important: Click "Submit" when complete

If you don't see the "Petition Form" tab:
1. Click "Submissions" from the top menu
2. Under the tab "All Submissions," click on your name
3. Follow the instructions above

Petition Requirement Details

Essay

Please submit an essay written by the applicant. The essay must answer the question: "Why are you a strong candidate for the school(s) you have selected?"

The essay may be typed directly into the form field or copied and passed from a separate document. Please do not submit links. The limit is 750 words.

Essay Tip: Do not submit the same essay you submitted with the original application and write to your audience. Review the application data that will be sent to you via Submittable before the petition window opens. Be aware of possible reasons for not getting accepted (low GPA or test score, low essay score, etc.)

Letters of recommendation:

Applicants are required to submit at least two (2) letters of recommendation.

The petition form will ask the applicant to either upload a pre-written letter or enter the email address of each recommender, who will be sent the reference form and instructions for providing a letter. Recommenders who receive the email request will be required to fill out an online form and upload or type in a letter in a letter of recommendation on behalf of the applicant.

Recommendations may come from teachers, school administrators, coaches, mentors, clergy, community members, etc. Family members may not submit recommendations on behalf of students. One letter of recommendation should be from a teacher in a core academic subject area.

Recommendation Tip:
Be sure to notify your reference in advance and follow up with them to ensure they submit the form. Visit for instructions on how to look at whether your reference has submitted the form on your behalf.

Optional third letter or artifact

Applicants may upload a third letter of recommendation or an artifact that supports their petition application.

An artifact can include an updated report card, a writing sample, artwork, photographs, or another artifact that demonstrates why they should be considered for admission to an examination high school.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I petition even if I was accepted to an exam school.
Yes, you may submit a petition application. Do not include the school to which you were already accepted. If your petition is denied, your original acceptance will still stand (as long as you enroll by the deadline). Acceptance will be granted to only one school – the highest ranked school that extends an offer of admission.

Can I petition even if I got into my first-choice school?
Yes. You may petition to any school for which you did not receive a placement.

Who makes decisions on petitions?
Examination high school leadership teams review and decide on petition applications. Their decision is final. If you do not receive placement in an examination school, contact the Office of Enrollment to request support with finding an alternate school placement. Options include our application high schools and Detroit School of Arts.

May I petition to more than one exam high school?
You may petition up to five exam high schools; however, you may only submit one petition application. Your materials will be viewed by all schools to which you are petitioning.

I haven't submitted an application or taken the test. Can I petition to get into a school?
No. Students who missed the Round 1 application window may complete an interest survey to share their contact information so we may keep you updated on the next window, which will open noon Monday February 23, 2026. Students who applied in Round 1, but did not take the exam may take the exam during Round 2.

I didn't score as well as I would like. Can I take the exam again?
No. Applicants may take the admissions exam once per annual application cycle.

When will I be notified of the final decision?
Round 1 petition applicants will receive a decision after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25. Results will be sent via Submittable. You may log into your Submittable account or check your email associated with your Submittable account. Please be sure to look in your junk or spam inbox.

May I petition to a school that I ranked lower on my application than the one that I was placed in?
If you are seeking to transfer to a school that you ranked lower on your application than the one to which you were admitted, you may petition. The school you are requesting to transfer will review your application to determine if they want to offer a seat. Factors may include the number of seats available at the grade you want to transfer into. Please email the Admissions Office at exam.schools@detroitk12.org, for more information.

I applied during Round 1, but I missed the petition window. Can I petition during the 2nd round?

Yes, if you miss the Round 1 petition, you will receive a petition form for Round 2. We do not recommend missing this, as there is very limited availability of seats during the Round 2 petition.

If I submitted a Petition Application Form during Round 1; can I submit another one during the Round 2 window?

Applicants may only submit one petition to seek admission to an Examination High School. Please select all schools in which you may be reasonably interested in attending.

Can I submit another Petition Application Form during the 2nd round if I did not rank the high school on the first Petition Application Form?

Yes, but include ONLY that school on your Round 2 petition application. The application will not be sent to any school to which you already petitioned in Round 1.

Phone and Video Assistance

Make a 15-minute or 30-minute appointment to receive one-on-one assistance with your application. Trained support team members will be available via phone or Microsoft Teams video conference. Sessions are available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays through May 1, 2026.

2026 Support Schedule
Tuesdays	5 – 7 p.m.
Thursdays	9 – 11 a.m.
Fridays	5 – 7 p.m.

Make an Appointment