Maret School Admissions Consulting for Asian American Families
Guidance for Asian American Families Considering a K–12 Independent Day School in Washington, DC
Cardinal Education is an independent educational consulting company. We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any private or public school, including Maret School.
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About the School
Maret School: What Asian American Families Should Know
Federal Private School Survey data reported for the 2021–22 school year put Asian American enrollment at Maret at 13.8%, up from just 1.4% a decade earlier in 2011–12, a genuinely significant shift for a school that reports 55% of its overall student body identifying as students of color. That growth trajectory is worth knowing for Asian American families evaluating DC-area independent schools, since it suggests a community that has substantially diversified over time rather than one with a long-static demographic profile.
Fast Facts
A quick snapshot of Maret admissions for families comparing it against other Washington, DC independent schools:
Location
3000 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Grades Served
K–12 (Lower School K–4, Middle School 5–8, Upper School 9–12)
Total Enrollment
650 students
Students of Color
55% of enrollment
Asian American Enrollment (2021–22)
13.8%
Testing
SSAT, ISEE, or HSPT (Upper School), or an accepted in-school equivalent, required at both Middle and Upper School
Application Deadline
January 6, 2027, 5:00 PM
Community at Maret
Maret’s own materials describe a commitment to building “community that is equitable and inclusive,” and the school’s core values explicitly name Respect and Integrity alongside The Individual and Connectedness. Public materials confirm this institutional commitment and the verified demographic growth above, though Maret’s public pages don’t detail a specific Asian American or AAPI-focused student affinity group. Families who see cultural affinity programming as a priority should ask admissions directly what community-building looks like in practice.
See the Ultimate Admissions Guide for Maret School, linked in the Related Articles section below, for a full walkthrough of the application process and student life.
Navigating an Application Built on More Than a Test Score
A pattern Cardinal Education’s consultants see often with Washington, DC area families coming from academically intensive backgrounds: an instinct to treat Maret’s testing requirement as the whole application. In reality, Maret also requires an original Writing Sample and a substantial Student and Parent/Guardian interview, both of which carry real weight in a file that already includes a required test score. Families accustomed to a numbers-heavy admissions process sometimes under-invest in these two pieces.
Application Requirements at a Glance
Every Maret applicant follows the same core requirements:
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01Testing Policy
Middle School (Grades 5–8) applicants must submit scores from the SSAT, ISEE, or an approved in-school equivalent. Upper School (Grades 9–11) applicants must submit scores from the SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, or an approved in-school equivalent. Students applying for Grades 10–11 may also submit PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores instead.
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02Recommendations
Middle School applicants need recommendations from their Math and English teachers, plus one from a homeroom teacher who knows the student well. Upper School applicants need recommendations from their Math and English/Language Arts teachers. An optional third recommendation is welcome if it provides a unique perspective.
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03Transcripts
You must provide report cards or transcripts for the previous and current school year. These should be sent using the transcript request form located in the Ravenna portal.
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04Interviews
A 45–60 minute interview with the student and parents/guardians is required for all 9th-grade (Upper School) and 6th/7th-grade (Middle School) applicants. For other grades (5th, 8th, and 10th–12th), the admissions office will reach out to schedule an interview only if a spot becomes available.
“Cardinal’s support with the SSAT and writing sample was so helpful for our daughter’s Maret application. From building a study plan for the test to helping her find her voice on the page, they helped her enter the process feeling calm and prepared rather than scared. Grateful and would certainly recommend!”— Parent From Maret School
How We Help Asian American Families Get Into Maret
Our consultants often see a pattern in Writing Sample and interview coaching with high-achieving families: a strong pull toward emphasizing test scores and academic achievements rather than letting a student’s genuine voice come through in the Writing Sample. Cardinal Education helps families prepare a Writing Sample and interview presentation that reflects who a student actually is, not just what they’ve accomplished.
For the full picture of Maret’s admissions process and student life, see our main Maret School admissions guide. See our Private School Admissions Consulting page for more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the Asian American population at Maret School?
Does Maret School have an Asian American or AAPI student affinity group?
Is standardized testing required at Maret School?
What is the Malone Schools Online Network?
How diverse is Maret School overall?
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