Maret School Admissions Consulting
A K–12 Independent Day School in Washington, DC, Founded in 1911 on the Same Cathedral Avenue Campus
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.
As Seen On
About the School
About Maret School
Maret School is a private, non-sectarian, K–12 independent day school in Washington, DC, founded in 1911 by three immigrant sisters, Marthe, Louise, and Jeanne Maret, and serving students on the same Cathedral Avenue campus for over a century. Maret’s motto, Noscere Vivere Est (“To Learn Is to Live”), anchors its four core values: Respect and Integrity, Excellence and Creativity, The Individual and Connectedness, and Joy. Maret is one of only 28 schools nationally, and the only one in Washington, DC, in the Malone Schools Online Network (MSON), a selective consortium offering advanced seminar courses beyond a single school’s own catalog.
Fast Facts
Location
3000 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Type
Private, Independent, Non-sectarian, Day School, K–12
Grades
Lower School K–4, Middle School 5–8, Upper School 9–12
Enrollment
650 total (Middle School 200; Upper School 320)
College Enrollment
100% four-year matriculation rate
Application Deadline
January 6, 2027, 5:00 PM (Middle and Upper School)
Beyond the Numbers
The following data provides a snapshot of the upper school’s profile, including testing metrics, student demographics, and institutional credentials:
Student-Teacher Ratio
6:1
Faculty with Advanced Degrees
More than 70%
Class of 2026 Test Scores
SAT 1327 average; ACT 30.3 average
Class of 2025 Test Scores
SAT 1369 average; ACT 32.0 average
Sports Offered
13 sports, 42 teams
Student Demographics
55% identify as students of color
Accreditation
AIMS accredited; NAIS and AISGW member
Maret’s 13 sports and 42 teams span both the MAC and ISL athletic conferences, giving Upper School athletes a genuinely competitive slate.
See our companion piece for Asian American applicants if you’d like Maret School-specific guidance for Asian American families.
Maret School’s Admissions Calendar and Events
Maret strongly encourages every family to attend either an in-person campus tour or a virtual information session before applying:
Application Deadline
January 6, 2027, 5:00 PM (Middle and Upper School)
Recommendations and Supplemental Materials Due
January 15, 2027, 5:00 PM
Admission Decisions Emailed
February 26, 2027
Annual Open House
Sunday, December 6, 2026 (all families welcome; meet students, faculty, coaches, and parents)
Virtual Information Sessions
Monthly, September–December 2026 (open to all families)
4th Grade Campus Tour
September 12 and 26, 2026, 9:00 AM (for rising Lower School families)
Upper School Spring Tours
April–May 2027 (for rising 9th-grade and current 7th-grade families planning ahead)
What Makes Maret’s Admissions Process Unique?
Maret requires standardized testing at both the Middle and Upper School levels, but builds in real flexibility: applicants can submit the SSAT, ISEE, or, for Middle School and some Upper School grades, an accepted in-school-administered equivalent (ERB, MAP, SOL, Stanford, IOWA, CTP, PARC, or CAPE). Grade 10–11 Upper School applicants may also submit PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores in place of the SSAT or ISEE. Every applicant also submits an original Writing Sample, up to one page, responding to a prompt on the application itself.
Top Tips for Applying
- Confirm which testing path applies to your child’s grade; Maret’s requirement differs by grade level and accepts several in-school equivalents.
- Draft the Writing Sample thoughtfully; it’s the primary student-authored piece in the entire file.
- Schedule the required Student and Parent/Guardian Interview as early as possible; it must be completed by the January 6 deadline.
Best Practices for Families
- Attend the Open House or a virtual information session before finalizing your application.
- Arrange your two required teacher recommendations (Math and English/Language Arts) well before the January 15 supplemental deadline.
- If applying for a competitive re-entry grade (5th, 8th, or 10th–12th), know that Maret only reaches out for an interview if space becomes available.
What the Maret School Application Requires
To apply to Maret School, you will need to submit the following:
-
01Testing Policy
Middle School (Grades 5–8) applicants submit the SSAT or ISEE, or an accepted in-school-administered equivalent. Upper School (Grades 9–11) applicants submit the SSAT, ISEE, or HSPT, or an accepted in-school equivalent; Grades 10–11 applicants may also submit PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores in place of the SSAT or ISEE.
-
02Recommendations
Middle School applicants need Math and English teacher recommendations, plus one additional recommendation from a homeroom teacher with direct experience of the child. Upper School applicants need Math and English/Language Arts teacher recommendations, plus an optional third recommendation only if it adds a genuinely new dimension.
-
03Transcripts
A report card or transcript is required from both the previous and current school year, sent directly through the transcript request form link in Ravenna.
-
04Interviews
A required Student and Parent/Guardian interview, roughly 45 to 60 minutes total, is required for 9th grade (Upper School) and 6th/7th grade (Middle School) applicants. For 5th, 8th, and 10th–12th grade openings, Maret’s admission office reaches out to schedule an interview only if space 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 Cardinal Education Helps Families Get Into Maret School
Because Maret combines a flexible testing policy with a required Writing Sample and a substantial family interview, the strength of an application often comes down to how well a family presents itself beyond the numbers.
Cardinal Education’s consultants help families choose the right testing path, prepare a genuinely strong Writing Sample, and get ready for the Student and Parent/Guardian interview. See our Private School Admissions Consulting page for the full picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maret School require standardized testing?
What is the Malone Schools Online Network?
What is Maret School’s acceptance rate?
How big is the Asian American population at Maret School?
Is an interview required to apply to Maret?
Considering Maret School?
Our consultants help families navigate private school admissions with clarity and confidence.