How to Get Into Maret School: A Complete Admissions Guide for Parents

Brought to you by Cardinal Education, independent admissions consultants for Washington, DC area families.

Quick Answer for Busy Parents

Getting into Maret School means submitting a complete Ravenna application by January 6, 2027, including standardized testing (SSAT, ISEE, or an accepted in-school equivalent), an original Writing Sample, two teacher recommendations, and a report card or transcript from the previous and current school year. A required Student and Parent/Guardian interview applies to 9th grade and 6th/7th grade applicants.

Maret is a K-12 independent day school in Washington, DC, founded in 1911 and serving 650 students on the same Cathedral Avenue campus for over a century. Decisions are emailed on February 26, 2027.

Why Do Families Choose Maret?

Founded in 1911 by three immigrant sisters, Marthe, Louise, and Jeanne Maret, Maret School has served students on the same Cathedral Avenue campus for over a century. The school’s motto, Noscere Vivere Est (“To Learn Is to Live”), anchors 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.

Independent outcomes back up the school’s reputation: Maret reports a 100% four-year college matriculation rate, and Class of 2025 graduates averaged a 1369 SAT and 32.0 ACT composite score.

Academic & Community Snapshot

How Hard Is It to Get Into Maret?

Maret does not publish an official acceptance rate, though third-party aggregator estimates circulate online and should be treated as unofficial. Because Maret requires standardized testing at every grade level but also weighs a required Writing Sample and a substantial family interview, the admissions committee is evaluating far more than a test score alone. Families researching similarly positioned Washington, DC independent schools frequently also consider Sidwell Friends School, Georgetown Day School, and National Cathedral School.

What the Admissions Committee Weighs

• Standardized test scores (SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, or an accepted in-school equivalent)
• The required Writing Sample
• Two teacher recommendations (Math and English/Language Arts)
• The Student and Parent/Guardian interview (required for 9th grade and 6th/7th grade applicants)

Top Tips for Maret Applicants

• Confirm which testing path applies to your child’s grade; Maret’s requirements and accepted alternatives differ by grade level.
• Treat the Writing Sample as seriously as any essay; it’s the primary student-authored piece in the file.
• Schedule the required interview as early as possible; it must be completed by the January 6 deadline.

The Maret School Admission Process

1. Create a Ravenna Account: Set up your account to begin the application.
2. Attend a Tour or Virtual Info Session: Strongly encouraged; choose an in-person campus tour or a virtual information session.
3. Complete the Required Interview: Schedule the Student and Parent/Guardian interview, roughly 45 to 60 minutes total, by the January 6 deadline.
4. Submit a Writing Sample: An original response, up to one page, based on a prompt on the application.
5. Arrange Teacher Recommendations: Math and English/Language Arts recommendations are required, plus an optional additional recommendation.
6. Submit Testing: SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, or an accepted in-school-administered equivalent, depending on grade.
7. Submit Transcript and Report Card: From both the previous and current school year, via Ravenna.

Maret School’s Admissions Calendar and Key Dates

• 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

Maret strongly encourages every family to attend either an in-person campus tour or a virtual information session before applying:

Maret School Application Requirements

Testing

Middle School (Grades 5-8) applicants must submit the SSAT, ISEE, or an accepted in-school equivalent (ERB, MAP, SOL, Stanford, IOWA, CTP, PARC, or CAPE). Upper School (Grades 9-11) applicants must submit the SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, or an accepted in-school equivalent; Grades 10-11 applicants may also submit PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores.

Because standardized test scores are a required component of the Maret application, many families utilize a diagnostic assessment to determine their child’s baseline performance. These assessments help identify academic strengths and areas for improvement, providing clarity on which test format is the best fit.

Writing Sample

Every applicant submits an original writing sample, up to one page, based on one of two prompts included on the application. No separate parent essay is required.

The writing sample offers insight into your child’s unique perspective. Admissions officers value authentic, student-led narratives over overly polished responses. To develop the confidence and spontaneity needed for these prompts, many students find our dedicated Program in Writing and Reading helpful. It allows them to refine their voice well before the application process.

Recommendations

Applicants at different levels are required to submit LORs.

Recommendation letters are a vital opportunity to highlight the unique personality and character behind the numbers. Our consultants help students secure distinctive, glowing reviews from teachers and principals that leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

Transcripts

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.

Because your transcript is a key indicator of academic consistency, showcasing steady growth and intellectual curiosity is vital for a competitive application. Starting private school admissions consulting early can help you reach these goals. We offer tutoring in core subjects, available in-person or online, to boost grades, while our academic coaching helps students develop the time management and study strategies needed to thrive in a challenging curriculum.

Interviews

A Student and Parent/Guardian interview (roughly 45 to 60 minutes) is mandatory for 9th grade and 6th/7th grade applicants, conducted via Zoom or in person.

The interview is a key opportunity to demonstrate how well you align with Maret’s culture and values. You will be asked about your background, experiences, interests, and goals, as well as the reasons why you want to study there. Your answers should be truthful and interesting. Personal anecdotes will be really helpful because they will give admissions officers a glimpse of you that is not in your application.

Be direct and concise in your responses, ensuring you fully address the question asked. Practice, practice, practice.

Applying to Maret? Get Every Piece Right.

With a required Writing Sample and a substantial family interview alongside standardized testing, a coordinated strategy matters. Cardinal Education helps families manage every piece of the Maret application.

Schedule a Consultation

Student Life at Maret School

Academics

Maret’s curriculum spans Humanities, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Science, Technology/Computer Science, Visual Art, and World Languages (Arabic, Chinese, Classics, French, and Spanish). Motivated Upper School students can also take advanced seminar courses through the Malone Schools Online Network. See Inside the Malone Schools Online Network: Maret’s Rare National Classroom for the full picture.

Activities and Community

Maret’s traditions include Homecoming, the Fête de Champêtre, Spring Fling, and Faculty Fun Day, alongside affinity groups including the Black Student Union. See Three Sisters, One School: The Founding Story Behind Maret for more on the community’s roots.

Athletics

Maret fields 13 sports across 42 teams, competing in the MAC conference (boys) and ISL conference (girls): baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, Ultimate Frisbee, and volleyball.

Arts

Maret’s Performing Arts and Visual Art programs run alongside its academic departments, giving students in every division a chance to perform or exhibit their work.

Notable Maret School Alumni

Maret’s own alumni network reflects the same breadth as its curriculum, spanning the arts, public policy, and academics:

1. Ethan Michel (Class of 2026): Named a 2026 Milken Scholar, one of just five students selected from Washington, DC, recognized for academic excellence, leadership, and community service; heading to Yale University to study ethics, politics, and economics.
2. Stephen Belber (Class of 1985): Playwright and screenwriter, recipient of Maret’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award.
3. Cyrus Beschloss (Class of 2015): Recipient of Maret’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award.

“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

Getting Into Maret: What Actually Matters

Maret’s admissions process combines a genuine testing requirement with a required Writing Sample and a substantial family interview, meaning no single piece of the file can carry an application on its own.

That makes the Writing Sample and the family’s presentation during the interview the levers a family can most directly control. Getting those pieces right, and getting them in ahead of the January 6 deadline, is where Cardinal Education’s consultants add the most value.

For families focused on Asian American applicants, a separate guide covers Maret’s admissions specifically with Asian American families in mind.

Start Your Maret School Application With a Plan

Cardinal Education helps families prepare a strong Writing Sample and get ready for the Student and Parent/Guardian interview.

Schedule a Consultation

Related Articles:
Inside the Malone Schools Online Network: Maret’s Rare National Classroom
Three Sisters, One School: The Founding Story Behind Maret

Frequently Asked Questions