FACE it: Understanding the School Selection Process
We know that the School Selection Process can seem a bit intimidating and confusing – but it’s really not! The FACE Office and Office of Student Enrollment and Placement are here to help you.
The School Selection Process is for students and families who wish to apply to special admission, citywide admission, and out-of-boundary schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Students who will be in grades kindergarten-12 in the 2017-2018 school year are encouraged to apply. The online application for the 2017-2018 school year is now available, and the School District of Philadelphia will be accepting online applications for the School Selection Process from September 29 to November 14, 2016 at 5:00pm.
STEPS FOR SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
Go to schoolselect.philasd.org.
Select the button that applies to the student: either “Current District Student” or “Non-District Student.”
Fill out and submit your application online:
For Current District Students, there are two ways to submit applications:
Through the Student Portal: You will need the student’s ID number and password.
Through the Parent and Family Portal: Parents will need to register for a portal account in order to be able to access the school selection application.
Notes:
Students and families will be able to make changes to the application until 5:00pm on November 14.
The School District will use the last modification made to a student’s application.
All notifications will be displayed through the Student and Parent Portals, including school determinations (Approval, Disapproval, and Waitlist statuses).
For Non-District Students:
Complete the application.
Once an application is submitted, it cannot be modified. Please be sure all information is correct and accurate before hitting the submit button.
If additional applications are submitted for the same student, the School District will use the last application submitted. All previous applications will be deleted.
Non-School District of Philadelphia applicants must provide the Student Data Transcript and copies of complete previous year Academic Records to all criteria-based High Schools. See website for specific information.
All notifications will be sent to the email address provided, including school determinations (Approval, Disapproval, and Waitlist statuses).
SPECIAL & CITYWIDE ADMISSION ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Special Admission Middle Schools:
Academy for the Middle Years (AMY) Northwest (Grades 6-8)
Andrew Hamilton Achieving in Middle School (AIMS) Magnet Program (Grades 6-8)
Engineering & Science Middle Years Program (Grades 7-8) (Please note: All Engineering & Science Middle Years applicants should select the "Engineering & Science High School" in the drop down list of schools regardless of applying to the middle or high school.)
Conwell Middle Magnet School (Grades 5-8)
Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) (Grades 5-8)
Grover Washington Music Magnet Program (Grades 5-8)
Hill-Freedman World Academy (Grades 6-8)
Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration Middle Magnet School (Grades 5-8) (Please note: All Masterman applicants should select the "Masterman High School" in the drop down list of schools regardless of applying to the middle or high school.)
Citywide Admission Middle and Elementary Schools (No Admissions Criteria – all seats are filled through a random computerized lottery):
AMY at James Martin (Grades 6-8)
Fitler Academics Plus (Grades K through 8)
Kearny Elementary Arts Program (Grades 5-8)
MYA (Middle Years Alternative) (Grades 5-8)
Overbrook Education Center (Grades K through 8)
Science Leadership Academy Middle School (Grade 5 & 6)
For information specific to the High School Selection Process, please see the High School Directory: Fall 2017 Admissions guidebook.
For any further questions about the School Selection Process, please go to the Office of Student Enrollment and Placement’s website (http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/s/student-placement) or email schoolselect@philasd.org.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a Neighborhood School?
A neighborhood school has an attendance boundary which gives admission priority to those students who live within that particular boundary. Students who live within the attendance boundary of a school do not need to submit an application to apply to that school. However, parents must be able to provide appropriate proof of residency for enrollment. Students who live outside of the neighborhood attendance boundary are required to submit an application in order to be considered for acceptance.
What is a City Wide School?
These schools do not have a neighborhood attendance boundary and all students must submit an application to attend, no matter where they live. These are magnet schools offering specialized courses or area of study that may concentrate on academics, career, or technical programs. Admission to citywide admission high schools is based upon some elements of competitive entrance requirements, space availability, and selection by computerized lottery. Admission to citywide admission elementary or middle schools is based upon space availability and selection by computerized lottery.
What is a Special Admission School?
These schools do not have a neighborhood attendance boundary and all students must submit an application to attend, no matter where they live. Special Admission schools are “magnet schools” which offer a rigorous, enriched curriculum and may concentrate on a particular discipline or area of study, such as mathematics, natural sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences, or fine and performing arts. They have competitive entrance requirements related to attendance, punctuality, behavior, grades, and standardized test scores. These schools select and approve for admission those students who best meet its admission criteria. Parents/students should review the set of admissions criteria for each school and the student’s scholastic record prior to applying.
How do I apply for a school of my choice?
The School District of Philadelphia's School Selection Process is now available. Click here to accesses the online application and to review additional information about the process.
How are students selected for admission?
Neighborhood Schools: For students who live outside a school’s attendance area, admission is based upon space availability and selection is made by computerized lottery.
Citywide Admission Schools: Admission into Elementary/Middle School is based upon space availability and selection by the computerized lottery. For High School admission, students who are eligible for the lottery must meet competitive entrance requirements (attendance, punctuality, behavior, and grades). The computerized lottery will then complete the process until all spaces are filled.
Special Admission Schools: These schools have competitive entrance requirements based on attendance, punctuality, behavior, grades, and standardized test scores. Each school’s admissions review team selects and approves students who best meet its admissions criteria.
What school will my child attend if he/she is not selected for admission at any of the requested schools?
If your child is not selected, he/she will remain at the current school. Students who are in exiting grades will be assigned to the feeder/neighborhood school.
Are students guaranteed admission into one of the schools listed on their application?
ALL APPLICANTS MAY NOT BE ADMITTED DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS because of the great number of students who apply. However, to be considered for admission, the parent must complete and submit the appropriate application within the specified time frame.
What is the policy regarding transferring siblings to the same school?
Preference is given to elementary school transfer requests for siblings of a student who is currently enrolled in the requested school (children living in the same household). This is done only if there is available space in the appropriate grade at the requested school. A sibling lottery is conducted to select siblings until all available seats are filled.
Because of the limited number of spaces available and the enormous amount of requests for sibling preference, there is no guarantee that siblings will be placed in the same school.
Returning to My Neighborhood School
Parents are encouraged to maintain their child in the school to which they have transferred. However, if it becomes necessary for a child to return to the neighborhood school, their current school will recommend the child return for the following school year.
STUDENTS ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO TRANSFER TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL WHICH SERVES THEIR ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY OR AS AN OPT-OUT OPTION FOR A RENAISSANCE CHARTER SCHOOL!
The Neighborhood attendance boundary is determined by the legal address of the parent or legal guardian.
Will my child receive transportation if approved through the Elementary/Middle or High School Selection Process?
The School District of Philadelphia is continuing to adjust our services and programs in response to significant reductions in state funding for K-12 education. Beginning in September 2006, several budget decisions resulted in changes to the student transfer transportation practices. Students eligible for free transportation have been categorized in the following ways:
1. Students (grades K-5) who are selected and approved for transfer through the school selection process are no longer eligible to receive transportation services. If your child is selected for a school, he/she will have the option to attend that school, however, the parent/legal guardian will be responsible for the transportation of the student to and from the school daily.
2. Students (grades 6-12) who are selected and approved for transfer through the school selection process are eligible for free tranpasses, if they live one and a half miles or further from their assigned school. The Office Transportation Services will determine those who are eligible to receive free transpasses. If your child is eligible for a free transpass, Transportation Services will send notification by US mail prior to the start of the new school year (usually late August).
For more information, go to the Office of Student Enrollment and Placement's webpage on the School Selection Process: http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/s/student-placement/school-selection-process.
