Student Enrollment & Placement
Support for K-12 children and families with enrollment, registration, and school placement in the District.
New Student Registration
Registration is for students of all grades (K-12) entering the District for the first time and/or are coming to the District from a different school district.
The School District of Philadelphia offers two ways to register their children in school:
- Option 1:
Register using the Online Registration (OLR). The OLR allows families to complete the enrollment process online, from wherever they have access to the internet. Before starting this process, we encourage families to follow all instructions (see below!) carefully and have all of the proper documents in electronic format.
- Option 2:
Register using the paper application at the school connecting to the home address (their “catchment” school). Families are encouraged to first, contact their catchment school to see if an appointment is necessary. You must bring the required enrollment documents when registering your child in-person (see Step 2 below: proof of child’s age, immunization record, and proofs of residency).
Ready to get started? Let’s register!
Registering online is easy but does require a number of steps, and a number of documents you’ll need to provide. Be prepared to spend 15 minutes to a half-hour filling out the form online, plus whatever time you’ll need to collect and prepare the documents we’ll need. If you’re registering in person, please collect the required documents listed in step 2.
Locate Your Catchment School
Use our online map to find your school, based on your address.
Gather Your Documents
- Birth Certificate for child/children
- Immunization/Shot Records for child/children
- Valid Proofs of Residency
Required Proof of Residence
- All new enrollments require a deed, mortgage statement, or a complete and fully executed current lease and one (1) other approved residency document.
- If a deed, mortgage statement or lease cannot be provided, three (3) forms of approved residency documents are required.
You can view the list of approved residency documentation here.
ATTENTION: The application has changed. Updated steppers and videos coming soon – use the materials below for reference until new videos are released, Spring 2025.
Video 1: Logging on and Getting Started
Video 2: Adding Household Information
Video 3: Adding an Emergency Contact
Video 4: Adding Student Information
Video 5: Resubmitting an Application
Video 6: Adding a Parent at a Different Address
Scanning a Document Using an iPhone
Scanning a Document Using an Android Device
Kindergarten Registration
PLEASE NOTE: Students must be 5 years of age on or before September 1st to start Kindergarten. If your student is younger, consider one of the many Pre-K options also open for enrollment!
School Selection
This process allows students currently in pre-kindergarten through 11th grade to apply to attend any school with available space outside of their neighborhood or catchment area.
Renaissance Charter Schools are Philadelphia public schools that have an attendance boundary but are managed by a Charter company.
If you are finding that your neighborhood school is one of our Charter schools, your school is a “Renaissance Charter School”. You have the option of having your child attend this school, or, having your child reassigned into a District School if the Renaissance Charter school connecting to your home address does not have an available seat for your child.
Renaissance Charter Schools operate like normal neighborhood schools in our District. To enroll your child into one of these schools, families are encouraged to contact the Charter school directly.
If, however, you need help finding a different school, because the Charter School connecting to your home address does not have available space, we can help. We can get your child registered in a School District of Philadelphia school. Simply access the Renaissance Charter Reassignment Form and let us find the next available school for your child.
Want to learn more about Renaissance Charter Schools? Read more about the Renaissance Charter Initiative.
What is a Renaissance Charter School?
A Renaissance Charter School is a neighborhood school that is operated as a public charter school and can only enroll students from the neighborhood, also known as a catchment zone.
What if I don’t want my child to attend a charter school?
You may opt out of a Renaissance Charter School. The Office of Student Enrollment and Placement works with families to find a nearby district school with available space in the student’s grade level and with the student’s academic support program (special education, ESOL, behavioral health, etc.), if applicable.
What if my Renaissance Charter School is full?
Renaissance Charter Schools have enrollment limits and, sometimes, schools reach this limit before all interested families can enroll their children. If this is the case, The Office of Student Enrollment and Placement will work with your family to find a nearby district school with available space in the student’s grade level and with the student’s academic support program (special education, ESOL, behavioral health, etc.), if applicable. If interested, families can apply and be placed on the school’s waiting list.
Ready to find another school?
The Office of Student Enrollment and Placement is eager to work with families to find a Philadelphia School District school. You will be able to make a request to have your student assigned to school. Before completing this application, please ensure you have the following:
- Parent/guardian’s photo ID
- Name and date of birth of student/s
- Required Proof of Residence
- All new enrollments require a deed, mortgage statement, or a complete and fully executed current lease and one (1) other approved residency document.
- If a deed, mortgage statement or lease cannot be provided, three (3) forms of approved residency documents are required.
You can view the list of approved residency documentation here.
To enroll in the Renaissance Charter school that is your catchment school, you must contact the charter school directly.
Please be aware that if your student is brand new to Philadelphia, there will be additional paperwork needed to complete registration.
Please click here to begin the request process.
Transfer Requests
If you have moved to a new address, and would like your student transferred to their new catchment school, please follow the steps below:
- Use our online map to find your school, based on your address by clicking HERE.
- Take the required residency documentation for your new home address to your student’s new catchment school.
- If your new catchment school is a “Renaissance Charter School”, you have the option of having your child enrolled in this school or a District catchment school. If you would like to make a request to have your student assigned to a District catchment school, please email osep@philasd.org and include the following:
- Parent/guardian’s photo ID
- Name and date of birth of student/s
- Required Proof of Residence:
- All new enrollments require a deed, mortgage statement, or a complete and fully executed current lease and one (1) other approved residency document.
- If a deed, mortgage statement or lease cannot be provided, three (3) forms of approved residency documents are required.
You can view the list of approved residency documentation here.
To enroll in the Renaissance Charter school that is your catchment school, you must contact the charter school directly.
Withdrawal Requests
If your child will no longer attend a School District of Philadelphia school, parents must provide written documentation to formally request a withdrawal. In accordance with District Policy 208 which states, “no student of compulsory school age shall be permitted to withdraw without the written consent of a person in parental relation and supporting documentation,” the following must be submitted to your student’s current District school or to the Office of Student Enrollment and Placement (OSEP) to have your student withdrawn from the School District of Philadelphia:
- A completed withdrawal form that can be found HERE.
- Proof that your student has been enrolled in another school. The list of documents that are accepted to prove that your student has been enrolled in another school are listed below:
- Enrollment application from the non-District school
- Confirmation of enrollment from the school on the school’s letterhead
- Welcome letter from the school
- Copy of the plane ticket in student’s name if the student is enrolling in a school that is out of the country
- Signed records request from the new school that the student will be attending
Once you have these documents, they should be submitted directly to your students’ current District school, or to OSEP at osep@philasd.org.
2025-2026 Timeline
- September 13th at 4 pm: Application OPENS
- September – October: Application Labs for students and families; office hours for counselors and school staff
- October 23rd at 11:59 pm: Application CLOSES
- November 27th at 5pm: Preliminary Eligibility Released to Applicants
- November 27 at 5pm – December 6 at 5pm: Appeal window OPENS and CLOSES
(NOTE: Applicants with a documented barrier who received an ineligible status may now submit their appeals until Tuesday, Dec 17th, 2024, at 5:00 pm EST)
- December 2, 2024 – January 15, 2025: Individualized reviews; Auditions and project-based presentations; Appeals reviewed
- January 20th: Final eligibility released
- January 31st: Lottery results will be released; Offers made & Acceptances begin
- February 5: Selection Closed
- February 6: Weekly waitlist offers begin
Important Terms and Related Forms
- Parental Delegation
A parental delegation is a formal document where a parent/legal guardian gives another person temporary authority over their child’s care and educational responsibilities. It is used in instances where the child lives with someone other than the parent/legal guardian and they have the care and responsibilities for the child.
The parent delegation must be completed, signed by the parent and delegate, and notarized. Parental delegations are not approved at the schools, but must be brought to the Office of Student Enrollment and Placement (OSEP) for review and approval. Both the parent and delegate must be present at OSEP for review.
- Residency Affidavit
A residency affidavit should be used when a parent/legal guardian is living with someone and cannot provide proof of residence in their own name. The residency affidavit must be completed and signed by the parent/legal guardian and property owner/renter, and notarized. The property owner/renter can then provide the required proofs of residence in their name. This document must be notarized and returned to your child’s school.
You can view the list of approved residency documentation here.
- McKinney-Vento Act
We ensure that all children and youth experiencing homelessness are enrolled, participate, and have the opportunity to succeed in school. If you or someone you know has experienced a hardship that has led to displacement, please click on the button below, and someone from the Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH) team will contact you. For more information, please contact the ECYEH Office.
Are you a current District student who has recently moved?
A Current District students who have recently moved have two registration options:
Are you trying to determine which is your catchment school?
Use our school finder tool HERE
Have safety concerns at your current school?
If your concern is specific to your child’s school and staff, we always recommend you reach out to the teachers and principal, first, to try to work together to resolve issues.
- If you still feel you are not getting the support you seek at your school, please click here for more information.
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Last modified: May 22, 2025
