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.

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.

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.

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:

1. Parent/guardian’s photo ID
2. Name and date of birth of student/s
3. 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.

To request a transfer to your new catchment school:

1. Locate your new catchment school using the online map. ➜ Find Your Catchment School
2. Bring the required residency documentation for your new address to the new catchment school
   • A deed, mortgage statement, or complete and fully executed current lease
   • AND One (1) additional approved residency document
   • If a deed, mortgage statement, or lease cannot be provided: Three (3) approved residency documents are required
3. Complete any additional enrollment or transfer paperwork requested by the school

If your new catchment school is a Renaissance Charter School, families may choose to: Enroll in the Renaissance Charter School OR Request assignment to a District catchment school

To enroll directly in the Renaissance Charter School that serves your address, families must contact the charter school directly.

To request assignment to a District catchment school, email osep@philasd.org and include:

• Parent/guardian photo ID
• Student name(s) and date(s) of birth
• Required proof of residency documents
  • A deed, mortgage statement, or complete and fully executed current lease
  • AND One (1) additional approved residency document
  • If a deed, mortgage statement, or lease cannot be provided: Three (3) approved residency documents are required

To process a withdrawal request, the following documents must be submitted to your student’s current District school or the Office of Student Enrollment and Placement (OSEP):

• Completed Withdrawal Form
• Proof that your student has been enrolled in another school.
  • The following documents are accepted as proof of enrollment in another school:
  • Enrollment application from the non-District school
  • Confirmation of enrollment on the school’s official letterhead
  • Welcome letter from the new school
  • Copy of the student’s plane ticket if enrolling in a school outside of the country
  • Signed records request from the new school
  • Enrollment Verification Form

District Policy Information

In accordance with District Policy 208: “No student of compulsory school age shall be permitted to withdraw without the written consent of a person in parental relation and supporting documentation.”

Parents or guardians must submit all required documentation before a withdrawal can be processed.

Attendance Reminder

Pennsylvania School Code prohibits cyber charter schools from enrolling students during the school year who are habitually truant.

A student is considered habitually truant after accumulating six (6) or more unexcused absences during the school year. These absences do not need to occur consecutively.

As a result, District schools cannot process withdrawal requests for students seeking to enroll in a cyber charter school if the student has six (6) or more unexcused absences, unless a court order explicitly permits the transfer.

• 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.

• Immunization Exemption Form
  For more information, please contact Student Health Services

• 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.

A Current District students who have recently moved have two registration options:

• They can remain in their current school
• They can choose to enroll in their new catchment school 

Use our school finder tool HERE

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.