School Selection - Find Your Fit
The PSSA will not be used for the 2021 School Selection Process
As of February 12, 2021, 5:00 PM, all School Selection Final Notifications have been sent. If there are questions as to where your student will be attending school next year, please contact your students School Counselor first.
As of May 2021, all Impartial Review Notifications have been sent out. If there are questions regarding dispositions from the Impartial Review Committee, please contact your students School Counselor first or send an email to LeGare@philasd.org. When sending an e-mail, please be sure to include your child’s name and student ID or reference number.
Resources
Once the School Selection Application Process opens on September 18, 2020, schools, families and students can access the online application to submit requests for the the school or schools you’d most like to attend.
The application Process will close November 6, 2020 and be for admission in September 2021.
| Dates and Times | Activity |
|---|---|
| September 18, 2020 @ 5:00 PM | School Selection Application Window Opens. |
| November 6, 2020 @ 11:59 PM | School Selection Application Window Closes. |
| November 16, 2020 to – January 5, 2021 | Receiving School Evaluate (schools and programs with admission criteria). |
| January 8, 2021 | Conduct lotteries, perform quality control process |
| January 15, 2021 @ 5:00 PM | Initial notifications available! School District students/parents will be able to view their options in student and parent portals. Non-District families will be notified by e-mail. |
| January 25, 2021 | Last day to confirm approvals. Not confirming will change the approval to “Decline- No response”. |
| January 2021 to February 2021 | Schools fill available seats with students from their wait lists. |
| February 12, 2021 @ 5:00 PM | Final notifications available in the student and parent portals for school district students and families. |
There are several ways to research and compare schools as you search for your perfect fit.
You can view a lot of different things like test scores and demographics – and even compare schools side-by-side – using the updated School Profiles and Data feature.
Due to COVID, we’ve encouraged our schools to update their websites with as much detail as possible so definitely view, and revisit those sites throughout the process. We still recommend you contact a representative at your desired school to ask any questions; just understand in this new normal, it can be hard to get to everyone as quickly!
In 2020, unfortunately live events like open houses and High School fairs won’t be possible. However, we do have a few ways to get a feel for our many high schools:
Virtual High School Fair: Coming in September 2020! Connect with representatives to discuss admissions requirements, extracurricular activities, academics, and more.
High School Directory: our annual compilation of each high school with details about specific academic programs, special clubs, athletics, and more.
Career Pathways: a new and interactive way to explore careers and programs within the School District of Philadelphia. It features eight distinct, yet in-demand careers clusters highlighting current CTE programs, AP offerings, Military guidance, and postgraduate opportunities to help you plan for the future you!
The School District of Philadelphia provides families with the opportunity to apply to schools in all grades including Kindergarten. In addition to having the ability to attend a different neighborhood than the one connecting to your home address, students entering grades 5 to 8 have several different City Wide and Special Admit* options.
*A special admit middle school is one that has a specialized program, and specific admissions criteria.
To find out more about these schools and the admissions criteria, please click on the school name below.
Academy for the Middle Years (AMY) at Northwest
Alternative Middle Years at James Martin
Carver Middle School for Engineering and Science
Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP)
Hamilton – AIMS Magnet Program
Science Leadership Academy at Beeber
Science Leadership Academy Middle School (SLAMS)
Once the School Selection Application Process opens again in September; schools, families and students can access the online application to submit requests for the the school or schools you would most like to attend. Please be mindful that the Application Process will close in November and be for admission in September 2021.
Career Interests
- CTE Opportunities (Career & Technical Education)
- Competency Building & Interview Tips
- Find Your Future Fit – Career Pathways Tool
LeGare & Other Resources
Contact Us
E-Mail:
- To reach the Office of Student Enrollment and Placement – OSEP@PhilaSD.org
- To reach the LeGare Committee – LeGare@PhilaSD.org
Visit the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Get Help website to find contact information for your School Counselor
215-400-8480 – SHQIP
215-400-8481 – عربي
215-400-8482 – 汉语
215-400-8483 – Français
215-400-8484 – ខ្មែរ
215-400-8474 – Português
215-400-8485 – Русский
215-400-8489 – Español
215-400-8486 – Việt