School Selection Process for Students Who Are Not Currently Attending A School District of Philadelphia School
Below is a step-by-step guide to help make sure you complete the process correctly.
Where to Start for Non-District Students
RESUMING FOR THIS YEAR
Academic Records of Non-District Students can now be uploaded to the students application. Before applying, please make sure to have your grades, attendance and standardized test score results, essay and letters of recommendation (where needed) in one of the following formats (pdf, .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .pic, .pict, .png, .tiff) so they can be uploaded to the application. If the decision is to upload the documents, you will be asked to upload them in specific areas:
- Grades
- Student Data Transcript
- PSSA or other Standardized Test Score Results
- Behavior Marks
- Attendance Record
**Some Special Admission Schools may also require an audition, interview or written essay (please view each school’s website or the 2020 District High School Directory to be sure)**
You must upload ALL academic records or none at all. If the decision is to not upload the academic records, you are agreeing to hand deliver all printed documentation directly to all the Special Admission Schools on the application. When doing so, please indicate the District Student ID number or Non District Reference Number starting with the letter “A” so the receiving school can properly identify the student.
_ Research Your Options for Schools:
There are three types of School District of Philadelphia Schools, Special Admission (has criteria), Citywide Admission (lottery), and Neighborhood schools (lottery). Once you have the schools you like, make sure you have what you need to apply to the schools of your choice.
_ Check Your Student’s Academic Record:
Review your student’s report card marks, PSSA test scores, attendance and disciplinary records; then compare them to the admission criteria of your desired school as this is the information that will be used to make a determination.
_ Submit your application:
Please visit our website schoolselect.philasd.org. Once there, click the blue button that reads “I’m a Non-School District of Philadelphia Student, Apply Now!” You will then be asked to confirm your child is a non-District student with a qualifying question before accessing the application. Once confirmed, you will then be granted access to fill out the application. Please Note, once you have submitted your application for consideration, you WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGE TO THE APPLICATION.
_ Uploading Supporting Documentation and Finalize Steps:
For all Special Admission Schools, the below items CAN be uploaded onto the students application the same time it’s filled out:
- Student data transcript
- Most recent final report card
- Most recent standardize test score results
- Most recent final attendance report
- Most recent behavior record
- Essay or writing sample (where needed)
- Letters of recommendation (where neeeded)
If a student is an English Language Learner, has a support IEP or a 504 Medical Plan, the family should work with their school counselor to ensure proper advocacy for LeGare.
***NOTE***
IEP documents cannot be uploaded onto a students application. They’ll have to be forwarded to the Special Admission School of choice.
_ Follow Up
Please work with the schools you are interested in attending, to ensure that you have completed all the necessary steps for their application process. You can do this by contacting each or the schools and speaking with the counselor of the school you are applying to.
**REMINDER**– IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ADMISSION TO ANY SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF YOUR BOUNDARY, YOU MUST SUBMIT AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION THROUGH THE SCHOOL SELECTION PROCESS.
FOR SPECIAL ADMISSION SCHOOLS, ACADEMIC RECORDS AND OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION MUST BE SENT TO EACH OF THE SCHOOLS YOU ARE APPLYING TO.