High School

Selection Process for High School

The Process

The school selection process allows students going into Kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade to apply to a different school other than the assigned neighborhood or feeder school.

Students can apply up to five (5) different School District of Philadelphia Schools (Special Admission, City-Wide and other Neighborhood Schools but excludes Charter, Catholic or paid tuition schools).

If a student has a support IEP, Medical 504 Plan or an English Language Learner, they automatically qualify for LeGare.LeGare is an Advocacy process allowing for an EQUAL opportunity to attend a City-Wide or Special Admission High School.
LeGare ONLY applies to 8th Graders going into 9th grade.
LeGare does NOT guarantee admission.  Students still must meet or come close to admissions criteria and the school MUST be able to provide reasonable accommodations that do not substantially alter the way the curriculum is delivered.

Before Applying …

It is IMPORTANT to know if you’re a District or Non-District Student because the application process is a little different for both (see below).

Know that if a student/child does not receive an approval through this process, they will be assigned to their neighborhood or feeder school, according to the home address, unless a seat in a Non-District School is obtained.The exception here is if a student/child currently goes to a District a school that is NOT their catchment school, the student/child can follow the feeder pattern of THAT school into the next school.  Know your options.

When Applying …

Figure out which schools you would like your student/child to apply to.  MAKE THESE CHOICES CAREFULLY! Does your student/child fit the school? Are his or her strengths or interests aligned with what the school has to offer?
Does your student/child meet the criteria for admission?  This includes, but is not limited to: Grades, Attendance, Behavior and Standardized Test Score Results.
Be prepared to meet any additional requirements of that particular school, like writing samples/essays, or going to an audition or interview.
Make sure you know where the schools are located and any SEPTAroutes needed to get there.

Which Application Should be Filled Out …

District Students apply through their School Net Account. This is already linked to all their academic records which includes grades, attendance, behavior and standardized test scores. When you fill out the application, everything tied to your account will be sent automatically.  You will however be responsible for uploading an essay, where applicable.
***NOTE***
If your student/child IS a District student this year, but was NOT a District student last year, he/she won’t be set up in the system so you’ll have to upload ALL academic records as if you were a Non-District Student.
Non-District Students have to submit an online application in addition to uploading all of the necessary records, in order to be considered. The application is through a different portal and you should be prepared with electronic copies of your academic records which include Grades, Attendance, Behavior and Standardized Test Score Results.

What Next?

Ensure your application was submitted correctly, with all the items needed.  YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED is something is missing.Non District students should check e-mail for the confirmation receipt that the application west through (THIS DOES NOT MEAN AN APPROVAL – just that your application WAS RECEIVED).
First round of decisions comes out late January, early February so stay tuned.

Being Accepted

Your notification will list each school you applied to, and whether or not your child was accepted to that school, not accepted, or wait-listed.
You will choose which school your student will attend by accepting one of the schools that has offered your student a spot. You may only accept one school, and you cannot change your selection once you’ve made it, unlessyou were wait-listed by another school, and you receive an offer by that school, in the weeks that follow. In that case, you may change your initial acceptance to the new (wait-listed) school.You may only change your selected school once. So if you have been wait-listed by more than one school, you may find you have to wait to make final decisions until you’re sure you’ve heard back from everyone you’re interested in.