Philadelphia School Selection Is Open Through Nov. 24. What Changed This Year

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia’s annual school selection process is now open, giving families through Nov. 24 to apply for admission to district schools outside their neighborhood catchment.

The application window opened Oct. 5, later than usual. The delay followed the late arrival of state test scores this year, which pushed back the timeline.

Families can apply to any district school with open seats, including sought-after magnet programs and special-admission schools.

What changed this year is how applicants are evaluated. Final grades in English, math and science now count toward admission decisions, while grades in social studies and writing were removed from the criteria.

Parents should gather report cards and review each school’s specific requirements before applying, since popular programs often add steps such as interviews or auditions.

Applications go through the district’s online system, and families may list several school choices in order of preference.

With the Nov. 24 deadline landing in Thanksgiving week, families are advised not to leave applications until the last minute.

School selection remains one of the most consequential decisions Philadelphia families make each fall, and this year’s compressed window leaves less time to research options.