Citywide Admission and Special Admission Schools
Citywide Admission schools and Criteria-Based schools are public and run by the School District of Philadelphia. Unlike neighborhood schools, they are open to any student living in Philadelphia. Some have behavioral, attendance, and academic requirements, while others admit students through a lottery.
Typically, Criteria-Based schools have higher academic, behavior, and attendance requirements than Citywide Admission schools.
Note: All Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs (even those housed in neighborhood high schools), are all citywide admission schools and admit via a lottery. These programs offer a wide range of vocational opportunities for high school students. Learn more here.
Search school profiles for all Citywide Admission and Special Admission schools.
Finding the Right Fit
Requirements for admission vary from school to school, so families should look closely at a school’s requirements and compare them with their student’s academic, attendance, and behavioral records to find schools that are a good match. This is important because the District’s School Selection Application only allows you to choose up to five schools.
For schools listing PSSA percentile requirements, use this key to interpret your student’s raw score.
Some Criteria-Based schools require an interview or audition. When this is required, this may be completed virtually. Updated requirements are available on a school’s profile in the summer.
Applying
To apply to any School District of Philadelphia school, you must submit an application online in November the year before you wish to enroll. When the application is available you will find it at the School District’s student enrollment site. Learn more about applying and get tips on maximizing your choices to District schools.
More information
Looking for more information on finding a great school? See all articles.
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List of Citywide and Special Admission Schools
School/Center Name School Type Neighborhood A. Philip Randolph Career and Technical High School Public District Citywide North Central Academy at Palumbo Public District Special Admit Bella Vista Alternative for the Middle Years at James Martin School (AMY) Public District Citywide Richmond AMY Northwest (Academy for the Middle Years) Public District Special Admit Roxborough Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush Public District Special Admit Pennypack Park Building 21 Public District Citywide West Oak Lane Central High School Public District Special Admit Olney Constitution High School Public District Citywide Center City East Edwin Fitler Academics Plus School Public District Citywide East Germantown Franklin Learning Center High School Public District Special Admit Spring Garden George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science Public District Special Admit North Central Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) Public District Special Admit Girard Estates Hill-Freedman World Academy Public District Special Admit East Mount Airy Jules E. Mastbaum Area Vocational High School Public District Citywide Kensington Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School Public District Special Admit Spring Garden Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School Public District Special Admit Roxborough Middle Years Alternative School for the Humanities Public District Citywide Walnut Hill Motivation High School Public District Special Admit Eastwick Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical Education High School Public District Citywide Allegheny West Northeast Medical, Engineering, & Aerospace Magnet Public District Special Admit Rhawnhurst Overbrook Educational Center Public District Citywide Overbrook Parkway Center City Middle College Public District Special Admit Center City East Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice Public District Special Admit West Oak Lane Parkway West High School Public District Special Admit Mill Creek Paul Robeson High School for Human Services Public District Citywide University City Philadelphia High School for Girls Public District Special Admit Olney Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Public District Special Admit South Philadelphia Philadelphia Military Academy At Elverson Public District Citywide North Central Russell H. Conwell Middle Magnet School Public District Special Admit Kensington School of the Future Public District Citywide West Parkside Science Leadership Academy Public District Special Admit Spring Garden Science Leadership Academy at Beeber (SLA Beeber) Public District Special Admit Wynnefield Swenson Arts and Technology High School Public District Citywide Bustleton The LINC High School Public District Citywide North Central The U School Public District Citywide Hartranft The Workshop School Public District Citywide Walnut Hill Walter Biddle Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences Public District Special Admit Roxborough Widener Memorial School Public District Citywide Olney William W. Bodine High School for International Affairs Public District Special Admit Northern Liberties
