My School DC is a random lottery. There is no advantage to applying first; however, applicants must apply by the application deadlines: February 3, 2025 for grades 9-12, and March 3, 2025 for PK3 – grade 8.
My School DC is the common application and public school lottery for participating public and public charter schools in the District that serve PK3 – Grade 12.
My School DC, in partnership with DC Public Schools (DCPS) and the majority of DC public charter schools, makes it easier for families to take advantage of DC's many school options.
The My School DC application
The My School DC application is a single online application you must use to apply if you want your child to be a NEW student at a:
- PK3 or PK4 program at any DCPS school, including your in-boundary school and any DCPS Early Action PK school
- Dual-language strand at any DCPS in-boundary elementary school (PK3 – Grade 5)
- DCPS school outside your boundary or feeder pattern for any grade (PK3 – Grade 12), including DCPS citywide schools
- DCPS selective high schools and programs (Grades 9-12)
- Participating public charter schools (PK3 – Grade 12)
Participating schools will only accept the My School DC application available at MySchoolDC.org. Each student can apply to up to 12 schools. On each student’s application, a family should list schools in order of preference. Parents should only apply to schools they want their child to attend.
The My School DC common lottery
The My School DC common lottery is a single, random lottery that determines placement for new students at all participating schools. Student-school matches are based on the number of available spaces at each school; sibling, in-boundary, and other lottery preferences; and each student's random lottery number. (Through the My School DC common lottery, DCPS selective high schools and programs select students based on specific criteria.)
Why have a common lottery?
Prior to 2014, DCPS had a lottery for out-of-boundary spaces and for all PK3 and PK4 spaces, plus a separate application process for the selective high schools. Public charter schools also had their own applications and lotteries. Many families found accessing schools confusing and difficult to manage.
The common lottery is designed to:
- Simplify the process for families.
- Match students with the schools they want most. Students are only waitlisted at schools ranked above where they are matched or enrolled.
- Maximize the number of students who are matched with a school they choose. No student will be offered more than one space, so more students will be matched with schools.