Navigating High School Admissions: An Overview for Masterman

For students and families across Philadelphia, the high school admissions process is a critical moment in their lives.The process can feel overwhelming specifically for students having to balance applications, requirements, and a looming uncertainty of where they’ll land. Parents and guardians also take on uneasy responsibilities during this time, having to make sure that their child can end up reaching a high school meant for them. At Masterman, admissions have always been a complicated process, with the actual procedure shifting throughout the years. As the process unfolds, emotions range from excitement to anxiety, and many people in and outside of Masterman have questions about the process and how decisions are made. 

Between September 13th and October 23rd, Philadelphia students had to rank up to five high schools for the 2025-2026 school year. An algorithm then assigned them a single offer in the first round, based on eligibility, which included factors such as test scores, essays, and recommendations. For Masterman and Central High School, criteria included grades of A’s and B’s, 95% attendance rate, and 80th percentile in English and Math test scores; Masterman added an additional requirement of Algebra 1 completion. A second round then distributed the remaining seats based on the rank of their choice, their previously mentioned eligibility, and seat availability. Students only stayed on waitlists for higher-ranked schools where they were eligible but not admitted. During the process, preference was given to students living in certain zip codes. Those who had zipcodes 19140, 19133, 19132, 19136, 19124, and 19134 received higher priority to their choices. Most importantly, eighth graders at Carver, GAMP, Hill-Freedman, Masterman, and SLA Beeber received automatic admission to their high school if they met the requirements for applying to their school (in Masterman’s case, this was if students had or passed the previously mentioned test scores, grades attendance, and completion of Algebra 1). In the past, only two-thirds of all eighth-graders at Masterman would be allowed to stay for high school while the rest would be cast out. However, due to the automatic admission, Masterman students faced an easier process if they chose to stay for high school.

In an email interview with Masterman’s SAC Admissions Committee, it was noted that while many Masterman families were glad that the transition from middle school to high school was easier if students wanted to stay at their current school, plenty of other families reported annoyance and confusion from having such a short window of only September and October to make decisions. “Also, the date for decisions was not announced until one week out in January and then students had less than a week to accept their offer in the system” added Chelsea Badeu, co-chair of the board.  Due to this, the SAC is planning to send out a feedback survey so students and families can send in their thoughts on how this year's process was handled. If families are displeased with any parts of the procedure, the SAC recommends them to fill out the Admissions Committee survey and reach out to either Principal Laurie and/or the School District. Looking into the future, the SAC only hopes that the process will stabilize in a way so that Masterman can continue being an elite school.

The transition between middle to high school can be stressful for students, but there are support options for those who need it. Ms. Nelson, Mr. Allen, and Ms. Marcus are all available to help students if they have any questions or need to express how they feel. While the transition to high school may be rocky, students should find comfort knowing that there are resources and people around them to help them through it. The admissions process may be competitive and stir anxiety within students, but everyone involved should take comfort in knowing that there will always be people ready to support them regardless of what choice they make. In the end, it’s not just about how many resources students have access to, but if they take advantage of them.