About the Criteria

Criteria-based schools will review a student’s grades, attendance, and standardized assessment scores (PSSA test scores, or an approved alternative)*. Some notes on these criteria:

All schools will accept the best grades and attendance rates from the previous two school years

• Grade requirements are for the 4 core subjects: ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies

• Attendance requirements: 95% attendance rate is 9 or fewer unexcused absences. 90% attendance rate is 18 or fewer unexcused absences.

• Assessment Requirements:

  • Students applying to 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grades, all schools will accept the best assessment percentiles from the previous two school years

  • For students applying to 5th grade, schools will only use the previous year’s assessment percentiles

  • For students applying to 11th & 12th grade, standardized assessment percentiles will not be reviewed

*Please note: Some schools may also have additional requirements that may include auditions or project submissions.

Approved Standardized Assessments

The standardized assessments used for School Selection are PSSA ELA and PSSA Math.

Philadelphia District and charter school students may not opt out of the PSSA if they plan to apply to criteria-based schools. 

For students applying this Fall (2025) for enrollment for the 2026-27 school year, applicants should submit PSSA assessment results from 2024 and 2025.

To convert a student’s PSSA score to a percentile, use the following charts:
– 2023-24 PSSA
– 2024-25 PSSA – Coming in September 2025

If you DID NOT take the PSSA:

Students who were not enrolled in the Philadelphia District or charter schools during the PSSA testing windows in Spring 2024 or Spring 2025 and/or did not have the opportunity to take the PSSA can submit results from other approved standardized assessments.

The following standardized assessment scores will also be accepted in Fall 2025 for enrollment in 2026-27:*

• TerraNova (TerraNova2, TerraNova3, or TerraNova NEXT; Complete Battery or Survey): Reading and Mathematics national percentiles

• Educational Records Bureau – Comprehensive Testing Program (ERB-CTP): Reading Comprehension and Mathematics 1&2 national norm group percentiles

• State standardized assessment for a state other than Pennsylvania: ELA and Math performance levels

*Because the approved standardized assessment list for Fall 2025 (for students applying to schools for 2026-27) has changed, this will be a transition year. 

• Any of the previously approved assessments will be accepted for 2024 results (i.e., valid CAT, ERB-ISEE, Iowa, or SSAT assessments dated 2024, in addition to the assessments listed above). 

• For assessments dated 2025, only the standardized assessments on the updated Fall 2025 list will be accepted (i.e.,TerraNova, ERB-CTP, other state’s standardized assessment).

School Options

There are various types of high schools in our District, and each has slightly different admission processes.

Criteria-Based High Schools

Each of these schools has its own set of admissions criteria related to attendance, grades, and standardized test scores. Students across the city may apply to these schools but must meet the criteria to be considered for admission.

City-Wide High Schools

These schools accept students from across the city. City-wide schools do not have admission criteria and interested students are selected through an impartial lottery process.

Virtual School

Philadelphia Virtual Academy (PVA) is a full-time, cost-free, District-run online school for students in grades K-12 living inside the School District of Philadelphia region. PVA is designed for students and families seeking quality online education taught by highly qualified educators. Students receive a laptop computer, reimbursement to offset internet costs, opportunities for self-paced instruction, and in-person support as needed. They have access to extracurricular activities, online clubs, field trips, and are eligible to participate in athletics through their neightborhood school.

Learn More About PVA

Click for the directory! 

APPLY!

• To apply STUDENTS must log into their student portal and select "School Selection". Follow the steps on the screen.