FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

CONTACT

Theola DeBose (OSSE) – (202) 431-1637; [email protected]    
 

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) reminded families about the final deadline for the My School DC lottery, the common application for all participating public and public charter schools in the District. The deadline for students entering pre-K through grade 8 is Monday, March 2 at 11:59 p.m. Families can visit myschooldc.org to apply.   

“DC is home to an extraordinary variety of public and public charter schools – each one with unique programs, cultures and pathways for student success,” said State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell. “The My School DC Lottery empowers families to navigate those choices with confidence. We want every parent to feel supported in finding the environment where their child will thrive academically, socially and emotionally.” 

A My School DC Lottery application is required:  

• if your child will be a new pre-K student at a DC Public Schools (DCPS) school (including your in-boundary school), or  
• if you want your child to be a new student at:   
• a dual-language strand at any DCPS school (in-boundary or out-of-boundary);  
• a selective, citywide or out-of-boundary DCPS school;   
• any DC public charter school.   

Families can get support with their application and navigating their school lottery choices through the My School DC hotline, which is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., at (202) 888-6336 or via email: [email protected].  For non-English speakers, the My School DC team has Spanish bilingual staff, and access to other language interpreters through a telephonic interpretation service for additional parent support.  

My School DC will send lottery results to all applicants on March 27.  
 
The lottery deadline for grades 9 through 12 was February 2. For families who missed that deadline can also complete a post-lottery application which is now open at myschooldc.org. The post-lottery application will extend to all grades beginning March 3. Post-lottery applicants are added to schools’ waitlists after those who applied by the lottery deadline.  

Applicants can apply for up to 12 schools. Last year’s My School DC Lottery had the highest match rate since the lottery began. Nearly 22,500 applicants applied to the 2025-26 school year lottery with 75 percent of applicants offered a seat at a school to which they applied.  

More information about what families need to apply can be found here.  

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