What happens after the lottery deadline? Can families still apply to schools?
Yes, families who miss the lottery application deadlines can apply to schools using the My School DC application. The My School DC post-lottery application period begins on February 4 for high school applicants (grades 9-12), and March 4 for all grades. Prior to March 28, 2025, only applicants who did not submit a lottery application may apply to up to 12 schools in the post-lottery period. Beginning March 28, 2025 there is no restriction as to who can apply and the number of school selections.
Families who already have a lottery application can add their students to the waitlist of any school they wish using the original application. There is no need to start a new application for that purpose, simply log into your My School DC account and click on the PLUS (+) icon to add more schools.
Similar to the lottery application, families who apply to multiple schools in the post-lottery application period will be asked to rank their school choices. After March 28 there is no limit to the number of schools to which a family can apply. However, families will not be allowed to reapply to a school if their child is already on that school’s waitlist. Families are only permitted to submit one application per child for all the schools they are interested in.
Post-lottery applications are automatically added to the bottom of schools’ waitlists in the order in which they are received and below the applicants who applied by the lottery deadline and were waitlisted through the lottery. However, most schools continue to offer lottery preferences to applicants (i.e. in-boundary, sibling attending, equitable access) in the post-lottery period. In these cases an applicant that qualifies for a lottery preference will jump ahead of an applicant without a lottery preference on the waitlist, regardless of when they applied.
I completed a post-lottery application. Where can I see my results?
Although families who did not submit a lottery application can submit a post-lottery application beginning February 4 (grades 9-12) or March 4 (all grades), post-lottery applications cannot be processed until after My School DC has released the results from the lottery on March 28, 2025. To view your child’s waitlist positions, log into your family account on or after March 28, 2025.
Where can I search for schools with short waitlists after the lottery?
My School DC posts schools with short waitlists on www.myschooldc.org after results for the lottery are released. However, schools determine whether and when space is available at their school. Note: Offers from a waitlist are never guaranteed.
