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Option Schools and Programs

APS offers specialized instruction as an alternative to the designated neighborhood school. Interested students must complete an online application during a specific time period. Lotteries are held if more applications are received than there are seats available.

Learn More About Our Option Schools and Programs

Click here for an overview of our APS Option Schools, Programs & Transfers.

The Option Schools & Programs registration deadline for new APS students is June 30.
If a student misses the registration deadline, their seat will be offered to the next student on the waitlist.
*Families receiving offers after  July 1 will have 1 week to accept the offer and 2 weeks to register from the offer date.*

Option Schools and Programs Application and Lotteries Timeline

Middle and High Schools Timeline

Note:Applications have closed.

Middle and High Schools Option Schools Application and Lotteries Timeline for 2024-2025
Applications Open (2023) Mon, Nov. 6, 2023
Applications Close (2024) Fri, Jan. 12, 2024 at 4 p.m.
Live Lottery Broadcast  (online) Mon, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m.
Click here to access to LIVE broadcast. (This video will be inactive after 90 days.)
Families receive lottery results Mon, Jan. 29 by 8 p.m.
Families must accept/decline by Mon, Feb. 5, by 8 p.m.
New Families Must Register By June 30

*Note: Families will have one week to accept or decline offers*

*Note: If the student is not registered by the June 30 deadline, their seat will be offered to the next student on the waitlist.

Late Applications – APS will accept late applications through the SchoolMint application portal for Secondary Option Schools & Programs beginning Wed, Feb 28, at 4 p.m.

Elementary Schools Timeline

Note: The application window closed on March 8.

Elementary & MPSA Grades 1 – 5 Application and Lotteries Timeline for 2024-2025
Applications Open  Thurs, Feb. 1 at 4 p.m.
Applications Close  Fri, March 8 at 4 p.m. *
*Note: The application deadline is earlier than in previous years*
Live Lottery Broadcast (online) Thurs, April 11 from 1- 3 p.m.
Click to access the LIVE broadcast. (this video will be inactive after 90 days)
Families receive lottery results on Thurs, April 18 by the end of the day
Families must accept/decline  by Thurs, April 25 by 8 p.m.*
New Families must register by June 30

*Note: Families will have one week to accept or decline offers*

*Note: If the student is not registered by the June 30 deadline, their seat will be offered to the next student on the waitlist.

Late Applications – APS will accept late applications through the SchoolMint application portal for Elementary Option Schools & Programs beginning Wed, May 1, at 8 a.m.

PLEASE NOTE: if you already submitted a school mint application and/or are on the waitlist or documents pending, you do not need to submit another application.

Families who submit a late application that already have an existing application in School Mint will be removed from their current standing (waitlisted).

If this occurs, APS cannot reinstate your waitlist position.

Early Childhood Timeline

Note: The application window closed on March 8.

PreK and MPSA PreK Application and Lotteries Timeline for 2024-2025
Applications Open  Thurs, Feb. 1 at 4 p.m.
Applications Close  Fri, March 8 at 4 p.m. *
*Note: The application deadline is earlier than in previous years*
Live Lottery Broadcast (online) Fri, April 12 from 1- 3 p.m.
Click to access the LIVE broadcast. (this video will be inactive after 90 days)
Families receive lottery results Fri, April 19 by the end of the day
Families must accept/decline  by Fri, April 26 by 8 p.m.*
New Families must register by June 30

*Note: Families will have one week to accept or decline offers*

*Note: If the student is not registered by the June 30 deadline, their seat will be offered to the next student on the waitlist.

Late Applications – APS will accept late applications through the SchoolMint application portal for Early Childhood Programs beginning Wed, May 1, at 8 a.m.

To be considered for an option school or preschool, families must apply online.

We are here to help! For assistance or questions, contact the APS Welcome Center.

Phone: 703-228-8000 (option 1)  Email: schooloptions@apsva.us.

APPLY ONLINE

General Information

For New APS Families

New APS families interested in applying to an option school are also encouraged to register for their neighborhood school.

  • If a space in an option school is offered to a family, the registration documentation provided will be transferred to the option school.
  • If a student is placed on a waitlist for an option school, registering at their neighborhood school guarantees the student will have a space for the upcoming school year.
  • Early neighborhood school registrations support APS with staffing projections and resource allocation.

Use the School Boundary (Attendance Zone) Locator to find your neighborhood school.

Registration can be completed online, at the neighborhood school or at the APS Welcome Center.

Lottery Process

If more applications are received than there are seats available, APS will conduct a random, double-blind lottery to determine admission.

Families DO NOT receive lottery results on the day of the automated lottery.

  • Families will be notified of their acceptance or placement on the waitlist by email and/or text on the date specified in the Application Timeline.
  • Families must confirm or decline attendance to the school or program within one week of notice.
  • If families do not accept or decline their seat by the deadline, their seat will be given to the next student on the waitlist.
  • If families apply to more than one school/program, their application will go into all lotteries simultaneously. 

Waitlists

Waitlists: Students who applied, but were not selected through the lottery process, will be placed in numerical order on a waitlist.

  • Applications received after the deadline are placed at the bottom of the existing waitlist for the upcoming school year.
  • When students on the waitlist are offered a seat, they have a one-week window to accept the slot. If the slot is not accepted within the one-week window, the offer will be rescinded and offered to the next student on the waitlist.
  • Option seats are continuously filled throughout the school year as seats become available.

Sibling Preference

Elementary:

Siblings who will be concurrently enrolled at the same elementary school will receive priority in admission.

Middle and High School:

Sibling preference is not currently offered at the middle and high school levels.

Early Childhood:

This information will be updated on July 1, 2024.

Transportation

Transportation is available for students attending option schools/programs who live outside their school’s walk zone (View school bus eligibility maps).

  • All transportation for option schools and programs is provided via hub stops. Hub stops are central locations—such as a community center or school—where students from several neighborhoods meet to catch the bus to their school and may be a longer distance from a student’s residence. Learn more.

Tuition and Fees

K-12 neighborhood schools and option schools are free for all students to attend.

Early Childhood option schools/programs may have fees based on a sliding scale. Learn more.

Family Information Sessions

All APS schools offer information sessions for families.  View the schedule for:

School Options Policies, Procedures and Application Data

The Options and Transfers Policy (J-5.3.31) and Policy Implementation Procedure (J-5.3.31 PIP-1) outline the process determined by the School Board that APS follows to ensure equitable access for all students to the available option school/programs and neighborhood transfers.

View application data for option schools and programs.

PreK - Required Supporting Documents

Community Peer Prek (CPP) and Primary Montessori

Learn about CPP. Learn about Primary Montessori.

Submit the following documents when applying online:

  • Copy of original birth certificate
  • Copy of Identification card of either parents/ guardian

View a short video to help you create an online account (English) (Spanish) (Mongolian) (Amharic)

Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI)

Learn about VPI.

The funds that support VPI have various criteria that must be taken into consideration before offering acceptance to any child.

To be considered for VPI, families must submit the required documents.

View a complete checklist | Español

  • Proof of the child’s age and legal name
  • Proof of Arlington County residency
  • Proof of parent identity and relationship to student
  • Proof of income