With no PSSA scores in sight, Philly is pushing back its special-admissions deadline
Philadelphia's school selection process, which was initially scheduled to open Sept. 8, has been pushed back to opening on Oct. 5.
The Philadelphia School District has pushed back the application window for its 37 magnet schools.
The news hinges on PSSA scores, which have not been released to the public by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Instead of students submitting applications for the 2027-28 school year between Sept. 8 and Oct. 30, as originally announced, the application window will now open Oct. 5 and close Nov. 24, officials announced Monday night.
Students will use both their 2024-25 PSSA results and the yet-to-be-released 2026 scores.
“This adjustment ensures families have access to official, verified 2026 assessment data when making their school choices,” officials said in a letter to families.
Initially, district officials said assessment results would not be ready in time for the application process, and that they would allow applying students to take an alternative assessment.
But that plan has since changed. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said last week it wasn’t clear if alternative assessments would be needed and now, officials are saying they won’t.
State tests are a question mark
The PSSAs remain a question mark for the district.
Harrisburg officials released preliminary data to districts in the late spring, as they typically do, but Philadelphia has shared only limited student PSSA scores with select staff. Most Philly principals and teachers have not seen the scores, though other districts and schools have not withheld the data.
PDE notified districts last week that statewide results, typically available to districts in late August or early September, would be delayed, though the release of the data to parents and the public does not typically happen until the fall.
Philadelphia officials then suggested the state holdup was the reason for their own delay.
A district spokesperson said the system expects scores in adequate time to make admissions decisions.
“Once the verified 2026 PSSA and Keystone results are released by PDE later this fall, district staff will contact all applicants to assist them with submitting their scores,” officials said in the letter to parents. “Families do not need to take any action regarding their 2026 assessment scores at this time.”
A school selection town hall is scheduled for Wednesday at Powel School, 3610 Warren St., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Another town hall will be held virtually on Thursday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
