It's Choice school application time and parents in Palm Beach County are abuzz!
The number of choice school options including in-house programs are at a record high this year, which means the odds are greater for students applying to their school choice.
After the application deadline of January 25th, the Choice and Career Options department will run the lottery for each school during the week of March 11 - 15.
Emails of acceptance will follow on March 29th, 2019.
I’ve come up with some must-know aspects about the application and lottery.
- Only 1 application per student can be submitted, and only one edit/change can be made after the application is submitted.
- The application technically begins with PreK3 (Spady Elementary, Northboro Elementary), but primarily enrolls applicants K - 12th grade, based on the age for the 2019-2020 school year.
- Choice Applicants must be current Palm Beach County residents.
- Choice school seats are placed by the lottery regardless of the school's zone.
- In-house program seats are filled seats by the lottery for students within the school’s zone.
- Interviews may be required for Arts programs and Spanish Dual Language (otherwise known as Spanish immersion).
If applicant’s first choice has the same program (for example, Dual Language or STEM) as applicant’s (home) school zone, the application will not allow the applicant to put their first choice. The application will only allow the applicant to choose their zoned school’s program. Refer to the procedures manual, page 4.
Knowing how the lottery is conducted for each school can further guide your decision in choosing your first and second choice schools. 
The preference breakdown is as follows:
1. Principals 20% (optional)
2. Employee (of the school/district)
3. Military (full-time active duty)
4. Employee SAC (preference in residence of school zone)
5. Sibling (attending)
6. Strand (preference of a completed similar program such as dual language.)
Understanding what the Choice program calls “Duplicate Programs” is very necessary for applicants. If an applicant chooses a specific school/program (like Dual Language or STEM) and that program is also offered at the applicants (home) zoned school, the application will not allow the applicant to put their first choice. The application will only allow the applicant to choose their zoned school’s program.
With that, students who are zoned to attend a school that has a current enrollment of 95% or more, will be able to apply to a ‘like’ program that is being offered at another school.
Please refer to Page 3 Navigate your path: Duplicate Programs in the Procedure Manual or email your questions to choicequestions@palmbeachschools.org
As a Realtor helping families relocate, the best advice I can give to my clients is to walk the halls of these schools in your child’s shoes. Tours are now being conducted daily by knowledgable school staff members. Listening to these professionals and asking questions directly is the only true way to know if this school’s Choice program will be a good fit for your child.
I encourage all of you to engage the school of your Choice, take a tour and complete your application by midnight, January 25th.
Here are the links you need for 2019-2020 Choice Application Booklet Procedure Manual and application.
Marty Rogge, Sales Associate
Genesis Residential RealEstate Group
martyrogge@gmail.com
Instagram: @Genesis_Residential_RE_Florida
Facebook: @SethandElizabethFunt, Genesis Residential
