• Students in Ballet Dance Classroom Four high school students in science classroom working on an experiment Two students in art classroom painting canvas Two female elementary students sitting on ground working with art Two middle school students in STEAM class building a robot small scaled car
  • Magnet Schools and Programs
    Welcome to the Pittsburgh Public Schools Magnet Page!

    Magnet schools and programs allow students to pursue special interests, talents or career goals. Magnet schools are not neighborhood specific, so students who reside anywhere in the Pittsburgh Public School District can apply to attend. City residents receive priority for enrollment at magnet schools, however non-city residents can be admitted if there is available space. Tuition is charged for non-resident students who do not qualify for a tuition waiver. Tuition waivers are only granted to children of Pittsburgh Public Schools employees, in accordance with Board Policy 202 Eligibility of Nonresident Students. 
     

    If your student does not currently attend a Pittsburgh Public School in grades K-11, including students who will be entering kindergarten or who currently attend a private, parochial or charter school in the city, or families who will be moving to Pittsburgh, your first step to apply for a magnet program is to complete the Pittsburgh Public Schools 2023-2024 pre-registration process. This will provide you with your Home Access Center (HAC) credentials to access the online application. Click the button below to access the pre-registration form. This process can also be done online – click here for more information about the process and an overview of the required documents. 

    Notifications to families of students who applied for the 2023-24 school year magnet lottery were sent via email on Monday, February 20. To learn about available spaces for post-lottery registration, click here.

Quick Links

  • 2022-2023 Enrollment Form
  • 2023-2024 Enrollment Form
  • Enrollment Checklist
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    Offerings and Options
    View our guide outlining everything related to enrolling in PPS, explaining the process for applying to a magnet program, and showcasing our unique programs. 

    Learn More on How to Apply
    We'll walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to apply. Learn about the application process, our magnet lottery, eligibility criteria and lottery weights.                                        
    Apply Online
    Submit a post-lottery application for the 2023-24 school year by logging in to Home Access Center (HAC).  Click here to learn how.   

  • Explore Magnet Options with PPS. Expect Great Things.

    Once a student enrolls in a magnet school, they are expected to remain in the program for at least one school year. Midyear transfers or withdrawals from magnet programs are not granted. The deadline to withdraw is 10 school days after the first day of school.

    Students in magnet programs must meet the following requirements in order to remain in the school/program. Students who do not meet these requirements may be returned to their assigned school at year’s end.

    • All students must maintain a 90% attendance rate.
    • Students in grades 6-12 may not receive more than one 4-10 day suspension, or more than 6 total days of suspension per year.
    • Students in grades 9-12 must maintain a 2.0 GPA.

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