DC School Lottery 2026
Complete guide to the My School DC lottery — the unified application for all DC public charter schools and out-of-boundary DCPS spots. Application opens each November.
Quick answer: do I need the lottery?
- Your in-boundary DCPS school: No lottery needed — you have a guaranteed seat.
- Any other DCPS school (out-of-boundary): Yes, lottery required.
- Any DC public charter school: Yes, lottery required for all applicants.
- Pre-K3 or Pre-K4 (any school): Yes, lottery required.
- Private schools (independent, Catholic, Episcopal, Jewish): No lottery — apply directly to each school.
Application Timeline
Submit your ranked list of up to 12 schools at myschooldc.org. Most years: opens Nov 1, closes ~Jan 31.
Check offers in your account. Accept or decline within ~2 weeks of receiving each offer.
Schools call families from the waitlist as accepted students decline. Most movement before Sept.
How the Lottery Works
Create a My School DC account
Register at myschooldc.org. You need DC residency proof and your child's birth certificate.
Rank up to 12 schools
List schools in true preference order — charter and DCPS together on the same list. The algorithm matches your child to the highest-ranked school where a seat is available. There is no penalty for ranking a school lower.
The lottery runs in March
A computer algorithm assigns seats using a random tiebreaker. Sibling preference and in-boundary preference are the two strongest priorities.
Accept your offer
Log in to see results. Accept or decline within the deadline. If you decline or miss the deadline, the seat goes to the next family on the waitlist.
Stay on waitlists
You're automatically waitlisted at every school you ranked but didn't get into. Most waitlist movement is April–August. Some schools call families into September.
Ranking Strategy
Rank schools in your true preference order, not by how likely you are to get in. The lottery algorithm is “deferred acceptance” — it tries #1 first, then #2, then #3, etc. Ranking a school lower never hurts your chances at higher-ranked schools.
Mix grade levels and sectors. Some families rank ambitious selective DCPS schools (Banneker, Walls), strong charters (BASIS, Latin), and a backup that fits everyone. The algorithm processes them in your order regardless of type.
Use all 12 slots if you can. Only ranking 3 schools means you're only eligible at those 3. Ranking 12 maximizes your match probability without affecting top-choice odds.
Check sibling/boundary preferences. If your child has a sibling at a school, list it — even if you're unsure. Sibling preference is the strongest priority in the lottery and significantly increases your odds.
If You Don't Get Matched
You won't lose your in-boundary DCPS seat. Even if you applied to other schools and didn't get matched, your in-boundary DCPS school still has a seat for you.
You're automatically on every waitlist. Stay near your phone — schools call families from waitlists throughout April–August (and some into September). Most movement happens by July.
Post-lottery enrollment opens in May. Schools with remaining seats accept rolling applications from May through the start of school. This is a separate process from the lottery and runs through myschooldc.org.
Consider private schools. Most independent and parochial schools have rolling admissions deadlines that extend into spring. See our private schools guide for application timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the DC My School lottery application open?▼
The DC My School lottery application typically opens in early November and closes in late January. Exact dates are announced each fall on myschooldc.org. The 2026–27 application window is expected to open November 1, 2025 and close late January 2026.
When are DC lottery results announced?▼
Lottery results are released in late March. Families receive offers via email and can view them in their My School DC account. You typically have 1–2 weeks to accept or decline each offer.
What schools participate in the DC My School lottery?▼
All DC public charter schools and many DCPS schools (for out-of-boundary applicants and Pre-K spots) participate in the unified My School DC lottery. Private schools have their own separate application processes — they do not participate in the lottery.
How many schools can I rank on my lottery application?▼
Up to 12 schools, ranked in true order of preference. The algorithm tries to match each child to the highest-ranked school where a seat is available. There is no penalty for ranking a school lower — your placement at higher-ranked schools is not affected.
Should I rank schools I'm not sure about?▼
Yes. Rank every school you'd consider attending. The algorithm processes ranks one at a time — if your top choice has no seats, it tries #2, then #3, etc. Skipping a school means you'll never be matched there. You can decline any offer you don't like.
Do siblings get priority in the lottery?▼
Yes. Sibling preference is the strongest priority in the My School DC lottery. If your child has a sibling currently enrolled at a school (and that sibling will still be enrolled next year), your applicant gets a sibling preference at that school.
What is in-boundary preference for DCPS?▼
DC residents have a guaranteed seat at their in-boundary DCPS elementary, middle, or high school — you don't need to apply through the lottery for that school. If you want to apply to a DCPS school outside your boundary, the lottery gives priority to in-boundary applicants for those seats.
What if I don't get matched to any school?▼
You'll be placed on the waitlist for every school you ranked. Waitlists move throughout the spring and summer as families decline offers. You can also re-apply during the post-lottery enrollment window in May–August, when remaining seats fill on a rolling basis.
How does the waitlist work?▼
After lottery results release, you're automatically waitlisted at every school where you didn't get a match. Schools call families from the waitlist as enrolled students decline. Most movement happens April–August, but charter schools sometimes call families into September.
Can I apply to charter and DCPS in the same lottery?▼
Yes. The My School DC application is unified — you list charter and DCPS schools together on a single ranked list. The algorithm processes them in your stated order regardless of school type.
When does Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 lottery happen?▼
Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 lottery follows the same November–January–March cycle. DC offers universal free Pre-K at DCPS schools, public charter schools, and approved community-based programs. Apply via My School DC for any of these.
Do I need to live in DC to apply?▼
Yes. You must be a current DC resident with proof of residency. Out-of-state families cannot use the My School DC lottery for DCPS or charter schools. Private schools may accept out-of-state applicants under separate processes.
What documents do I need to apply?▼
You need: (1) child's birth certificate, (2) proof of DC residency (lease, utility bill, etc.), (3) parent/guardian ID. Specific schools may require additional documents at enrollment, but the lottery application itself only requires the basics.
Are private schools part of the DC lottery?▼
No. DC private schools — including independent (Sidwell, GDS, Maret), Catholic (Gonzaga, Visitation), Episcopal (St. Albans, NCS), and Jewish day schools — have their own separate application processes, deadlines, and admissions criteria. See our private schools guide for details.
Ready to Apply?
The official application portal is My School DC. Application opens each November and closes late January.
Go to My School DC →Browse Schools to Rank
Need to build your list of 12 schools? Browse by sector, grade-band, or ward.