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1901 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA, 15219
United States

412-697-1298

Magnet Schools

Pittsburgh Public School District
Magnet schools and programs

Any student can apply to a magnet school, regardless of location, with transportation provided if needed. Magnet schools have specialized programming, such as a foreign language or a STEAM focus. Some neighborhood schools have magnet programs within them. Even if the school is your neighborhood school, you must apply for the program.

Magnet registration for the 2025-26 school year opens Monday, December 9 and closes Friday, January 17, 2025, including for Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 (CAPA acceptance is by audition or portfolio). After January 17th, applications can still be taken for programs with spaces available, and for waiting lists. For information about programs, and to access the application, visit pghschools.org/about/enrollment/magnet-schools-homepage.

Entrance to the programs isn’t guaranteed. Some magnet programs have requirements, such as grades, foreign language ability (for certain grades after kindergarten), attendance, and/or scores on the state test or another standardized test. For a full list of requirements, visit pghschools.org/about/enrollment/magnet-schools-homepage/magnet-eligibility-criteria. Except for CAPA 6-12, which has an audition process, students are selected by a lottery.


For students who apply within the lottery window (by January 17th):

Your child’s application may be given:

  • Sibling preference: Kindergarten applicants are given preference if you already have a child attending the school.

  • Program continuation preference: Students who are applying to the next level of the same program are given preference. For example, applicants from the Spanish language magnet at Liberty K-5 will get preference for the International Baccalaureate magnet program at Obama 6-12.


Your child’s application may also be “weighted”—given extra chances to be chosen—based on the following:

Grades K-5 weights:

  • You live in the same region as the school’s location. Visit discoverpps.org and scroll down to see lists of schools by region.

  • Your family is economically disadvantaged.

  • Your child attended a pre-k program at the school where you are applying.

  • Your child attended another PPS pre-k program.


Grades 6-12 weights (except for CAPA and Sci-Tech):

  • You live in the same region as the school’s location.

  • Your family is economically disadvantaged.

  • Your child attended school at least 95% of the previous school year.

  • Your child didn’t receive any 4-10 day suspensions in the previous school year.

  • Your child attended a PPS elementary (for grades 6-8) or middle (for grades 9-12) school.


For more information about weights in general, and specifics for CAPA and Sci-Tech, visit pghschools.org/about/enrollment/magnet-schools-homepage/magnet-eligibility-criteria.

For help with the magnet process overall, visit the PPS Magnet FAQ page, or contact us at info@aplusschools.org.