Admission Policy
Admission Policy and Procedures
City Charter High School is a public school and is therefore open to all students regardless of race, ethnic background, gender, religion and/or ability. As a school of choice, families have an opportunity to make an informed decision regarding the appropriateness of this and other high schools for a particular youngster.
In order to help families make the best decision, tours are available by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30AM from October 1 until May 1 of each year. The youngster should accompany the parent/guardian on the tour. During the tour, families have an opportunity to visit classrooms, receive information about the curriculum and ask questions.
Grade 9 Admission Procedures
Students apply for admission in the Fall of their eighth grade year. The timeline is as follows:
October 1 to the last Friday in October – Sibling Preference. Registration in October is only for eighth graders who have a sibling currently attending City High. Siblings do not receive preference after the last Friday in October.
Last Saturday of October – An informational meeting is held at the school at 9:00AM. Registrations are accepted at the conclusion of the meeting for City of Pittsburgh residents only. A total of 156 freshmen are admitted. The number of slots available after the end of October is 156 minus the number of siblings already registered. City of Pittsburgh only registration continues until the last day of November.First weekday in December – If more than156 students including siblings have applied before the end of November a lottery will occur at 10:00AM. Siblings are not included in the lottery. If 156 or less students have applied then all will be admitted.
Second weekday in December – Registration continues for both City and suburban residents. If 156 students have already been admitted, new registrants will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which the registration is received and admitted as vacancies occur. Students are admitted from the waiting list until February 15th of the 9th grade year.
Please be advised that a spot on the waiting list is not a guarantee for admission at any point. Once a spot is opened up in 9th and 10th grade main roster students from the waiting list will be admitted according to the number they hold on the list. This need varies from year to year and month to month. Once placed on the 9th grade list the student has until the end of February of the 9th grade year to be enrolled. However, if a chance is not given to the students on the waiting list they are moved over at the end of the 9th grade year to a new waiting list for the 10th grade year. At the time of closing of this window in tenth grade year whoever still remains on the waiting list will be permanently removed as we do not transfer students into 11th and 12th grade.
Grade 10 Admission Procedures
Students who remain on the 9th grade waiting list after February 15 are given an opportunity to register for the 10th grade waiting list before new registrations are placed on that list.Students who are not on the 9th grade waiting list may apply for 10th grade admission after February 15th of the 9th grade year.All students applying for 10th grade must be 10th graders by City High standards. These are the same requirements that City High 9th graders must meet to move on to grade 10. Please call the school for details.Students are admitted from the Grade 10 waiting list as openings occur until February 15th of the 10th grade year.
Grades 11 and 12
Students are never admitted to Grades 11 and 12. New enrollment ends for each class on February 15th of the grade 10.