Mayor Bowser and OSSE Announce My School DC Lottery Now Open for 2025-26 School Year

(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE) announced that the My School DC public school lottery application is open. The application will remain open for grades 9-12 until February 3 at 11:59 pm and for grades Pre-K 3-8 until March 3 at 11:59 pm.

Families can login to https://www.myschooldc.org/ and apply to as many as 12 schools.

A My School DC Lottery application is required only:

• if your child will be a new Pre-K student at a DC Public Schools (DCPS) school (including your in-boundary school), or
• if you want your child to be a new student at:
  • a dual-language strand at any DCPS school (in-boundary or out-of-boundary)
  • a selective, citywide or out-of-boundary DCPS school
  • any DC public charter school

The My School DC hotline is available Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm, to support families as they navigate the lottery process. The hotline can be reached at (202) 888-6336 or by emailing [email protected]. The team is equipped with bilingual staff and has access to interpreters through a telephonic interpretation service to support non-English speakers.

"Public schools in the District of Columbia offer a wide range of unique and engaging programs that give young learners an opportunity to thrive in the classroom and prepare them for success in life beyond high school," said Interim State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell. "Families have an opportunity this month to not only explore school options for their children in person at the annual EdFEST public school fair, but also compare schools through the My School DC website before applying to the My School DC lottery for the 2025-26 school year."

Enrollment in the District's public and public charter schools increased in the 2024-25 school year for the third consecutive year, with both DC Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools seeing the highest enrollment totals since OSSE began compiling public school enrollment data in 2007. Preliminary, unaudited numbers show enrollment in DC public and public charter schools for the 2024-25 school year increased to 99,770 students, an increase of 1,121 students, or 1.1%, from the 2023-24 school year. DCPS recorded a 1.4% increase-a total of 743 students-while public charter schools saw a gain of 0.44%-a total of 208 students. Overall, public and public charter school enrollment in the District has increased by 14.2% in the last decade. Audited enrollment for the 2024-25 school year will be released in the coming months.

On December 7 and 14, Pre-K through Grade 12 public schools in DC showcased their programs at the District's annual public school fairs known as EdFEST. The annual event helps families make their school selections and gives them the opportunity to ask questions to school leaders before they complete the My School DC lottery application.

To learn more about the My School DC Lottery and apply for the 2025-26 school year, visit https://www.myschooldc.org/.

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