High School Specialty Program Application

High School Specialty Programs

Overview

Thank you for your interest in Sacramento City Unified School District’s high school specialty programs. Our high school specialty programs offer students the opportunity to dive deeper into an area of interest that may support a future career pathway. These free public education programs give students a chance to learn about industries outside of standard core subjects, like culinary arts, digital media, criminal justice, construction and more.

The High School Specialty Program application window is now closed. It was open Monday, November 4 at 8:00am – Friday, November 22 at 5:00pm.

Step 1: Learn about the programs

Step 2: Apply online

Students who live within our district boundaries can apply to high school specialty programs from November 4, 2024 at 8:00am, through November 22, 2024 at 5:00pm. Learn how to apply. 

Students who live outside the SCUSD boundaries can apply through the inter-district permit transfer process from April 7, 2025 at 8:00am, through April 25, 2025 at 5:00pm. 

Out-of-district applicants who meet the program requirements will be accepted after qualified in-district applicants per California Education Code.

Step 3: Currently enrolled SCUSD students – Eligibility Requirement

If your student is currently enrolled in SCUSD, a primary household guardian must complete the Annual Update through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal by November 22, 2024, at 5:00pm to be eligible for the lottery.

View directions on how to complete the Annual Update form. If the parent/guardian does not have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account, please request an activation key from your student’s current school office to create an account. Once you have an active Infinite Campus Parent Portal account, follow the steps to complete the Annual Update form.

Step 4: Additional program requirements

Only the following programs have additional requirements: 

C.K. McClatchy HISP

Students applying to the C.K. McClatchy HISP will answer survey questions as part of the application. These questions are designed to help prospective students review the HISP Program and affirm their commitment to eleven statements reflecting the program’s expectations. Additionally, applicants will submit a writing sample that will not be scored; instead, it will help HISP teachers understand the cohort’s baseline writing skills.

C.K. McClatchy VAPA Programs

Students applying to one of the four C.K. McClatchy VAPA specialty programs will answer survey questions as part of the application.

In addition, a portfolio, video, or audition must be submitted to the C.K. McClatchy VAPA program by November 22, 2024, at 5:00pm. Instructions on each specialty program submission requirements can be found at https://ckmvapa.org/apply-inform.

West Campus Program

SCUSD students that apply to West Campus will not need to complete any additional exams. West Campus will be using the PSAT 8/9 scores taken at school in October for SCUSD 8th Graders in lieu of extra assessments. 

All other students who apply to West Campus can register to take the PSAT during a make-up session on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Registration for this session will be available through the online application. 

Step 5: Receive a lottery notification & new student registration

Lottery notifications will be sent to families on January 13, 2025.  Families will receive the notification based on what preferences (email, text message or both) were selected when registering. Families can log into their SchoolMint account at anytime to see status of their application(s). 

New Students to the District – Acceptance Requirement

If offered placement in a specialty program, new students to the district* must accept the offer on SchoolMint AND submit a complete registration form, using the link provided in the offer notification. Families will need to provide photo identification, address verification, proof of birth documentation, and immunization records with the registration form.

Please note that applicants will be automatically removed from the specialty program acceptance list if they do not submit a complete registration form by the offer deadline.

Class Size Reduction for 2025

As part of a recent agreement between SCTA and SCUSD to reduce class sizes at the secondary level, high school classes will be capped at 32 students, down from 35, starting in the fall of 2025. As a result, High School Specialty Programs will be accepting students in accordance with the new class size ratio.

Additionally, many secondary sites are impacted by physical space limitations, and adjustments have been made to accommodate these constraints.

Support

Please contact Becky Petrie at becky-petrie@scusd.edu with questions about your student’s application.

Post

High School Specialty Program Application Frequently Asked Questions

What is the High School Specialty Program Application?

The High School Specialty Program Application is an opportunity for each student who resides within the boundaries of the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) to apply for enrollment in a SCUSD high school specialty program, based on space availability. SCUSD offers specialty programs at both our neighborhood and small specialized high schools.

Who is eligible to apply?

Students residing within the Sacramento City Unified School District boundaries who will be entering grades 9 through 12 for the 2025-2026 school year are eligible to apply.

Students living outside the district boundaries, including those currently on a district permit, may apply to specialty programs through an inter-district permit transfer available from April 7, 2025 at 8:00am, through April 25, 2025 at 5:00pm​. Out-of-district applicants who meet the program requirements will be offered placement after qualified in-district applicants per California Education Code.

What are the requirements for submitted applications to enter the lottery?

Applicants must:

How many specialty programs can my student apply to?

Students may apply to up to two specialty programs. 

Which programs have additional assessments for admission?

Does my student have to turn in a transcript and standardized test scores for admission?

Transcripts for 7th Grade (all quarters) and 8th Grade (first quarter) are only necessary for West Campus. 

Currently enrolled SCUSD students will have their transcripts automatically sent from Infinite Campus. Other students must upload a copy of their transcripts as part of their application.

How will we know you received my student’s application?

Once an application is successfully submitted, you will see a confirmation screen and receive a message in your SchoolMint Message Center confirming the submission. Parents/guardians will also receive a confirmation via email or text message, depending on their selected SchoolMint preferences.

Families can log into their SchoolMint account at any time to check the status of their application(s) or view messages in the Message Center.

What is the SchoolMint Message Center and where is it located?

Log onto your SchoolMint Parent/Guardian account and click the Messages button in the top green navigation bar. The Message Center has all messages sent to you from the platform organized by date.

On a mobile device, the Message Center is a gray text bubble at the top of the screen. If you only receive text message notifications, you can log into SchoolMint and read full messages in the Message Center.

Is transportation provided by the school district to the specialty program my student is accepted to?

No, transportation is not provided for students accepted into specialty programs. Parents are responsible for transporting their students.

Can I use my work address for my student to apply to a High School Specialty Program?

No.

Can I use my work address for my student to apply to a High School Specialty Program through (using) the Allen Bill?

The Sacramento City Unified School District interprets the Allen Bill in the following ways:

  1. A parent/guardian who resides outside the SCUSD boundaries, is required to provide on letterhead a statement from the employer verifying employment and the work address within the SCUSD boundaries.
  2. Since our district utilizes addresses for school placement, in order to establish residency the student must enroll and attend the neighborhood school associated with the work address for a full academic year. So for example if the work address is associated with California Middle School the student must apply and be approved via Inter-district permit and attend California Middle School.
  3. Once this is complete and the student is attending for a full academic year, the student can then apply for any programs through the High School Specialty Program (HSSP) or Open Enrollment (OE).
  4. Families cannot use their work address to apply for the HSSP or OE if they are not attending our school(s) through the Allen Bill currently.
  5. Residency is established by attending a full academic year.
  6. Students who live outside the district boundaries may apply from April 7, 2025 at 8:00am, through April 25, 2025 at 5:00pm, via an inter-district transfer permit, to any high school specialty program that still has openings.

Can I turn in a late application?

All applications must be turned in by 5:00pm on Friday, November 22, 2024. No late applications will be accepted.

When do I find out if my student is accepted? 

Notifications will be sent to families through SchoolMint on January 13, 2025, based on their selected preferences (email, text message, or both) during registration.

Additional Requirement for Acceptance for New Students to the District

If accepted into a specialty program, new students to the district must complete a full registration form. A link to this form will be included in the notifications sent to families. They will also need to provide photo identification, address verification, proof of birth documentation, and immunization records. Applicants will be automatically removed from the specialty program acceptance list if they do not register by the offer deadline.

Are translation services available during the application process?

The application uses Google Translate and can be translated into over 100 languages. 

If my student is already enrolled in his/her specialty program does he/she need to reapply?

No. You do not need to reapply to your specialty program. The school the specialty program resides at becomes your neighborhood school.

Does my student have the right to return to his/her original neighborhood school after being accepted into a specialty program?

To return to your original neighborhood school, you must apply for an intra-district permit through the Enrollment Center from April 7, 2025 at 8:00am, through April 25, 2025 at 5:00pm. Please note that intra-district permits are requests and do not guarantee placement.

My family is moving outside of the SCUSD boundary. What will happen to my student’s acceptance?

If you move outside of the SCUSD boundary, it voids all open enrollment and you must register your student with the new school district.

I live within the SCUSD boundary, but my student attends a private school. Can my student apply to a High School Specialty Program?

Yes. Learn more at https://www.scusd.edu/hssp-application-process. 

If my student is attending a SCUSD School on an inter-district permit (i.e., you live outside the district boundaries) can I apply for a High School Specialty Program?

No, inter-district permitted students are not eligible. 

Students who live outside our district boundaries (including those that are currently on a district permit) can apply to specialty programs with space available through an inter-district permit transfer from April 7, 2025 at 8:00am, through April 25, 2025 at 5:00pm.

I live outside of the SCUSD boundary. Can my student apply to a High School Specialty Program?

No, students who live outside the district boundaries are not eligible. Students who live outside our district boundaries can apply to specialty programs with space available through an inter-district permit transfer from April 7, 2025 at 8:00am, through April 25, 2025 at 5:00pm.

I live outside of the SCUSD boundary and one of my students already attends a high school specialty program. Do my other students have sibling preference? 

No.

I am an SCUSD employee and live outside of the SCUSD boundary. Does my student have priority to attend a high school specialty program at my school?

No. However, students who live within our district boundaries whose parent/guardian’s primary place of employment is at the selected school are given a lottery priority. 

How does the lottery work?

The High School Specialty Program Application is not a first-come, first-serve basis. You may apply anytime during the application window to be considered.

District applicants must submit an Annual Update form through Infinite Campus by November 22, 2024, at 5:00pm to be eligible for the High School Specialty Program lottery.

SCUSD uses a computerized, third-party lottery system to place students at their specialty program of choice. A lottery must be implemented if applications exceed the grade capacity at the requested program.

One of the following lottery scenarios will occur:

  1. Your student is selected for their first specialty program choice and receives a notification of a placement offer.
  2. If your student applied to only one specialty program and was not selected, he/she will be placed on a waiting list.
  3. If your student applied for two specialty programs and was not selected for their first choice, the computer will look for their second choice. Note: Second choice selections are placed behind all first choice selections.
  • Your student is selected for their second specialty program choice and receives a notification of a placement offer.
  • Your student is not selected for their first or second specialty program choice. They will be placed on a waiting list for their first choice only.

What happens if my student doesn’t get accepted to the first or second school of choice?

Your student will only be placed on the waiting list for their first choice. A notification from SchoolMint will be sent on January 13, 2025 notifying parent/guardians regarding placement on the waiting list. 

When space becomes available, a notification will be sent through SchoolMint notifying the parent/guardian of the offer. 2025-2026 waiting lists will be valid until 5:00pm, on July 31, 2025 and then closed. Families can withdraw their application from a waiting list at any time through SchoolMint. 

Families will receive the notification based on what preferences (email, text message or both) were selected when registering.

Students who apply to a specialty program and have not met the school’s admissions requirements will not be included in the lottery. If the student hasn’t applied to another program, the student must attend their neighborhood or current school.

If my student is accepted to their 2nd choice, will they be put on the 1st choice waiting list?

No. 

Who has priority in the lottery selection process?

Lottery Selection Priorities

First priority

  • Siblings of students already in attendance at the specialty program and will continue to be enrolled in the upcoming school year.

Second priority

  • Students whose parent/guardian’s primary place of employment is the selected school.

Third priority (administrative priority)

  • When unique circumstances occur at a school, such as a school closure, program changes, and/or over-crowding occurs; district administrators may institute a specific priority to meet staffing and housing needs.

Schools without Attendance Boundaries

First priority

  • Siblings of students already in attendance at the specialty program and will continue to be enrolled in the upcoming school year.

Second priority

  • Students whose parent/guardian’s primary place of employment is the selected school.