What is the High School Specialty Program Application?
The High School Specialty Program Application is an opportunity
for each student who resides permanently 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 that live within our district boundaries that are
entering 9th through 12th grades for the 2022-2023 school year
are eligible to apply.
Students who live outside our district boundaries (including
those that are currently on a district permit) can apply to
specialty programs in April 2022. Out-of-district applicants who
meet the program requirements will be accepted or go on the
waiting list after qualified in-district applicants per
California Education Code.
How many specialty programs can my student apply to?
Students may apply to up to two specialty programs.
Which programs have criteria for admission?
How does my student sign up for an assessment?
If your student applied to a specialty program requiring
an additional assessment, parent/guardians will receive an email
notification for their student to attend an essay or test
session. Notifications will be sent out on December 1, 2021 for
all applicants that require an additional
assessment. Please check your SPAM/Junk mail folder
for your email notification.
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 our criteria programs.
- If you are a current SCUSD student, the transcripts will be
automatically sent to the program(s) requiring it through the
online application.
- Other students will upload a copy of their transcripts as
part of their application.
How will we know you received my student’s application?
Once your student successfully submits an online application,
there will be a confirmation screen that can be printed for your
records.
Confirmation emails will also be sent to the parent/guardian
email on file.
Learn how to update parent/guardian emails in Infinite
Campus.
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?
The Sacramento City Unified School District interprets the Allen
Bill in the following ways:
- A parent/guardian is required to provide on letterhead a
statement from the employer verifying employment and the work
address.
- Since our district utilizes addresses for placement, in order
to establish residency the student must enroll in the
neighborhood school associated with the work address. So for
example if the work address is associated with California Middle
School the student must enroll in California Middle School (IF)
the school has space for the student. If the school does not have
the space, the student cannot enroll.
- Once this is complete and the student is attending, the
student can then apply for any programs through the High School
Specialty Program (HSSP) or Open Enrollment (OE).
- 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.
- Residency is established by enrolling.
Students who live outside the district boundaries may apply in
April 2022 to high school specialty programs that still have
openings.
Can I turn in a late application?
All applications must be turned in by 5:00 p.m on
Tuesday, November 30, 2021. No late applications will be
accepted.
When do I find out if my student is accepted?
Notification letters will be mailed via U.S. mail in late January
2022.
If accepted into a specialty program, applicants needed to
complete the process by registering online. Instructions will be
included in the notification letters.
Are translation services available during the application
process?
Video tutorials are available to walk families how to use fill
out the application in Chinese, Hmong, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
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?
The high school that the specialty program resides at becomes
your neighborhood school. In order to return to your original
neighborhood school, you must apply for an intra-district permit
through the Enrollment Center in April 2022. Intra-district
permits are requests and not a guarantee for 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.
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 in April 2022.
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 a SCUSD employee and live outside of the SCUSD boundary.
Does my student have preference 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 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.
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:
- Your student is selected for his/her first specialty program
choice and receives a notification letter to register.
- If your student applied to only one specialty program and was
not selected, he/she will be placed on a waiting list.
- If your student applied for two specialty programs and was
not selected for his/her first choice, the computer will look for
his/her second choice. Note: Second choice selections are placed
behind all first choice selections.
- Your student is selected for his/her second specialty program
choice and receives a notification letter to register.
- Your student is not selected for his/her first or second
specialty program choice. He/she will be placed on a waiting list
for his/her 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. Placement from the waiting list occurs only if
space becomes available.
The specialty program coordinator working with the Enrollment
Center Director will contact the parent/guardian when and if
space becomes available.
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 his/her 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.
