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 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 2024-2025 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 through a intra-district permit transfer April 15, 2024 – May 3, 2024. 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 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.
- If you are a current SCUSD student, the transcripts will be automatically sent from Infinite Campus
- Other students will upload a copy of their transcripts as part of their application.
Can I make a change to my student’s application?
Yes, changes can be made to a submitted application anytime between October 30 - November 17. Please be sure to resubmit edited applications by November 17, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. to be considered.
How will we know you received my student’s application?
Once an application is successfully submitted, there will be a confirmation screen and a message in your SchoolMint Message Center confirming the submission.
Parent/guardians will also receive a confirmation via email or text message based on what preferences (email, text message or both) that were selected when registering.
Families can log into their SchoolMint account at anytime to see status of their application(s) or view 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?
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 April 15, 2024 – May 3, 2024 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 Friday, November 17, 2023. No late applications will be accepted.
When do I find out if my student is accepted?
Notification will be sent to families through SchoolMint on January 16, 2024. Families will receive the notification based on what preferences (email, text message or both) were selected when registering.
Current SCUSD Students
If your student is currently enrolled in SCUSD, you must complete an Annual Update through your Infinite Campus Parent Portal to verify your address and contact information. Acceptance into a specialty program is considered a change in enrollment and requires updated verification. View directions on how to complete the Annual Update form.
We recommend completing this step as soon as possible so that if your student is offered a spot at a specialty program, you will simply accept the offer in SchoolMint to guarantee enrollment. No other steps will be required.
If you do not have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account, 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.
New Students to the District
If accepted into a specialty program, new students to the district will need to complete a full registration form. A link to this form will be included in the notifications sent to families. Families will need to provide photo identification, address verification, proof of birth documentation, and immunization records.
Applicants will be automatically dropped from the specialty program acceptance list, if they do not register or turn in an Annual Update by their 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?
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 April 15, 2024 – May 3, 2024. 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.
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 a intra-district permit transfer April 15, 2024 – May 3, 2024.
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 a intra-district permit transfer April 15, 2024 – May 3, 2024.
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 their first specialty program choice and receives a notification communication 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 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 communication to register.
- Your student is not selected for their first or second specialty program choice. He/she 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 16, 2024 notifying parent/guardians regarding placement on the waitlist.
When space becomes available, a notification will be sent through SchoolMint notifying the parent/guardian of the offer. 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.