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Specialty Program Application Process

Step 1: Research Your Options

Important Dates

  • November 2, 2026 – Specialty program application opens
  • December 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. – CFPA Application closes
  • February 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. – Specialty program application closes
  • March 1, 2027 – Application results will be available for parents
  • March 5, 2027 – Deadline to accept or decline an offer

We encourage parents to submit applications as soon as possible. Late applications will not be considered.

Program Specific Information

The following programs have dates, deadlines, and application requirements that are specific to their program. Visit the program's webpage to learn more.

Step 2: Complete the Online Specialty Program Application

Things to know

  • The application must be completed by a parent/guardian.
  • The student's grade level for the 2027-28 school year and attendance areas will determine the specific specialty programs and school locations available when completing the application.
  • Up to three programs can be selected.
  • The programs selected must be ranked in the order of preference before submitting the application.

Step-by-Step Instructions

View information on how to create an account and step-by-step instructions for completing the application.

Application for Current PWCS Students

These instructions are intended for students who are currently enrolled in a Prince William County Public School.

  • Go to the PWCS Specialty Program Application website.
    Login form for PWCS with fields for email and password, designed to facilitate enrollment with Avela.
  • Choose the “Sign Up” option. You will have the option of using an email address or a phone number to sign up.
  • Sign up using an email address:
    • Enter your email address associated with your PWCS ParentVUE account and password of your choice, and select "Sign Up."
    • Check your email for a verification link. If you do not see the verification email in your inbox, check your spam folder. Click on the verification link.
      Email verification notification with an illustration of a mailbox.
  • Sign up using a cell phone number:
    • Enter the phone number associated with your ParentVUE account, then click “Send Code.”
      PWCS enrollment interface prompting users to enter their phone number for SMS updates.
    • Enter the code and click "Log in."
      Login interface displaying a code input field with a "Resend Code" option and a "Log In" button.
  • Click “Start form.”
    Portal screen inviting users to start a new form, featuring a "Start form" button and an option to add another student.
  • Select the student you are completing an application for from the drop-down menu. Then, select "Next" to continue.
    Dropdown menu for selecting student and enrollment period for PWCS applications.
    Note: Do not select "Add new student" when registering a current PWCS student. If you plan to complete an application for additional students, you will need to complete and submit this application first.
  • The student information screen will be shown on the next screen. It will contain your student’s grade level for next year, as well as your student’s home address. Select “Next” to continue.
    Verified status message indicating that the student information has been confirmed by staff and cannot be edited.
  • Select "Add program."
    Screenshot of a web form for selecting specialty programs for high school applications, highlighting the option to choose up to 5 programs based on preference.
  • The next screen shows all the programs available to you based on your grade level and home address.
    Dropdown menu for selecting specialty programs at Colgan High School, featuring options for various middle and high schools and their respective focus areas.
  • Click on a program to add it. If you click on the wrong program or you decide you don’t want a program that you selected, you can click on the red dash next to the program to remove it from your list (this is labeled as “Remove Program” by screen readers). Repeat this process until you have added all your programs. You can select up to three programs.
    Screen showing a specialty program selection form for Colgan High School, highlighting the option to choose programs by preference order.
  • Once you have added your choices (you can add up to three choices), you can rank your choices by clicking and moving them. When you are finished ranking your choices, select “Next” to continue.
    Illustration of a selection form for specialty programs with options for middle school international baccalaureate and language-focused courses.
  • The application will prompt you to verify your selection. If correct, select “Yes, continue.” If incorrect, select “No, cancel.”
    Screenshot of a program ranking interface displaying a list of schools and their respective programs.
  • Verified student information will appear on the next screen. Select “Next” to continue.
    Verified status message indicating that the information cannot be edited, followed by a question about the child's enrollment status.
  • If your student is in grades 1-5 or you selected Pennington Traditional School or Porter Traditional School, you will be asked if your student has siblings at any of the programs you selected. Choose the correct response and select “Next” to continue.
    Dropdown menu for sibling information related to enrollment at Pennington Traditional School.
  • Complete transportation information. Select “Next” to continue after you have selected a transportation option for each school.
    Screenshot of a transportation selection form for students applying to a specialty program school, featuring drop-down menus for selecting express bus stops for Beville Middle School, Graham Park Middle School, and Lake Ridge Middle School.
  • If you applied for a program that requires additional information for the application, you will see it here. If the programs you selected do not require additional information for the application, you will go directly to the signature page.
  • Please review the information on this screen (be sure to review the VHSL information if you are completing an application for a high school student). Enter your full name in the box provided. Please answer the question at the bottom of the screen if it applies to you. Select "Submit” to complete your application.
    Signature field for student program acknowledgment and agreement to eligibility requirements for specialty program participants.
  • You can see all the programs you selected by clicking on the arrow next to see programs. If you click “View form,” you can see all your information (address, selected programs, transportation information, etc.). You can edit this form up until the application deadline on February 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.
    Confirmation message for application submission to specialty schools for the 2026-27 school year.
  • Once you click submit, Avela will send you an email confirming your application submission.
  • If you need to complete the form for another student, click "Start form" to begin the application process for the next student.

Application for Students Not Currently Enrolled in a PWCS School

These instructions are for students who are not currently enrolled in Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS). This includes students who:

  • Attend a private school
  • Receive home instruction (homeschool)
  • Are relocating to Prince William County

Important: Do not follow the application instructions for students who are currently enrolled in PWCS.

How to Apply

  1. Complete the Specialty Program Application Contact Form (link will be available November 2).
  2. Enter the requested parent/guardian and student information.
    1. You must complete ALL fields in the form before submitting.
    2. In the description box, please indicate if the student is currently in private school, homeschooled, or if you are moving to Prince William County.
    3. A Prince William County home address is required.
  3. Submit the form as directed.
  4. After submitting the application contact form, additional information on how to complete the application will be sent to the email address provided.

If you have questions, contact Advanced Academics and Specialty Programs at [email protected].

Step 3: Review of Submitted Applications

  • After the application window closes, school-based specialty program coordinators will review each application to determine if the student meets the requirements for the program.
  • If an application does not meet the program's requirements or if additional information is needed, the specialty program coordinator will contact the students’ parents directly.
  • If the student meets the requirements for the program, the student’s name will be entered into a lottery.

Important Dates

  • February 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. – Specialty program application closes
  • March 1, 2027 – Lottery results will be available for parents

Things to Know

  • No new applications will be accepted after 11:59 p.m. on February 1.
  • No changes can be made to submitted applications after 11:59 p.m. on February 1.

For more information about an application to a program, contact the specialty program coordinator at the school where the program is located.

Step 4: Notification of Lottery Result & Program Acceptance

  • PWCS uses a lottery process that gives all applicants an equal chance to enroll in our specialty programs.
  • All students who applied will be notified by March 1, 2027, about the final status of their application.
    • Students who applied to the Governor’s School @ Innovation Park, the Practical Nursing Program, or Thomas Jefferson High School, please see important dates for program-specific information.
  • If a student is offered a seat in a Specialty Program, the deadline to accept or decline is 11:59 p.m. on March 5, 2027.

Important Dates

  • March 5, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. – Deadline to accept or decline an offer
  • March 19, 2027 – Results for The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park will be released
  • April 30, 2027 – Results for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will be released
  • May 15, 2027 – Results for the Practical Nursing Program will be released

If you have questions about the lottery or program acceptance process, contact Advanced Academics and Specialty Programs at [email protected].

Understanding Lottery Results

Each program the student applied to will reflect one of the following statuses:

  • Offered
    • Your student has been offered a spot in the program.
    • Offers must be accepted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2027.
    • Offers not accepted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2027, will be canceled. The status will then say ‘revoked.’
    • Each student can receive only one program offer.
  • Received Higher Choice
    • Your student was offered a seat in a program they ranked higher.
  • Waitlist
    • Your student is on the waitlist for the program.
    • Accepting another program offer will not affect waitlist placement.
    • Waitlist offers will be updated weekly beginning Monday, March 8.
    • If a seat becomes available, the program status will update in Avela and a message will be sent to families.
    • The student’s number on the waitlist will not be shared.
  • Deny-Not Eligible

Non-PWCS Students

If your student accepts a Specialty Program offer and is not currently enrolled in Prince William County Public Schools, you must also complete new student registration to finalize enrollment. Registration information and required forms are available on the PWCS website.

How to Accept Lottery Offer

  1. Log in to Avela using the phone number or email used when the application was completed.
  2. View application lottery results.
  3. To accept, click "Respond to offer"
    step image 1
  4. To accept the offer, click "Accept offer".

    Note - if you are on the waitlist for a program that was a higher choice on your application, you will remain on the waitlist for that program. If you are offered a spot at that program, you will be able to accept.

    step image 2
  5. Click "Yes, accept"
    step image 3

Off-Cycle Applications

Off-cycle Specialty Program applications are available only for students who transfer into PWCS outside the application window (November 2-February 1). Students new to PWCS who wish to apply for Specialty Programs must do so within 30 days of enrollment.

Once the student has enrolled at their zoned school, the family may request an off-cycle Specialty Program application by contacting Advanced Academics and Specialty Programs at [email protected].