Specialty Program Application Process

Frequently Asked Questions for 2025-26 Specialty Program Applications

How do I check the status of my student’s Specialty Program application?

Log in to your ParentVUE account.
On a web browser, you should be taken directly to the Status Page. If you are not, please select Online Records in the top right corner, and then select Status in the same corner.
Using the mobile app select OLR Online Records, then select Open Online Registration. From the account profile icon at the top of the screen, click Status and then the status will display.

What is the deadline to accept or decline the offer of a Specialty Program seat?

If your student was offered a seat in a Specialty Program, you must accept or decline it by the end of the day on Friday, March 21, 2025. If you do not accept the seat by this date, the offer will be automatically declined.

What if I accepted or declined an offer on Friday, February 28 or Saturday, March 1?

The final, official results released on Thursday, March 13, 2025, supersede all previously published results.

As we shared in our communication on March 7, 2025, there were errors in the previously published results. These errors included the improper allocation of seats in some programs.

All programs have been reviewed, and all students have now received the proper seating based on their lottery outcome, preferences, and available seats.

You may see results that differ from the previously posted outcomes. The results now posted in ParentVUE are final. We deeply regret the previous errors and apologize to those impacted.

Can I appeal the decision?

There is no appeal. The results now posted in ParentVUE are final. The final, official results released on Thursday, March 13, 2025, supersede all previously published results.

Does accepting a seat in a Specialty Program affect my application status for the Governor’s School @ Innovation Park and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology?

No. Accepting a seat in a Specialty Program does not affect applications to these programs.

When will applicants for the Governor’s School @ Innovation Park, School of Practical Nursing at Osbourn Park High School, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology be offered seats in those programs?

The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park – March 28, 2025
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology – April 30, 2025
School of Practical Nursing at Osbourn Park High School – May 15, 2025

Can I find out what number my student is on the waitlist for Pennington Traditional School or Porter Traditional School?

The waitlist order for Pennington Traditional School or Porter Traditional School is not published. Families will be notified if their student is offered a seat from the waitlist. Notifications will be sent at the beginning of each month in April, May, June, and July.

What are the steps being taken to resolve the Specialty Program application process?

PWCS notified families of the final, official results of Specialty Program applications on Thursday, March 13, 2025.

Families have until the end of the day on Friday, March 21, 2025, to accept or reject the offer of a seat in a Specialty Program for their student.

We are currently on step 6 of this process:

PWCS – Identified errors with the Specialty Program application process.
PWCS – Investigated errors in the Specialty Program lottery process.
PWCS – Verifying each student’s Specialty Program application data.
PWCS – Notify families of the official outcomes of the Specialty Program application process.
Families – Accept or reject the offer of a Specialty Program seat for their student by the end of the day on Friday, March 21, 2025.
PWCS – Make waitlist offers to applicants to the Traditional School programs at Pennington Traditional School and Porter Traditional School. PWCS will rerun the waitlist at the beginning of each month in April, May, June, and July, and will notify any families who may receive an offer as a result.

Why did I not see a record of my choice once I accepted or declined an offer?

The vendor has fixed a system bug that was not showing the history of the choice once the selection was made in ParentVUE. The record of the choice made is now visible in ParentVUE on the Status page.

Why couldn’t I see the status of my student’s Specialty Program application?

If your student did not meet the selection requirements for the one or more programs to which they applied, the status was not previously showing in ParentVUE. The vendor has corrected this problem and you will now see those listed in ParentVUE as Status “Application is Being Processed” with the Comment “Denied.”

During the first review phase of the application process, each school evaluates whether students meet the necessary qualifications to advance to the lottery or selection stage. These qualifications include a fully completed application, meeting the program requirements, living within the school/program boundary, and/or a successful audition. Your student did not meet the qualifications to be considered in the lottery, and therefore was denied.

We acknowledge that this news may be disappointing. If you have questions about the program denial, due to not meeting program qualifications, please contact the Specialty Program Coordinator at the respective school offering the program. They will be able to provide further clarification and assistance. You can find all coordinators listed on the PWCS Specialty Programs website by selecting the school level on the left and then scrolling to the specific program.

Who can apply to a Specialty Program at this time?

Only families who qualify for Off-Cycle Applications can apply for a Specialty Program at this time.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

Questions about a specific Specialty Programs

If you have specific questions regarding a program, please contact the school’s program coordinator. You can find contact information for each coordinator on the PWCS Specialty Programs website.

Questions about denial due to not meeting program qualifications

If you have questions about the program denial due to not meeting program qualifications, please contact the school’s program coordinator. You can find contact information for each coordinator on the PWCS Specialty Programs website.

All other questions about Specialty Program applications

All other questions can be directed to the Advanced Academics and Specialty Programs office. Please use this online contact form so that we can ensure that each family receives a timely response to their questions.

Last updated: March 24, 2025

Specialty Program Application Process

Step 1: Research Your Options

Research programs at your base school
Review specialty program information, including program types and offerings
Attend/view a specialty program information session
Attend a school-specific information session
Review VHSL eligibility information (for high school students)
Review transportation information
Determine the specialty program(s) that you want to apply to (you can apply to three programs and must rank them in order of preference)

Application Deadlines

December 14, 2024 – Center for Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA)
February 1, 2025 – All Other Specialty Programs (transfer and transport programs), including The Governor's School @ Innovation Park

Late applications will not be considered.

Program-Specific Application Requirements

Practical Nursing Applicants

The Practical Nursing Program Application is not completed through the Specialty Program application in ParentVUE. Students applying to the Practical Nursing Program complete a separate form found on the Practical Nursing Program Application Process webpage. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Tammy Dean, program coordinator, at [email protected].

Pre-Governor's School and The Governor's School @ Innovation Park Applicants

Students applying to Pre-Governor's School and The Governor's School @ Innovation Park must complete the Specialty Program Supplemental Application, in addition to completing the Specialty Program Application in ParentVUE. Both applications must be completed by February 1, 2025, to have a completed application. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Step 2: Apply Online

Create a PWCS ParentVUE Account

If you already have a PWCS ParentVUE account, skip to the Complete the Specialty Program Application section.

Go to the ParentVUE website.
Select the Create a New Account link (click the More Options tab if you do not see the link).
Answer the Parent Account Activation questions and click Continue
- If you answer Yes to any of the questions, you already have a ParentVUE account and you must use your existing ParentVUE User Name and Password to complete your student's specialty program application.
- If you answer No to all questions, click Continue to go to the next step.
Review the ParentVUE/StudentVUE Use Agreement and I Accept to continue.
Create your account by completing the following fields and continue to the next step.
- Legal First Name and Last Name – please be sure to enter your name as it appears on government issued identification. Your name as entered here will be used for your electronic signature.
- Email Address – an activation link will be sent to this email. Please be sure to enter a valid email address.
- Security Code – enter the text in the image.
A confirmation message will appear. You will receive an email that will contain a link that will allow you to finish creating your ParentVUE account.
Click the link in the email.
The Complete Account Creation window opens.
Complete the following fields on the Complete Account Creation webpage to finish creating your account, then click Save and Continue.
- User ID – by default, this is your email address, but it can be changed before creating your account.
- Password

Complete the Specialty Program Application

Follow these steps if you already have a PWCS ParentVUE account.

Log in to the ParentVUE Registration and Online Records webpage.
- Enter your ParentVUE User Name and Password on the login screen and click Login.
- If you have not activated your ParentVUE account, please contact your student's school for assistance.
Scroll until you find the Specialty Program Application button for the 2025-26 school year, and select the option.
The Introduction Screen will display important information regarding the specialty program application process, including helpful links to express bus transportation information. Review the information on this page, and click Continue to proceed with the application.
Follow the instructions and click Save and Continue at the bottom of each screen to move forward. As each section is completed, a green checkbox will appear next to the section name.
To make any edits within the application, click the Edit button to the left of each of the section headings. Once the edits are made, click Save and Continue to return to the Review/Submit screen. Once you have reviewed the application, click the Submit button.
Families not currently enrolled in PWCS are asked to submit a copy of their most recent transcript or report card for review by the specialty program coordinators.

ES/MS Specialty Program Application Overview (Video) HS Specialty Program Application Overview (Video)

Step 3: Selection

CFPA applicants attend an audition (January 2025).
Schools review applicant information for specific eligibility criteria.
The Governor's School @ Innovation Park applicants will complete timed essay (early February 2025)

Step 4: Notification

Acceptance information will be communicated through the application portal. Families will receive an email asking them to check the portal for a decision.

Step 5: Program Acceptance

Families must declare their intent to participate in the accepted Specialty program.

Off-Cycle Applications

Off-cycle Specialty Program applications are available only for students who transfer into PWCS outside the application window (November 1-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 base school, the family may request an off-cycle Specialty Program application by contacting Advanced Academics and Specialty Programs at [email protected]. Some programs are at capacity and have a waitlist and are not available through the off-cycle application.

Students new or returning to PWCS and enrolling in a specialty program not at their base or previous PWCS school are ineligible for high school sports under VHSL rules. Eligibility can only be granted through the VHSL appeal process. If there are any questions, please contact the PWCS Student Activities and Athletics Department at 703-791-7353.