Frequently Asked Questions for 2025-26 Specialty Program Applications
- How do I check the status of my student’s Specialty Program application?
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- 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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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- 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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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