What Do They Mean? Understanding SFUSD Key Dates
When SFUSD updated the Key Dates page on its website for the 2018–2019 school year, some information was reworded from previous years. This has caused some confusion with families who were familiar with the process and interpreted the changed wording as a change in the enrollment process.
There is one big change. Instead of five rounds in the student assignment process, there are four rounds this year. What we used to call Round 4 (the Wait Pool round with a July application deadline) will not happen this year. Otherwise, the general timeline and process remain the same, with only exact dates changing from last year.
PPS-SF has confirmed our understanding with the Educational Placement Center (EPC), and would like to help clear up the confusion by sharing this information with families.
December 13, 2017
First audition deadline for Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
This is the Round 1 deadline for applicants to Ruth Asawa School of the Arts (Asawa SOTA) to submit Asawa SOTA application packets and portfolios, if required, in person to Asawa SOTA. Applicants also must submit an SFUSD application in person to the EPC (or current SFUSD school) by January 12, 2018. First-round auditions take place on Saturday, January 13, 2018.
December 15, 2017
Application deadline for 9th grade applicants to Lowell High School
This is the Round 1 and only deadline for 9th grade applicants to Lowell High School. You must submit Lowell applications and SFUSD applications together in person to the EPC (or current SFUSD school).
January 12, 2018
Round 1 application deadline to apply for grades TK–12 for the 2018–2019 school year
This is the Round 1 deadline for all other SFUSD schools. Submit the SFUSD application in person to the EPC (or current SFUSD school). You may rank your requested schools in the order you prefer them, and can list as many schools as you wish. If you submit your application early, you have until this date to make any changes to it.
February 21, 2018
Second audition deadline for Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
This is the Round 2 deadline for the Ruth Asawa SOTA auditions that take place on Saturday, March 10, 2018. Students who did not apply to SOTA in Round 1 must submit application packets and portfolios, if required, in person to Asawa SOTA by this date. Students who applied in Round 1 and were not accepted, or would like to apply for a different discipline, may reapply by emailing admissions@sfsota.org and turning in an essay and portfolio, if required, to the school.
All second audition applicants who are accepted into Asawa SOTA must submit an SFUSD application in person to the EPC by April 6, 2018.
March 16, 2018
Notification letters mailed for Round 1 applicants
This is when Round 1 assignment letters are mailed. Every student who submits a Round 1 application receives a letter with an assignment. If you are already enrolled in an SFUSD school and are assigned to a school of your choice, then the new assignment replaces the current assignment for the 2018–2019 school year. If you are already enrolled in an SFUSD school and are not able to be assigned to a school of your choice, your current assignment remains. If you are not already enrolled for 2018–2019, and are not able to be assigned to a school of your choice, you are designated to a school that has openings at the end of the process.
March 19–23, and April 2–6, 2018
Registration period to accept Round 1 offer
You must register at your Round 1 assigned school by April 6, 2018, in order to confirm the assignment. Take your photo ID, child’s birth certificate, school assignment letter, and a copy of your original application. You should register even if you intend to reapply in other rounds of the enrollment process.
Schools are closed March 26–30, 2018, for Spring Break. You may not register during that week.
April 6, 2018
Application deadline for families who missed the Round 1 deadline
Round 2 application deadline to apply for grades TK–12 for the 2018–2019 school year
Registration deadline to accept Round 1 offer
In addition to being the deadline for families who did not apply in Round 1, this is also the deadline for submitting Round 2 applications for those families who are not satisfied with their Round 1 assignments. You must submit the application in person to the EPC, and may not submit it at any school site. As with Round 1, you may rank your requested schools in the order you prefer them, and can list as many schools as you prefer over your current assignment.
The EPC is open March 26–30, 2018, during Spring Break. You may submit your Round 2 application during that week.
May 18, 2018
Notification letters mailed for Round 2 applicants
This is when Round 2 assignment letters are mailed. Every student who submits a Round 2 application receives a letter with an assignment. If you are already enrolled in an SFUSD school and are assigned to a school of your choice, then the new assignment replaces the current assignment for the 2018–2019 school year. If you are already enrolled in an SFUSD school and are not able to be assigned to a school of your choice, your current assignment remains. If you apply in Round 1, do not register for your assignment, and are not able to be assigned to a school of your choice, you are not assigned a school in this round.
May 21–June 1, 2018
Registration period to accept Round 2 offer
If you receive a new assignment in Round 2, you must register at this school by June 1, 2018, in order to confirm the assignment. Take your photo ID, child’s birth certificate, school assignment letter, and a copy of your original application. You should register even if you intend to reapply in other rounds of the enrollment process.
June 1, 2018
Round 3 Wait Pool application deadline for the 2018–2019 school year
Registration deadline to accept Round 2 offer
This is the deadline to submit a Round 3 Wait Pool application. You must apply in person at the EPC, and you may request one school.
June 20, 2018
Notification letters mailed for Round 3 applicants
This is when Round 3 assignment letters are mailed. Every student who submits a Round 3 application receives a letter. You only receive a new assignment if you are able to be assigned to your requested school.
June 22, 2018
Application deadline for 10th–12th grade applicants to Lowell High School
Families of San Francisco students in grades 9–11 who would like to apply to Lowell HIgh School for the 2018–2019 school year must submit their applications to the EPC by June 22, 2018.
June 27–August 31, 2018
Available Schools Assignment Period (ASAP)
Application period for families who missed the Round 2 deadline
During the ASAP, schools with openings and no Wait Pool applicants are available on a first come, first served basis to all families. If you do not have an assignment or are not satisfied with your current assignment, you may visit the EPC for a new assignment. If you accept an assignment through the ASAP, you may still enter the Wait Pool for a school you would prefer.
July 27, 2018
Notification letters mailed by this date for 10th–12th grade applicants to Lowell High School
All students who apply are sent notification letters. SFUSD students who are not accepted into Lowell retain their current assignments.
August 17, 2018
Round 4 Wait Pool application deadline for the 2018–2019 school year
This is the deadline to submit a Round 4 Wait Pool application. If you apply in Round 3 and do not receive an assignment to your requested school, your request remains active and you do not need to submit another application unless you wish to change or cancel your request. You may request one school for the Wait Pool. You should only participate in Round 4 if you are willing to move your child to the requested school after the start of the school year.
August 20, 2018
First day of instruction for the 2018–2019 school year
This is the first day of school for all SFUSD schools. Students must attend within the first three days, or their assignment is cancelled.
August 31, 2018
Notification letters mailed for Round 4 applicants
This is when Round 4 assignment letters are mailed. Notification calls are made before the letters are sent so that students who receive new assignments can start at their new schools as soon as possible.