Admission Policy and Procedures

Grade 9 Admission Procedures

Students apply for admission in the Fall of their eighth grade year. The timeline is as follows:

October 1 to October 28th – Sibling Preference. Registration in October is only for eighth graders who have a sibling currently attending City High. Siblings do not receive preference after the last Friday in October.

October 29th – An informational meeting is held at the school at 9:00AM. Registrations are accepted at the conclusion of the meeting for City of Pittsburgh residents only. A total of 162 freshmen are admitted. The number of slots available at this point is 162 minus the number of siblings already registered. City of Pittsburgh residents registration continues until the first day of December.

First weekday in December – If more than 162 students including siblings have applied before the end of November a lottery will occur at 10:00AM. Siblings are not included in the lottery. If 162 or fewer students have applied then all will be admitted.

Second weekday in December – Registration continues for both City and suburban residents. If 162 students have already been admitted, new registrants will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which the registration is received and will be admitted as vacancies occur. Students are admitted from the waiting list until February 15th of the 9th grade year.

Please be advised that a spot on the waiting list is not a guarantee for admission at any point.

Once a spot is opened up on the 9th grade main roster, students from the waiting list will be admitted according to the number they hold on the list. Once placed on the 9th grade waiting list the student has until February 15th to be enrolled. If, after February 15th a student is still on the 9th grade list, they will be given the option to register for the 10th grade before any new 10th grade applications are accepted.

Grade 10 Admission Procedures

Students who remain on the 9th grade waiting list after February 15 are given the option to register for the 10th grade before any new 10th grade applications are accepted.

Students who are not on the 9th grade waiting list may apply for 10th grade admission after February 15th of their 9th grade year.

All students applying for 10th grade must be 10th graders by City High standards. These are the same requirements that City High 9th graders must meet to move on to grade 10. Please call the school for details.

Students are admitted from the 10th grade waiting list as openings occur until February 15th of their 10th grade year.

Grades 11 and 12

Students are never admitted to Grades 11 and 12 at City High.