FAQ

If your child was awarded a Choice seat and you accepted the seat and attends the program at the school, you do not need to complete another application for the next school year. Your child can stay through the highest grade level at the school. You will need to apply for 6th and 8th grade. If you are at a K-8 school, you must apply for 6th grade.

We moved to a new platform in November 2022 where a student ID number is needed in order to apply. If your child is currently or has ever been enrolled at a public school or a charter school, you will use that ID number. If your child has never attended a charter or public school, you will need to complete the "Request for Student ID" application first. Our department will then issue you a student ID number. The process can take up to 7 business days once all required documentation is submitted. Once the number has been issued, the option to complete a Choice Application will be available. 

You will log back into the Family Dashboard at that time to complete the Choice application. Once completed, you will see the completed application for your child on the Family Dashboard.

Click “Begin Application,” then click “Begin Application for (student name), click “Choice Programs”, and click “Submit.” Follow the directions on the screen from there. Make sure you hit the submit button at the bottom of the application after signing your name. Once you start the final step of the application, if you leave the page, it will not save what you have completed. Once the application has successfully been submitted, you will receive a confirmation/order number. 

We moved to a new platform in November 2022, where a student ID number is needed in order to apply. If your child is currently or has ever been enrolled at a public school or a charter school, you will use that ID number. If your child has never attended a charter or public school, you will need to complete the "Request for Student ID" application first. Our department will then issue you a student ID number. The process can take up to 7 business days once all required documentation is submitted. You will receive an email from our department with the student number. Once the number has been issued, the option to complete a Choice Application will be available. You will log back into the Family Dashboard at that time to complete the Choice application. Once completed, you will see the completed application for your child on the Family Dashboard.

If you have already created the profile for your child on the Family Dashboard, click your child's name next to the pencil icon. Double-check that the spelling of your child's name to make sure it matches as it is listed in SIS (this includes hyphens, apostrophes, and double last names), the student number is typed correctly without an "S", and that you selected the correct Enrollment option. Also double-check check you have put the first and last name in the correct box. Save and then refresh the screen. This should allow you to complete an application. 

If this still does not work, please contact us back with the email you created the account with and your child’s name and student ID number. 

If you have already created the profile for your child on the Family Dashboard, click your child's name next to the pencil icon. Double-check that the spelling of your child's name to make sure it matches as it is listed in SIS (this includes hyphens, apostrophes, and double last names), the student number is typed correctly without an "S,” and that you selected the correct Enrollment option. Also double check you have put the first and last name in the correct box. Save and then refresh the screen. This should allow you to complete an application.

One application per student may be submitted. Each application will allow the selection of up to (2) two Choice programs. The selections may be limited, depending on the student's grade level, program and attendance zone.

You will need to log into your Family Dashboard. On the main screen, you will see the applications you submitted. On the right side of the application, you will see a “Select Preferences” button. Click it and follow the directions to change your choices. 

Yes you can. You will need to log into your Family Dashboard. On the main screen, you will see the applications you submitted. On the right side of the application, you will see a “Select Preferences” button. Click it and follow the directions to change your choices. 

***Applications for schools that require auditions such as Bak Middle School of the Arts, The Conservatory School @ North Palm Beach, A.W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts, Boynton Beach High School's Arts programs and West Boca Raton High School's performing Arts programs, cannot be changed after December 6, 2024. All other choice selections can be changed one time until January 31, 2025.

As you completed the application, pink boxes would pop up if specific documentation is required. To upload documents, you will go back to your Family Dashboard. Here you will see the application you submitted for your child. Under the column “Documentation Required,” you will see a “View/Add Docs.” Click it and follow the instructions for uploading documents. Our team will let you know if additional documents are required as we process the application.

Yes. Tracking your child's status or making changes to your child's application during the application period is fast and simple. Just log on to your Parent Dashboard, then enter your e-mail address and password used to set up your parent account. 

Once the application is completed and submitted online, you will receive a confirmation sent to the email address attached to your parent account. Remember to check all spam and junk email folders to ensure delivery. If the email is found in either of these folders, be sure to mark it as 'not spam' or 'not junk.'

Friday, December 6, 2024*: The deadline to apply for all programs at Bak Middle School of the Arts (all programs), The Conservatory School @ North Palm Beach (Music-Band & Music-Orchestral Strings), Boynton Beach Community High School Arts programs (Dance, Digital Media, Music-Band, Music-Keyboard/Piano, Music-Vocal, Theatre, and Visual Arts), A.W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts (all programs), and West Boca Raton Community High School Performing Arts programs.

Friday, January 31, 2025*. Application deadline for all Choice programs other than the programs listed above.

*The Choice application deadline date(s) may be subject to change as a result of conditions out of our control including, but not limited to: District/school closings, delay in school district daily operations, changes in school calendar, holidays, testing, etc. Updated deadline dates will be published. 

Use the “Forgot My Password” feature when logging in. Check your junk/spam folders in case the password reset email was rejected by your server. If you have problems with the “Forgot my Password” feature, send an email requesting a password reset, from the email address you signed up with to: choicequestions@palmbeachschools.org

If your child is zoned to attend a school that is currently at 95% or above enrollment, he/she will have more program options to apply for. Your child will no longer be restricted to selecting your zoned schools program as a first choice IF your zoned school is at or above 95% as indicated on the October FTE report. Any available program options will be shown in your Choice program application drop down menu.

No. Each child must have a separate application submitted.

Applying for a Choice program online is quick and easy. The process should not take more than 15 minutes.

You must apply online. Please contact your child’s current school or the Department of Choice and Career Options at choicequestions@palmbeachschools.org for additional assistance with the online application. 

No. All applications must be submitted online through the application system. 

It is the user's responsibility to protect the integrity of any information entered in the system. This includes but is not limited to passwords or personal information about you or your child. Your account is linked only to your child(ren).

No. You must wait one hour for the system to reset itself from your unsuccessful attempts. If you forgot your password, use the "Forgot my Password" feature. If you are still having difficulties, e-mail the Department of Choice and Career Options at: choicequestions@palmbeachschools.org for assistance.

No. A student and his/her parent must be residing in Palm Beach County prior to completing an application or auditioning for a Choice school or program in the PBCSD.

The address listed on the application must be the same as the address on file with the PBCSD Student Information System (SIS) at the time the application is submitted. If a current parent address is not consistent with the student’s address, the student’s address must be updated at the student’s current school. Addresses can only be updated by the data processor at the student’s current school. Once parents/legal guardians verify the address was updated, they must send an e-mail to the Department of Choice and Career Options at choicequestions@palmbeachschools.org to confirm the address was updated. Applications will not be processed if the address on the application and the address in SIS do not match by the application deadline date.

If students are unable to verify their address because they are awaiting placement in licensed foster care, experiencing homelessness or due to other extenuating circumstances they must indicate they have extenuating circumstances by emailing choicequestions@palmbeachschools.org . The Department of Choice and Career Options will review these applications and process them in accordance with the provisions of Board Policy 5.74 and 5.011. ii.

If the student does not have a SDPBC student number, proof of address document must be uploaded with the application. For a list of documents that may be accepted as proof of address, please refer to School Board Policy 5.011. The Department of Choice and Career Options reserves the right to ask for additional documentation in order to prove residency.

All eligible applications submitted by the published deadlines deadline will be considered for the random lottery selection. 

The random lottery selection will be conducted during March 2025 using software provided by an independent software developer.  

The lottery is programmed according to the Choice policies and procedures, including preferences. Any preference is considered only for first choice applications. See below for the lottery steps and options:

1. All first choice applications are automatically  'run' through a random selection process, filling all available seats. Those students who were NOT randomly selected through this process will be on the 'Wait List' for that program.

2. If the applicant also selected a second choice option, they will be considered for their second choice in the random lottery that happens next.

3. During the second choice lottery, the system runs all second choice applicants for each program and assigns them according to the number of available seats left after all first choice seats were considered in the initial lottery. If additional seats are available for a program that other applicants selected as a first choice, then second choice students will be randomly assigned to fill those seats.

4. Once the lottery is complete, students can be (1) Assigned to their first choice, (2) Assigned to their second choice or (3) in the wait pool for one or both of their programs (depending upon how many choices they originally selected) 

Students who applied online and are selected in the lottery will receive an email notification from the Choice and Career Options Department by April 4, 2025. Parents may also login to their Parent Dashboard to view the status of their child's application. 

You will need to log into your account at www.mypbchoiceapp.com in order to see your results. If you were offered a seat you can accept it or reject it from the Family Dashboard by the published deadline date. You can also check your email (the one attached to your application) to see if you received an Application Result status email.

Please log in using the old email address you created the account with to view your lottery results. Additional tech support can be provided by emailing: help@scribsoft.com

Students who were assigned to their first choice selection have the option of accepting or declining the seat. If they decline the seat offered for their 1st choice, they must enroll at their zoned school. You cannot decline a first choice to remain in a wait pool for a second choice.

Students who were assigned to their second choice selection have the option of accepting or declining the seat. If they accept the seat, they are no longer in a wait pool for their first choice program. If they decline the seat, they will automatically be placed in the wait pool for their first choice program. You cannot accept a second choice and remain in the first choice wait pool.
Students cannot be assigned into more than one program at a time! Students can only be assigned to one program, or placed in the wait pool for both programs.  

Please log in to your Family Dashboard at mypbchoiceapp.com. Directions are on the main page regarding accepting/declining a seat. You will see a green/red button on the right side of the screen. Make your selection and follow the directions that pop up.

A wait pool is a group of students who were not assigned to the program as there were more applicants that applied than there were seats available in the lottery. Students will be selected from the wait pool as seats become available.Students may be placed up until the first day of school. Seats become available as students decline a seat assignment offered through the lottery. If your application status changes from “Wait pool” to “Assigned," you will receive a notification letting you know that you need to accept or decline your placement. 

Odds of student selection are not available as it is dependent upon the number of students who decline their seat. Seats do become available as students may move or change their minds. If you are not accepted to either program by the first day of school then your student will need to attend the school he/she is zoned to attend. You may reapply when the window opens in November if you would like. 

There is no guarantee of an assignment in the wait pool.  We are also unable to determine if seats will become available or the likelihood of your student being placed, as we do not know what each family's situation is. Seats become available as students decline an accepted placement. Your student will continue to be in the wait pool until the first day of school unless he or she is selected.  In the event that a seat becomes available and your student is selected, you will be notified. If the student is not selected by the first day of school, the student will need to attend the school to which he/she is zoned. We encourage you to apply again next year, in November. 

You can always log into your account at www.mypbchoiceapp.com to view your student's status. The dashboard is immediately updated if the student is selected to attend one of his or her choices. 

If you are in the wait pool for both programs, that means that there were more applicants than seats available for the programs you selected. After the accept/decline period, any available seats could be filled with students from the wait pool. If this occurs and you are assigned, you will receive communication from the school. Additional assignments could take place until the first day of the new school year. 

Ineligible applications did not meet one or more of the requirements of the program OR there was a problem with your residency and were not considered for the lottery. To receive information regarding the ineligible criteria, you must contact the Choice coordinator at the applicant’s school. Click here for the Choice coordinator directory.

Students who were not selected in the lottery will receive an email notification of their application or “wait pool" status from the Department of Choice and Career Options by April 4, 2025. Parents may also login to their Parent Dashboard to view the status of their child's application.

Appeals are only considered for technical problems occurring during the audition process.

The appeal process for Choice programs is governed by School Board Policy 5.016 and is described in the District's Procedures Manual for Choice Programs. An application for an appeal of Choice program eligibility must be submitted to the Director of Choice and Career Options within five school days from the date of the student’s audition. Appeals will not be considered after the lottery has commenced. For additional information, send a detailed email to: choicequestions@palmbeachschools.org. 

Siblings are not guaranteed to be assigned together due to available seats in the grade level applying for and the number of applicants for the program. If seats become available during the accept/decline period, additional assignments will be made; the Choice Department is aware of all non-assigned siblings. Schools do not have the authority to accept a sibling that was not assigned through the lottery. Siblings may always attend their zoned school together if it causes a hardship with them attending two separate schools. Reassignments for students to join their siblings at their assigned Choice school will not be considered.

Changes to applications are not permitted as the lottery has already been conducted and all deadlines to make changes have passed. It is possible to try each year for placement and we encourage you to apply again next year if not selected for this upcoming school year. If you are assigned to a program you no longer wish to attend, simply reject the seat offer.

No. All students who wish to participate in a Choice program must apply for that program and go through the lottery selection process.

Current Choice students do not need to reapply in order to remain in their present choice program/school. however, choice students in the 5th and 8th grades must apply for middle and high school choice programs.

No. It is the parent/legal guardian's responsibility to guarantee that your child's application is submitted online or to the Department of Choice and Career Options by the published deadline dates.

No. You must register at the school following acceptance into the Choice program. Choice schools send acceptance letters to designated students, indicating a registration period and additional information to secure the seat assignment. All students must comply with the school's procedures and deadline dates to guarantee a spot in the program. Failure to return requested documents or to register at the Choice school will result in forfeiture of the assigned seat.

Transportation is provided for selected K-12 Choice students who reside more than 2 miles from the school based on designated Palm Beach County transportation zone maps. Transportation is not provided for PreK3 and PreK4 Choice students. 

See Choice transportation zones here. 

For more information regarding bus stops and registering for buses, visit Transportation's home page.

If you wish to apply for another school rather than another program, you may submit an application through the Controlled Open Enrollment process at mypbchoiceapp.com. The application and list of available schools will be available April 14, 2025.

• Students assigned to a Choice program are eligible to participate in athletic and extracurricular activities at the Choice school they are attending.
• If a student is not selected to attend a Choice program prior to the start of the 2025–2026 school year, a new application must be submitted for the 2026–2027 school year. (Available November 2025)
• All Choice programs require, as a condition for admission, that students and parents/legal guardians sign a contract agreeing to meet the academic, attendance and conduct expectations of the Choice program.
• Students who are selected and accept placement into a Choice program must agree to participate on a full-time basis. Students who wish to participate in full-time Dual Enrollment/Early Admit must exit their Choice school/program and return to their zoned school if it impacts their ability to complete required coursework for their Choice program.