School choice applications in Palm Beach County open Monday. Here’s how to apply

Some Palm Beach County Students learn medical terminology in elementary school, learn how everyday objects are designed and engineered in middle school, or become an Adobe Photoshop master in high school.

These are the students who apply (and sometimes audition) for admission. selection programs. The district will begin accepting applications on Monday, November 4th for the next school year.

Across 182 campuses, more than 340 elective programs promise focused instruction from specially trained faculty. This year they added 10, most of whom are at the high school level.

Students cannot simply enroll in their chosen programs. They must apply using the school district’s online tool, and programs are filled using a randomized computer lottery system that selects qualified applicants. Some programs require auditions or language proficiency tests. some have GPA requirements.

The application deadline for some art and music schools that require an audition is December 6th. All other applications must be submitted by January 31st.

Here’s what you need to know:

How to Apply for Palm Beach County School Choice Programs

To run the application, which is available online at www.mypbchoiceapp.comStudents must have their student ID and current address. Their address will be used to determine whether they are in a school’s attendance area for programs offered only to students at that school.

Palm Beach County offers two types of specialized education programs: in-school elective programs, open only to students zoned to attend that school, and programs open to all students, regardless of where they live.

Auditions are required for consideration in the following programs:

• Bak Secondary School of Arts: All programs

• North Palm Beach Conservatory School (grades 6–8): Programs for orchestral and orchestral string instruments

• Alexander W. Dreyfus School of the Arts: All programs

• Boynton Beach High School: Dance, digital media, music (including orchestra and vocals), theater and visual arts.

• West Boca Raton High School: Dance, digital music (including orchestra and vocals) and theater (including acting, music and technical programs)

Although each student can only submit one application, they can apply to two programs and rank them in order of interest to increase their chances of getting into the program of their choice.

In 2018, more than 36 thousand students applied to elective programs. About half of these students were placed in one of these, although in many cases it was not their primary choice. A 2018 Palm Beach Post analysis of enrollment in choice programs found that at the most selective schools, such as Suncoast High School and Baca High School, the chances of placement were significantly lowerfrom 19% to 36% depending on the program.

The 2025-2026 enrollment lottery results will be released on April 4th. Parents will then have to accept the spot assigned to their student on the district’s online dashboard.

About New Choice Programs in Palm Beach County Schools

Ten new elective programs represent a variety of opportunities in communications and digital media.

Here is a brief description of the new options and their location:

• Health and Science Research in Boca Raton Elementary School: The program will help students develop fundamental skills in laboratory science and health science careers. Topics covered include health and wellness, basic anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, disease prevention, and general health care. It will accept applicants from across the county.

• Engineering and Technology Studies at South Olive Elementary School: Through hands-on activities, lessons, and projects, students will learn fundamental concepts in science, mathematics, and design while learning how everyday objects are designed and created. This will be an internal program available only to students wishing to attend South Olive.

• Preliminary Engineering at Christa McAuliffe Middle: Hands-on and project-based learning will introduce students to engineering concepts. It will accept applicants from across the county. The program is also available at Congress, Crestwood and Roosevelt high schools.

• Computer Science at Dr. Joaquín García School: This program is designed for students who are pursuing a career in computer science. Students study programming, database programming, algorithmic design, and computer mathematics and science. This is an internal program available only to students assigned to attend Dr. Garcia High School. The program is also available at Glades Central, Suncoast and West Boca Raton high schools as full choice programs, meaning students from throughout the district can apply.

• Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the School of Dr. Joaquín García: Students will focus on business, e-commerce, entertainment, fashion, finance, hospitality, law, management, sales and sports. Hands-on projects will allow students to work with local businesses and entrepreneurs to develop real world leadership and skills. It will accept applicants from throughout the county, and the program is also available at Royal Palm Beach High.

• Health Sciences at Seminole Ridge School: The program will join more than a dozen other health sciences programs throughout the county. It includes a rigorous academic program with intensive clinical and laboratory experiences. Student clinical rotations are conducted in regional hospitals and other medical institutions. The program will accept applicants from throughout the county.

• Commercial digital photography at Suncoast High: The program prepares students for career opportunities in many areas of photography, including advertising, aerial photography, commercials, photojournalism, weddings, and wildlife. Students will learn the details of using equipment and software, including Adobe Photoshop. The program will accept applicants from throughout the county.

• Drawing and Design at Suncoast High: In this course, students will use AutoCAD computer-aided design software for architectural, mechanical, and 3D projects. This program also includes study of the processes, uses, and technical skills used in visual technologies, multimedia production, computer animation and graphics, web page design, and electronic media. The program will accept applicants from throughout the county and is also available at Lake Worth High School.

• Game simulation and animation programming at Suncoast High: Students will learn computer programming, game design, 2D and 3D art, and animation, which are vital skills for various career paths in the games industry. The program will accept applicants from throughout the county.

• Digital Media at West Boca School: Students will create digital still and animated images using computers, digital cameras, digital video cameras, scanners, photo editing software, drawing and painting software, graphics tablets, printers, new media, and emerging technologies. The program will accept applicants from throughout the county and is also available at the Dreyfus School of the Arts and Boynton Beach High School.

What are “full choice schools” in Palm Beach County? Do they require an application?

Nine of the district’s schools are considered “full choice schools” because they have no attendance restrictions.

This means that all students attending a full choice school were admitted to that school through a choice application and lottery selection process. Deadlines for full choice schools remain the same as for elective programs.

Palm Beach County Full Choice Schools:

• Morikami Park Elementary School

• Northborough Elementary School

• Poinciana Elementary School

• SD Spadi Primary School

• Buck High School of the Arts

• Don Estridge High Tech High School

• Dreyfus School of Art

• Suncoast High School

• Village Academy

Applicants in grades 6-8 may also apply to elective programs offered at the following K-8 schools:

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Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education for The Palm Beach Post. You can contact her at [email protected]. Help support our work; subscribe today!

This article originally appeared in the Palm Beach Post: How to Apply for Palm Beach County School Choice Programs for 2025-26