School Applications

What is Open Enrollment?
Open enrollment allows K-12 students to apply to schools outside their zone based on home address. Families can apply to up to three schools, plus Patrick Henry School of Science & Arts for grades K-5.

The application period for selective admission schools, programs, regional governor's schools and for admission to an out-of-zone school through our annual open enrollment process for the 2026-27 school year is closed.

Who Can Apply?
Any Richmond City resident, including non-RPS students, may apply. Please note that the preschool program is not part of open enrollment

How Does It Work?
Families apply via Enroll RPS, select schools, and submit basic information. A randomized lottery determines placement. Selected families have 7 calendar days to accept. The remaining students are waitlisted. Once enrolled, students don’t need to reapply while attending the same school.

My child attends a school through a previous open enrollment lottery. Do they need to reapply?
No. Students who are already enrolled at an RPS school through a previous year's open enrollment lottery do not need to reapply to continue attending that school in the next school year or for any subsequent years within the school's grade range (e.g., K-5, 6-8, 9-12).

What school zone do I live in?
Each residence in the City of Richmond is assigned a zone school for elementary (K-5), middle (6-8), and high school (9-12) levels. Your zone school is determined by the physical address where you live. Use our School Locator to identify your current zone schools based on your address.

Information about RPS's residency policy is available on our Board Docs website. 

Can I apply to comprehensive high schools via open enrollment?
Yes. Students who will be in high school in school year 2027-28 can apply to attend a comprehensive high school other than their zone school via open enrollment when the application opens in the fall.

How are siblings prioritized in the open enrollment lottery?
When applying to the lottery, siblings must be submitted as separate lottery entries. There may be instances where one sibling is admitted to an out-of-zone school and the other sibling is not. However, twins or multiple births are prioritized together in their lottery entries (separate applications must be submitted) such that if one twin receives a seat, the other will also.

Students whose sibling(s) attend an out-of-zone school via open enrollment from a previous year are prioritized in the lottery. Admission for the sibling who is new to the out-of-zone school will be contingent on available space at the requested school at the requested grade level. Additionally, the already enrolled student must remain enrolled for the application year. For example, a rising kindergarten student whose sibling is a 5th grader attending an out-of-zone elementary school will not be prioritized in the lottery, as their older sibling will move to middle school the following year.

When does the open enrollment application window close?
Open enrollment applications for school year 2026-27 closed on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 4:30 pm.

I am an RPS employee and want my child to attend an out-of-zone school. What are my next steps?
Richmond School Board Policy 8-2.6 states that parents or guardians of dependent children who are full-time employees of RPS and do not live in Richmond City may enroll their child in an RPS school after RPS has met all local, state, and federal requirements regarding the enrollment of resident children, including exhausting all open enrollment options first.

Parents or guardians of dependent children who are full-time employees of RPS and do live in Richmond City must enter the open enrollment process as any other Richmond resident student.

The full text of this policy is below:

"Subject to the approval of the division superintendent or his/her designee, parents or guardians of dependent children who are full-time employees of Richmond Public Schools and who are not residents of the City of Richmond may enroll their children in Richmond Public Schools on a tuition waived basis, subject to the availability of space, as determined after Richmond Public Schools has met all local, state and federal requirements regarding the enrollment of resident children, including fully exhausting all open enrollment options. This shall not be deemed to include alternative public school programs for which Richmond Public Schools is assessed per pupil tuition. Any children of an employee attending a Richmond Public Schools facility through placement made prior to January 4, 2010, may continue in that placement through the terminal grade offered at that school.

Parents or guardians of dependent children who are full-time employees of Richmond Public Schools seeking enrollment in an out-of-zone school with limited space availability and who are residents of the City of Richmond will be entered into the open enrollment process as any other student who parents are residents of the city would do, or, in the case of specialty or alternative programs, enter the prescribed admissions process for that placement."

When will school applications and open enrollment be available?
Results will be posted on Enroll RPS during the afternoon of Friday March 6, 2026. 

How do I accept a seat offer?
1. Look for the school status labeled "Offered Placement."
2. Click the "Accept Seat" button. All other Accept Seat offers will decline.
3. All "Waitlist Offers" will remain.

My child received multiple seat offers. Can I accept more than one?
No. Students can only accept one seat offer; however, students may elect to remain on the waitlist at multiple schools. The decision to accept an initial seat offer will not remove a student from other waitlists, or decline any pending offers, but will automatically decline any previously accepted seats. 

What if my child is not offered a seat at any school for which they applied?
If a student is not offered a seat at any school for which they applied (either via the open enrollment lottery or through the specialty school application process), the student must attend their zone school.

If I receive an offer from the waitlist, what are my next steps?
If you were originally on a waitlist but later receive a seat offer, you may accept that seat offer by logging into the Enroll RPS portal and selecting "Accept Placement". Doing so will decline any previously accepted offer, if applicable.

I was waitlisted last year at the school of my choice. Do I need to reapply?
Yes. If you would like for your child to attend an out-of-zone school, and you did not accept a seat offer for the current school year, you must reapply for school year 2027-28. Waitlists do not carry over year to year.

Is transportation provided if my child accepts an open enrollment seat?
Transportation is not provided for students attending a school through open enrollment. Transportation for students admitted to RPS specialty schools or regional governor's schools receive transportation through a hub system.

What RPS schools are considered selective admission schools and have an application process for admission?

Applications must be completed to the following schools:

• Franklin Military Academy (rising 6th and 9th grade students may apply)
  Please note: Current Franklin Military Academy 8th graders who wish to continue at FMA for 9th grade must apply. Students do not automatically move from 8th to 9th grade at Franklin Military Academy.
• Open High School (rising 9th and 10th grade students may apply)
• Richmond Community High School (rising 9th and 10th grade students may apply)
• The IB Diploma Programme at Thomas Jefferson HS (rising 11th grade students may apply)

Who can submit selective admission school applications?
Any Richmond City resident, including students who do not currently attend Richmond Public Schools, may apply to schools via the selective admission school application process.

What are the components of the elective admission school application?
RPS now has a common application, which includes grade point average (calculated internally), writing (completed in person), an in-person interview, and two teacher recommendations.

My child attends a selective admission school through a prior year application. Do they need to reapply?
No. Students who are already enrolled at an RPS selective admission school via a previous year's application process do not need to reapply to attend that school next year. However, current Franklin Military Academy 8th graders who wish to continue at FMA for 9th grade must apply. Students do not automatically move from 8th to 9th grade at Franklin Military Academy.

How many schools can I apply to?
There is no limit to the number of selective admission schools to which a student may apply, though students may only apply to selective admission schools for which they are eligible.

When will results be available for applications submitted for school year 2026-27?
Results will be posted on Enroll RPS during the afternoon of Friday March 6, 2026. 

How do I accept a seat offer? 
If your child was offered a seat for a particular school, the status row will read "Offered Placement". Additionally, you will see "Accept Seat" or "Decline Seat" buttons that will allow you to indicate your decision. To accept a seat, simply click "Accept Seat".

My child received multiple seat offers. Can I accept more than one?
No. Students can only accept one seat offer; however, students may elect to remain on the waitlist at multiple schools. The decision to accept an initial seat offer will not remove a student from other waitlists.

Is transportation provided if my child accepts a elective admission school seat?
Yes. Transportation is provided for selective admission and governor's schools via a hub system.

What if my child is not offered a seat at any school for which they applied?
If a student is not offered a seat at any school, they may be placed on a waitlist. Their movement on the waitlist will depend on their current school and their ED status. If no seat is offered by the last day of the first week of school (for RPS selective admission schools) or by the end of the first semester (for regional governor’s schools), the student will only be eligible to attend their zoned school for the upcoming school year.

How does the waitlist work for selective admission schools?
Waitlist movement is based on each school's selection rules. Vacant seats are filled as they become available

If I receive an offer from the waitlist, what are my next steps?
If a student was originally on a waitlist but later receives a seat offer, they may accept that seat by logging into the Enroll RPS portal and selecting "Accept Placement." Doing so will decline any previously accepted offers, if applicable. Families will receive an email notifying them of any changes to their student's waitlist status and will have 7 calendar days to make an acceptance decision from the date of receiving the email.

Can I appeal a selective admissions school decision?
Yes. If you wish to file an appeal to a selective admissions school application decision for the 2026-27 school year, you may do so by first contacting the principal of the specific school. Appeal requests must be shared with the appropriate school team in writing (via email or otherwise) no later than 4:30 pm on Friday, March 20, 2026. Appeals may be made only on application process-related grounds.
with:
Can I appeal a selective admissions school decision?
Yes. If you wish to file an appeal regarding a Selective Admissions school application decision for the 2026–27 school year, you may do so no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026. Appeals may only be made on application process-related grounds.

Franklin Military Academy, Open High School, and Richmond Community High School
Appeals must first be directed to the principal of the specific school. Appeal requests must be submitted in writing (via email or other written communication) to the appropriate school principal by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School and Appomattox Regional Governor’s School
Families should contact Lynn Pleveich at lpleveic@rvaschools.net to begin the appeals process by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026.

How many Richmond City students applied?
136 Richmond students applied for the 2026-27 school year. 

How many Richmond City students were offered admission?  
The number of 12th-grade students graduating, internal transfer students, and students not returning in the fall of 2026 determines the number of entering freshmen. Richmond City has 113 allocated seats (grades 9 – 12) at ARGS. RPS has 30 slots for rising 9th graders for the 2026-27 school year.. This number may fluctuate from year to year.

Who determines the total number of Appomattox Regional Governor’s School slots allocated to Richmond City?
The RPS School Board and the ARGS Core Committee determine the number of available slots.

What does alternate status mean?
A student with alternate status is placed on a waiting list.  Students on the waiting list are ranked according to their composite score and focus area (dance, instrumental music, literary arts, piano, technology, theater arts, visual arts, and vocal music). If a student who is offered admission declines, then the next student in the focus area waiting list is notified through the Enroll RPS parent account at https://enrollrps.schoolmint.com.

How many Richmond City students are on the waiting list (alternate status)?
43 students have been designated as alternates for the 2026-27 school year.. This number represents the strongest candidates in each focus area.

Is the ranking on the waiting list for Richmond City students released to parents and schools?
The ranking of alternate status and the list of students offered admission remain confidential. However, parents may contact lpleveic@rvaschools.net and enrollrps@rvaschools.net to inquire about their child's ranking under each focus area.

If a student with alternate status receives a letter offering admission to another program (i.e. Maggie Walker, Community High School, Open High School, or Franklin Military Academy), what should the student do? If the student is interested in participating in the program that offers admission, they should accept the offer. If the student is offered admission to ARGS later, the student may withdraw from the program initially selected and accept the offer to attend ARGS.

How do I  accept a seat?
1. Look for the school status labeled "Offered Placement."
2. Click the "Accept Seat" button. All other “Accept Seat” offers will be declined.
3. All "Waitlist Offers" will remain.

What criteria are used to determine student selection?
Two recommendations, an interview, grades (core areas from the second semester of 7th grade and the first semester of 8th grade), rigor (depth of coursework), a writing sample, and an audition/portfolio review are used to determine the student’s composite score.

How are applications evaluated?
The Regional Selection Committee members are trained to assess each portion of the student’s application. The Coordinator of Admissions and members of the Regional Core Committee oversee the evaluation process.

What are the maximum points a student can receive in each category?
(100 points Max)

How long do students remain on the waiting list?
Alternate status is in effect from the issuance of admissions letters until the end of the first quarter of the freshman year.

Are students with alternate status offered the opportunity to “shadow” a student at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School?
Students who are offered admission may attend “The ARGS Experience” on March 12, 2026.

When is the admission due date for students who have been offered?
Students must confirm on the Enroll RPS parent account at https://enrollrps.schoolmint.com no later than March 20, 2026, by 4:30 PM, indicating whether the student accepts or declines admission to Appomattox Regional Governor’s School.

Where may I obtain information on bus transportation to Appomattox Regional Governor’s School?
Students attending ARGS will have bus routes posted online in late summer. Please visit the transportation website to view Specialty and Governor’s School Bus Stops.

If a student who is offered admission declines the offer, can the student enter Appomattox Regional Governor’s School at a later time?
No, a student on the waiting list will fill the available position.

May students reapply for admission?
No, applications are only accepted from students during their eighth-grade year. This information is stated in the ARGS application packet.

If I am not an RPS student and have accepted admission to Appomattox Regional Governor’s School as a Richmond resident, do I have to register as an RPS student?
Yes, all city residents who are not RPS students must register on the Enroll RPS parent account at https://enrollrps.schoolmint.com. Proof of residency is required. For registration questions, please direct them to enrollrps@rvaschools.net. 

Where may I obtain further information on Appomattox Regional Governor’s School?
The website https://www.args.us provides information on the diverse opportunities offered at the ARGS.

What are the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School hours?
Classes begin at 8:30 AM and end at 3:30 PM.

If I have questions regarding the admissions/selection process for Appomattox Regional Governor’s School, whom should I contact? 
Please contact Lynn Pleveich, Coordinator, Programs for Gifted & Talented at lpleveic@rvaschools.net or by calling (804) 495-3321.

The Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School (MLWGS) admissions process is explained in the ADMISSIONS HANDBOOK 2026. 

How many Richmond City students applied?
383 Richmond students applied for the 2026-27 school year.

How many Richmond City students were offered admission? 
Richmond City has 235 allocated positions (grades 9 – 12) at MLWGS. RPS has 60 slots for rising freshmen.

Who determines the number of Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School seats allocated to Richmond City? The RPS School Board and the MLWGS Planning Committee determine the number of available slots.

What does alternate status (waiting) mean?
If a student declines an offered slot, the next student on the waiting list is notified through the Enroll RPS parent account at https://enrollrps.schoolmint.com. Students on the waiting list are ranked numerically based on multiple criteria for entrance. 

How many Richmond City students are on the waiting list (alternate status)? 
Approximately 120 students have been designated as alternates for the 2026-27 school year.

Is the ranking on the waiting list for Richmond City students released to parents and schools?
The ranking of alternate status and the list of students offered admission remain confidential. However, parents may contact lpleveic@rvaschools.net and enrollrps@rvaschools.net to inquire about their child's placement.

If a student with alternate status receives a letter offering admission to another program (i.e. Appomattox Governor’s School, Community High School, Open High School, or Franklin Military Academy), what should the student do?
If the student is interested in participating in the program that offers admission, they should accept the offer. If the student is offered admission to MLWGS later, the student may withdraw from the program initially selected and accept the offer to attend Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School.

How do I  accept a seat?
1. Look for the school status labeled "Offered Placement."
2. Click the "Accept Seat" button. All other “Accept Seat” offers will be declined.
3. All "Waitlist Offers" will remain.

How are applications evaluated?
The Regional Selection Committee members are trained to assess each portion of the student’s application.  The Coordinator of Admissions and members of the Regional Planning Committee oversee the evaluation process.

What criteria are used to determine student selection?
Two recommendations, grades from the 2nd semester of 7th grade and the 1st semester of 8th grade, rigor (assessment of the student’s participation in a rigorous program of studies at the middle school level), and two writing samples are used to determine the student’s total score.

What are the maximum points a student can receive in each category?

When is the admission due date for students offered admission?
Students must confirm on the Enroll RPS parent account at https://enrollrps.schoolmint.com whether they accept or decline admission to the Governor’s School by 4:30 PM on March 20, 2026.

How long do students remain on the waiting list?
Alternate status is in effect from the time admissions letters are issued until the end of the first quarter of the freshman year.

Are students with alternate status offered the opportunity to “shadow” a student at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School?
No, alternate students may not attend Future Dragon Day. Students on the acceptance status lists can experience Future Dragon Day on the MLWGS campus on March 13, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. 

Where may I obtain information on bus transportation to Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School? Students attending MLWGS will have bus routes posted online in late summer. Please visit the transportation website to view Specialty and Governor’s School Bus Stops.

If a student who has been offered admission declines the offer, can the student still enter the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School later?
No, a student on the waitlist will fill the available position.

May students reapply for admission?
No, applications are accepted only from students in their eighth-grade year.  Please refer to the timeline in the ADMISSIONS HANDBOOK 2026.

Where can I obtain further information on Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School?
The website www.gsgis.k12.va.us provides information on the diverse opportunities offered there.  

What are the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School hours?
Classes begin at 8:40 AM and end at 3:15 PM.

If I am not an RPS student but have been admitted to Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School as a Richmond resident, do I have to register as an RPS student?
Yes, all non-RPS city residents must register through the Enroll RPS parent account at https://enrollrps.schoolmint.com.

If I have questions regarding the admissions/selection process for Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, whom should I contact?  
Please contact Lynn Pleveich, Coordinator, Programs for Gifted & Talented at lpleveic@rvaschools.net or by calling (804) 495-3321.