How to Apply for Palm Beach County School Choice Programs for 2025-26

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

In 2018, over 36,000 students applied for choice programs. About half of these students were placed in one of these schools, although in many cases it was not their first choice. For the most selective schools, such as Suncoast High School and Bak Middle School, a 2018 Palm Beach Post analysis of enrollment in choice programs found that the chances of placement were much lowerfrom 19% to 36% depending on the program.

Lottery results for placements for the 2025-2026 school year will be released on April 4. Parents will then need to accept their student’s assigned seat on the district’s online dashboard.

About new choice programs in Palm Beach County schools

Ten new selection programs provide a variety of communication and digital media opportunities.

Here’s a summary of the new options and their locations:

• Health and Science Search at ul Boca Raton Elementary School: The program will help students gain foundational skills in laboratory sciences and health sciences careers. Topics covered include health and wellness, basic anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, disease prevention, and general health care. It will accept applications from all over the district.
• Engineering and Technology Studies at South Olive Elementary School: Through hands-on activities, lessons, and projects, students will explore fundamental concepts in science, math, and design while learning how everyday objects are designed and built. This will be an in-house program available only to students designated to attend South Olive.
• Engineering work at Christa McAuliffe Middle: Hands-on and project-based learning will introduce students to engineering concepts. It will accept applications from all over the district. The program is also available at Congress, Crestwood and Roosevelt high schools.
• Computer science at school Dr. Joaquin García: This program is designed for students who want to pursue a career in computer science. Students learn computer programming, database programming, algorithmic design, and computer-specific math and science. This is an internal program available only to students designated to attend Dr. High School. Garcia. The program is also available at Glades Central, Suncoast and West Boca Raton high schools as full-choice programs, which means students from throughout the county can apply.
• Marketing and entrepreneurship at the school. Dr. Joaquin García: Students will focus on business, e-commerce, entertainment, fashion, finance, hospitality, law, management, sales and sports. Hands-on projects will enable students to work with local businesses and entrepreneurs to develop leadership and real-world skills. It accepts applicants from all over the county, and the program is also available at Royal Palm Beach High.
• Seminole Ridge High School Health Sciences: This program will join several other health sciences programs throughout the county. It involves a rigorous academic program with intensive clinical and laboratory experiences. Students’ clinical rotations take place in local hospitals and other health care facilities. Candidates from all over the district will be accepted for the program.
• Commercial Digital Photography at Suncoast High: The program prepares students for career opportunities in many fields of photography, including advertising, air, publicity, crime scenes, photojournalism, weddings and wildlife. Students will learn the details of hardware and software, including Adobe Photoshop. Candidates from all over the district will be accepted for the program.
• Design and Design at Suncoast High: In this course, students will use AutoCAD computer-aided design software for architectural, mechanical, and 3D designs. This program also includes the study of processes, applications and technical skills found in visual technologies, multimedia productions, animation and computer graphics, web design and electronic media. The program accepts 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 essential skills for a variety of career paths in the gaming industry. Candidates from all over the district will be accepted for the program.
• Digital Media at West Boca High: 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 new technologies. The program will accept applicants from across the county. It is also available at Dreyfoos School of the Arts and Boynton Beach High.