New Application System Matches More Philadelphia Students to Their Preferred Schools
Apply Philly Charter’s new Rank and Match process improves access and efficiency, connecting more students to schools they choose
Philadelphia, PA — Families across Philadelphia are seeking school application systems that are clear, transparent, and centered on their preferences. In response to that need, Apply Philly Charter (APC) introduced a new Rank and Match system for the 2026–27 pre-deadline application cycle—helping connect more students to the schools they want most while improving efficiency for schools across the city.
In previous years, schools operated separate lotteries that did not allow families to prioritize schools based on preference. As a result, some students received multiple offers while others received none, creating inefficiencies for both families and schools. The new Rank and Match approach helps address those challenges by better aligning offers with family choices and streamlining enrollment.
The new system allowed 26,696 students to rank up to fifteen charter schools in order of preference and receive an offer matched to their ranked choices. Similar to the enrollment system used by the School District of Philadelphia, Rank and Match modernizes the common application process used by most Philadelphia charter schools.
“Apply Philly Charter’s new Rank and Match system is creating a more effective and family-centered application experience,” said Dr. Stacy Holland, Executive Director of Elevate 215. “Families know what matters most for their children, and this process better reflects those priorities while helping connect more students to schools where they can grow and succeed.”
First-Year Results Show Significant Progress
The first year of Rank and Match demonstrated measurable improvements compared to the 2025–26 pre-deadline application cycle:
Additional data also highlighted how intentionally families engaged with the new system:
- Nearly one in four students received an offer at their top-choice school.
- Of those students, 68% accepted their offer.
Even with increased matches, 14,395 students were still placed on waitlists, underscoring the continued demand for high-quality school options across Philadelphia and the importance of expanding access to those seats.
What Families and Schools Are Saying
Parents across Philadelphia say the new system made the application experience easier to navigate and more aligned with their priorities.
Danielle Ohman, a Philadelphia parent, stated, “I love the addition of the ranking system. It helps families prioritize which schools are the best fit.”
“Being able to rank schools made the process feel more transparent and manageable,” said Yolonda Blue, a Philadelphia parent. “It helped me stay proactive and make informed decisions.”
“This was my first time doing this for my kindergartener, and it was very easy to navigate,” said Jhalia Thomas, a Philadelphia parent.
School leaders also noted operational improvements during the first year of implementation.
“Enrollment is more efficient—it’s easier and smoother,” said Tiffany Days, Network Director of School Operations at Wissahickon Charter Network. “Our seats are being accepted much faster, and we’re not having to roll out nearly as many offers as in previous years. The ranking system definitely works.”
The success of the first year demonstrates how aligned application and enrollment systems can better support both families and schools by creating a more efficient, transparent process that reflects how families actually choose schools.
About Apply Philly Charter
Apply Philly Charter is Philadelphia’s common application system for 77 charter schools, designed to simplify the process for families while helping schools manage applications and offers more efficiently. The platform allows families to apply to multiple participating charter schools through one application process.