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SEHS Principal Discretion

Selective Enrollment High School (SEHS) Principal Discretion is a process that allows principals at, and only at, the Selective Enrollment High Schools to fill a designated number of seats for ninth grade, outside of the regular GoCPS selection process, in strict compliance with the Principal Discretion guidelines.

Please Note: No elementary or choice programs have a principal discretion admissions process of any type. Selective Enrollment High Schools must go through the GoCPS led process in order to admit any applicants through Principal Discretion.

Timeline

  • The SEHS Principal Discretion application opens in the spring following the initial round of selections, and closes approximately two weeks later.
  • Please see the Selective Enrollment High School Principal Discretion Handbook that outlines the step-by-step instructions, application guidelines, and includes an FAQ. Until an updated handbook is posted, prior to the opening of the SEHS Principal Discretion Application window, you can view the previous year’s handbook for guidance.

Principal Discretion Application

  • Students who applied and tested for Selective Enrollment High Schools can apply for SEHS Principal Discretion whether they accepted or declined any offer: Choice or Selective Enrollment.
  • Students can only apply to principal discretion for one SEHS program and must have applied to the school in the initial round of the application process.
  • The SEHS Principal Discretion process is extremely competitive, and seats are extremely limited.
  • The application package can consist of a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and information regarding honors and awards the student has received. 
  • If an applicant intends on applying to SEHS Principal Discretion, please start collecting materials for your application well before the deadline. No applications will be accepted after the application deadline closes.

Student going to school