PBC School Choice 2027-28: Dec 4 Deadline & How to Apply

Palm Beach County School Choice 2027-28: Dec. 4 Deadline and How Wellington Families Can Apply

If your child wants into a choice program in Palm Beach County schools next year, from Wellington High's equine academy to an arts or engineering program at a middle school, the deadline is close. The School District of Palm Beach County's Choice application for the 2027-28 school year is open Oct. 8 through Dec. 4, 2026, and Dec. 4 is the final deadline for every program. Here's how choice programs work, the key dates, what you need to apply, and choice options at schools serving Wellington.

2027-28 School Choice at a glance

Application window: Oct. 8 - Dec. 4, 2026 (final deadline for all programs)
Where to apply: mypbchoiceapp.com
You'll need: A Palm Beach County Student ID number and a Family Dashboard account
Student ID requests: Sept. 8 - Dec. 4, 2026, through the same portal
How students are chosen: Lottery
Results: Assignment notifications Feb. 15-26, 2027
Questions: District Choice Department, (561) 434-8755

Dates are from the School District of Palm Beach County's School Choice page and its 2027-28 Choice booklet as of Nov. 12, 2026.

What are choice programs?

The district offers specialized PreK-12 Choice and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with theme-based instruction taught by specially trained teachers. Themes include arts, International Baccalaureate (IB), dual language, Cambridge academies, STEM and STEAM, Montessori, environmental and animal science, and health and wellness.

There's an important difference between two kinds of programs:

Choice programs are open to all students regardless of where they're zoned, so a Wellington student can apply to a program at a school outside their attendance boundary.
In-house programs are only for students who live inside that school's attendance boundary.

Every Choice and Career Academy program requires a Choice application, and students are selected by lottery. The district says the programs are open to Palm Beach County residents, future residents and even residents of neighboring counties.

Key dates for 2027-28

Sept. 8 - Dec. 4, 2026: Request a Palm Beach County Student ID if your child doesn't have one yet (for example, if they're new to the district or in private school). Upload all requested documents with the request, or it won't be processed.
Oct. 8 - Dec. 4, 2026: Choice program application window. Dec. 4 is the final deadline for all programs.
Feb. 15-26, 2027: Lottery assignment notifications are released to families.
March 1-5, 2027: Controlled Open Enrollment (COE) application window for 2027-28, for families who want a seat at a school outside their zone (not a specific choice program). After the lottery, the district says it keeps accepting COE applications into the spring.

Separately, for families with a qualifying need to move schools mid-year, the district's second-semester reassignment window for secondary schools runs Nov. 30 - Dec. 4, 2026. Reassignments are limited to listed schools and supported needs, and transportation isn't provided.

How to apply, step by step

Get a Student ID. Every applicant needs a Palm Beach County Student ID number. Current district students already have one; others can request one at mypbchoiceapp.com.
Create a Family Dashboard account at mypbchoiceapp.com with a valid email address. The district recommends adding all of your children to the account up front.
Choose a student and fill out the application in one sitting. Applications can't be saved as drafts to finish later.
Apply separately for each child, including siblings applying to the same program.
Edit before the deadline if needed. You can change a submitted application any time before Dec. 4.
Watch for the confirmation email. Your application isn't complete until you receive a confirmation email with an order number.

The district offers step-by-step guides in English, Spanish and French for creating an account and adding a student.

Choice programs at schools serving Wellington

Several Wellington-area public schools host choice programs. Based on the district's most recent program listings, these include:

Wellington Elementary: a choice arts program in visual, performing and communication arts.
New Horizons Elementary: an International Spanish Academy (dual language).
Polo Park Middle: Pre-Engineering (Gateway to Technology) and Pre-Information Technology.
Wellington Landings Middle: Fine Arts and Pre-Information Technology.
Emerald Cove Middle: Pre-Information Technology.
Wellington High: academies including Equine and Pre-Veterinary, Fine Arts, Fire Science and Marketing.

Programs can be added or changed from year to year, so confirm the 2027-28 offerings in the district's Choice booklet (available online in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portuguese) before you apply. For school grades, zoning and private and charter options, see our full guide to schools in Wellington.

Tips for Wellington families

Don't wait until Dec. 4. If your child needs a Student ID, request it now, since the request has to be processed before you can apply.
Research and compare. Read each program's page and talk to the school's choice coordinator about schedules, requirements and transportation.
Apply for every child separately, and save each confirmation email.
Plan a backup. Seats are assigned by lottery, so it's smart to know your zoned school and the March COE window as fallbacks.
Private school options: Florida families may also qualify for state school choice scholarships for private schools; our schools guide covers those too.

Planning other kids' activities? See Wellington spring soccer registration and our Wellington library guide.

What do you think?

Has your family been through the Palm Beach County choice lottery? Which programs is your child applying to this year, and what advice would you give other Wellington parents?

Frequently asked questions

When is the Palm Beach County school choice deadline for 2027-28?

The Choice program application for the 2027-28 school year is open Oct. 8 through Dec. 4, 2026. Dec. 4 is the final deadline for all programs.

How do I apply for a choice program in Palm Beach County?

Apply online at mypbchoiceapp.com. You need a Palm Beach County Student ID number and a Family Dashboard account, and you must submit a separate application for each child in one sitting.

When are Palm Beach County choice lottery results released?

Assignment notifications for the 2027-28 school year are released to families between Feb. 15 and Feb. 26, 2027.

What choice programs are at Wellington schools?

Recent district listings include an arts program at Wellington Elementary, an International Spanish Academy at New Horizons Elementary, pre-engineering and IT programs at Polo Park, Wellington Landings and Emerald Cove middle schools, and academies including Equine and Pre-Veterinary at Wellington High. Confirm 2027-28 offerings in the district's Choice booklet.

What is Controlled Open Enrollment in Palm Beach County?

Controlled Open Enrollment lets families apply for a seat at a school outside their zone. The 2027-28 application window is March 1-5, 2027, followed by a lottery, and the district keeps accepting applications into the spring.

Sources

Details on developments and schools can change. We update this guide as new information is announced. Spot something out of date? Send us a tip.

By Ben Siegel. Ben is a Wellington resident and entrepreneur who founded Wellington List to bring local news, guides and businesses together in one place. More about Ben · Our editorial standards