Boston School District

In the Boston Public Schools District (BPS), students are assigned to schools based on their geographic zones and can apply to other schools within their zones (called intradistrict choice) or to citywide schools that are open to all students; application deadlines vary depending on grade level, but the earliest dates range from January to March. However, certain "controlled choice" factors (for example, if a sibling already attends a school) affect student placement. Children may also attend pilot schools and, for those in grades 7 through 12, exam schools, which admit students on a competitive basis. Special education services are available. Under the federal No Child Left Behind law, students attending a Title I school designated as "in need of improvement" have the right to attend a higher-performing school in the district.