• General Information

    Q: What is the school choice system in Providence Public Schools?
    A: Providence Public Schools use a school choice system and lottery to assign students to schools. This system allows families to indicate their top preferences for school placement and follows the School Board placement policy.

     

    Q: Why do I need to enter a lottery if my child is guaranteed a seat in school?
    A: While your child is guaranteed a seat in the district, the lottery is used to assign students to specific schools based on family preferences and other criteria. Students are not guaranteed a seat at a specific school.

     

    Q: How does the school lottery work in Providence?
    A: Families rank their preferred schools in an application. The lottery system then assigns each applicant to a school, considering family preferences, program type, sibling enrollment, and neighborhood proximity. The assignment policy does not consider past attendance, grades, or other criteria.

     

    Q: How do I learn more about school options?
    A: For information about Providence Schools, please see our school profiles page. Families can also use the school finder tools within  Enroll RI Family Information Tool to learn about schools across the city. The Family Information Tool helps families search for academic programs, compare schools and explore more within each school's profile.

     

    Q: How can I find my neighborhood school(s)?
    A: While students are not guaranteed placement at a specific school, students are given preference for their neighborhood schools based on the address on file. Every family has a minimum of two neighborhood schools. 

    Your neighborhood school is any school within the following walking distances: 1 mile for elementary, 1.5 miles for middle, and 3 miles for high school. Those students who do not have at least two schools within their “neighborhood” will still have their two closest schools count as neighborhood schools. 

    A map of all Providence Schools is here: 2025-26 schools map. We recommend using the "walking directions" feature on Google maps to find the distance to each school from your home address.

    Providence Public School District Registration

    Q: How do I register my child for Providence Public Schools?
    A: New students can register online by uploading required documents such as birth certificates, immunization records, and proof of address. Returning students can use the Skyward parent portal.

     

    Q: What documents are needed for registration?
    A: You will need to provide:

    • Student age verification document
    • Parent/guardian photo ID
    • Immunization records
    • Physical exam form
    • Proof of Providence address
    • School records
    • Special education paperwork (if applicable)
    • Tuberculosis screening test results (if applicable)

    For more details, visit the Registration Requirements page.

     

    Q: What is Skyward?
    A: Skyward is Providence Public School District’s records management system for students. You will use Skyward to submit a registration application. In Skyward, families can access report cards, quarterly progress reports, graduation requirements, and attendance records.

     

    Q: How can I translate Skyward using a browser extension?
    A: To translate Skyward, you can use a browser translation extension like Google Translate. Here’s how:

    1. Install the Google Translate extension from the Chrome Web Store.
    2. Open Skyward in your browser.
    3. Click on the Google Translate extension icon.
    4. Select the language you want to translate the page into.
    5. The page will be translated automatically.

    For more information on using Skyward, watch the Skyward Family Access Instructional Video (español ).

     

    Q: What should I expect after submitting the registration online?
    A: For current year registrations, expect a call from a placement officer within 1-3 business days. For future year registrations, expect a call within 2-3 weeks.

     

    Q: When should I register my child for the school choice lottery?
    A: Registration for grades 6 and 9 should be done in January and early February. Kindergarten registration begins in February, with the lottery in May. Registration for other grades begins in May for the following year.

     

    Q: What if my child is returning from a charter or private school?
    A: You will need to complete the full registration process and provide recent grade reports, transcripts, test records, and special education evaluations (if applicable). More information is here.

     

    Q: How does the waitlist process work?
    A: Students not assigned to their first choice school in the lottery are automatically placed on the waitlist for any school higher in their choices. Waitlists are ordered by preference: siblings first, then neighborhood students, then non-neighborhood students. To request a waitlist update, email inforeg@ppsd.org with your child's name, DOB, or student ID.

     

    Q: How do I request a school transfer?
    A: Transfer requests for current Providence Schools students can be submitted by email (inforeg@ppsd.org), fax (401-278-0553), text message (401-420-7189), or in person at your child's assigned school or the Registration Center.

     

    Q: How can I contact the registration department if I have more questions?
    A: If you have more questions, you can contact the registration department in the following ways:

    • Email: inforeg@ppsd.org
    • Phone: 401-456-9297
    • Text: 401-420-7189
    • In-person: Visit the Registration Department at 325 Ocean Street, Providence, RI

    For more details, visit the Contact Registration page.

    Specialized Programs Registration & Admissions

    Q: What if my student needs specialized instruction or specific placement?
    A: Students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) are reviewed by the Specialized Instruction team for appropriate placement during the registration process. If you have questions about which schools offer programs that match your student's needs, please contact the Office of Specialized Services.

     

    Q: Do any schools require an application? 
    A: Classical High School has a selective admissions process. For more information, visit the Classical High School Admissions page. Providence Career and Technical Academy (PCTA) is an all-CTE school with a selective admissions process. For the 2025-26 school year, all other schools are open enrollment, though some high schools require students to enroll in a CTE program.

     

    Q: What are CTE programs?
    A: Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide focused educational experiences that prepare students for both industry and higher education. Providence Public Schools offer 24 programs in 12 industry clusters, including architecture, healthcare, information technology, and more. For more details, visit the CTE Programs page.

     

    Q: How do I register my child for pre-K in Providence Public Schools?
    A: Providence Public Schools host two prekindergarten programs: Integrated Prekindergarten and RI Prekindergarten. RI Pre-K serves students who are four years old by September 1st and is a lottery-based, free program. Integrated Pre-K serves students aged 3-5 and is also lottery-based. For more details, visit the Early Childhood Program page.