Frequently Asked Questions

Families apply to the magnet school lottery via an online application available here.

Families can apply to all five magnet schools offering elementary programs (Hart, Rogers, Strawberry Hill, Toquam, and Westover) 

Parents can apply to all four magnet schools offering middle schools programs (Rogers, Scofield, Strawberry Hill, and Westover). 

Yes, you may apply for grades 1-5. Seats in grades 1-5 will be filled from the waitlists for that school year, based on availability.

Yes, you may apply for grades 7-8. Seats in grades 7-8 will be filled from the waitlists for that school year, based on availability.

All magnet schools follow the same timeline: 

• Lottery Opens: Monday, September 15, 2025
• Applications Due: Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 4 pm
• Lottery Drawing: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
• Acceptances Due: Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Magnet schools enroll students from all parts of Stamford. Districted schools enroll students from designated attendance areas only. 

Both magnet schools and districted schools follow the Connecticut State Standards.

Attend the SPS Magnet School Program Information Session and the individual school information sessions for each school to which you will apply. You can learn about the information session here.

By Board of Education policy, the magnet schools exist to help the school district manage enrollment and balance all schools to the +/-10% integration standard of the district. The magnet schools also provide educational choice for parents.

If you accept, your child’s name will be taken off all other magnet school waitlists to which you applied. If you decline, your child’s name will remain on all other magnet school waitlists to which you applied.

Unless your older child was also entered into the lottery and was offered a seat for their grade, they must remain at their districted school.

Siblings are placed higher in the selection order of the controlled lottery only if their sibling will also be at the school next year. If your older child is entering high school when your younger child is entering sixth grade, sibling preference does not apply.

Siblings are placed higher in the selection order of the controlled lottery only if their sibling will also be at the school next year. As your oldest child is graduating, sibling preference would not apply for your younger child.

Check the website, follow Stamford Public Schools on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the Superintendent’s Weekly Message.

You can email spslottery@stamfordps.org or call 203-977-4198 with any questions.