The lottery is a blind, randomized, computerized process conducted at the district level. The District utilizes a priority framework to ensure equity and access for historically disadvantaged students.

Once submitted, each application is tagged with its corresponding demographic factors. Then, the online platform conducts the lottery according to programmed lottery parameters. The District’s Enrollment Office determines lottery guidelines for each campus.

The lottery determines placement for each applicant by considering the following factors:

  • the schools/programs selected,
  • the way the applicant ranked their school preferences in the application,
  • the number of seats available at each school/program for that grade, 
  • the applicant’s priority level for that school/program, and 
  • the applicant’s random lottery number. 

Applicants are considered in order of priority group and random lottery number. They may receive an offer for their highest-ranked school that has space. If the applicant is not matched to their first choice, the system keeps them on the waitlist of higher-ranked schools. 

To see this in action, watch our video How the Lottery works (2024-25).

For more information, see the question What is the priority structure?