Application tips and strategies
As you explore school choice options and complete the RSCO application, here are a few helpful tips to consider.
Application tips and strategies
As you explore school choice options and complete the RSCO application, here are a few helpful tips to consider.
How Do I Maximize My Chance of an Offer?
While no single action guarantees placement, follow these helpful tips to submit your strongest application.
Pay attention to deadlines
Don’t miss out on an opportunity because of a late application or missed deadline.
Apply by the deadline of February 6, 2026. This is the best way to increase the chance of an offer.
Late application opportunities will be limited based on the waitlist size generated from applications filed by the deadline. Applying by the deadline ensures all schools and programs are available.
After receiving a placement notification, respond by the deadline, including completing student registration to hold your seat.
Apply by February 6, 2026
Apply during the on-time period to increase your chance of a placement offer.
Maximize Your Priorities
Many schools and programs consider priorities based on an applicant’s connection to a school or program during the placement process—including enrolled sibling, staff, pathways, and more. To increase the likelihood of a placement, it is important to know your priorities and make sure they are flagged in the Family Profile of your RSCO account.
Check the priorities on each Student Profile to ensure that all your priorities are listed.
Rank the school with a priority first to activate the priority. This will give you the best chance of a placement.
Applying for twins or siblings in the same grade range? Choose the same schools in the same choice order on each application to increase the chance that they will be placed together.
Only interested in CTECS? Apply only to CTECS technical high schools to activate the CTECS-only priority.
Only interested in Open Choice? Apply only to the Open Choice program to activate the Open Choice Only priority.
Know the Placement Rules
One Offer Rule
Under the one-offer rule, each applicant is eligible for only one placement offer for the 2026-27 school year. Once your student receives an offer for any of the schools listed on the application, the student is removed from all other waitlists and is not eligible for any other placement offer for the 2026-27 school year.Choice order matters with schools and districts.
Generally, your best chance of a placement offer is your your student's first-choice school or district selection. However, your student could receive placement at any school or district on their application. Therefore, it is important to select only schools your student would like to attend.No preference between programs.
When you apply to CTECS, magnet schools, and/or Open Choice, you cannot indicate which program you prefer. If there is interest in only one program, limit your selections to that program.First Round Offers
In the first round of placements, RSCO makes offers only for the school or district you list as your first choice. This means you can add other options without missing a chance at your top choice. After the first round, you'll be able to see your likelihood of getting into each school. If you don't receive an offer at your first-choice school and placement seems unlikely, you can adjust your choice order to try to boost your chance at placement in future rounds. On the other hand, if your student has a good chance of getting into your preferred school, you can remove the other options and stay on the waitlist for your top choice.
Apply by February 6, 2026
Apply during the on-time period to increase your chance of a placement offer. The late application will open the week of March 9, 2026 on a limited basis depending on waitlist size for each program, school and grade. Not all programs, schools and grades will continue to accept applications during this period.
