How To Apply
We're delighted that you're considering Phoenix!
Phoenix is a lottery-based middle school with a unique academic program, schedule, and approach to learning. We encourage families to carefully review the information on this page to better understand the Phoenix experience and determine whether it is a good fit for their student.
Once you have reviewed the details below, families who wish to be considered for Phoenix should click the “Apply to Phoenix Middle School” link to complete the lottery application. Submitting an application enters your student into the district lottery process during the designated application window. Phoenix is a public Worthington Schools middle school for 7th and 8th grade. Admission to Phoenix is determined through a district-run lottery.
At a glance
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Who can apply: Current 6th-grade Worthington Schools students (for 7th grade entry)
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Eligibility: Students must be Worthington Schools residents when school begins in the fall
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Deadline: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM
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Lottery date: Friday, March 20, 2026
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Do parents/students have to attend the lottery drawing? No.
Each year, we review our process for the Phoenix Middle School lottery selection guidelines. As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, we will draw students from the current 6th-grade class to fill the incoming Phoenix 7th-grade class.
Before you apply, we want you to have a clear picture of what Phoenix feels like day to day. Start with:
STEP 1: Review the Phoenix Website
Carefully review our website. Specifically these sections:
- About us
- Academics & Learning
- Phoenix FAQ's
- Questions? Please contact us.
STEP 2: Attend an Information Event
It’s important that prospective students and families understand the Phoenix program before applying. We strongly encourage families to attend at least one event.
Important dates for the 2026 / 2027 school year (print these dates):
Mon, Jan 12
Online application opens + information letter sent to Worthington 6th-grade families
Online / Worthington Schools
Fri, Jan 16
Phoenix visit to Perry MS
Fri, Jan 23
Phoenix visit to McCord MS
Fri, Jan 30
Phoenix visit to Worthingway MS
Fri, Feb 6
Phoenix visit to Kilbourne MS
Thu, Feb 19 (6:30–8:00 PM)
Family Information Meeting
Phoenix MS
Wed, Mar 4 (5:30–7:30 PM)
Phoenix Discovery Night & ESports Tournament
Phoenix MS
Sat, Mar 14 (10:00 AM–12:00 PM)
Open House for Prospective Families
Phoenix MS
Tue, Mar 17 (4:00 PM)
Application deadline
Online
Fri, Mar 20
Lottery drawing
Worthington Education Center
STEP 3: Complete and Submit the Application
To apply to be a Phoenix 7th grader for the 2026-2027 school year, parents/students must complete the online application and submit it no later than Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 4:00 pm.
Students who have submitted completed applications on time will be entered into a lottery and randomly selected on Friday, March 20, 2026.
All students not selected will be placed on a waitlist. Worthington School officials reserve the right to remove any incomplete or fraudulent applications.
Additional Information:
The Lottery Process
- The Phoenix Middle School lottery is conducted at the district level; not by the school. Questions about the lottery process should be referred to Susan Withers (swithers@wscloud.org) at the Worthington Education Center; not Phoenix Middle School.
- Students will be drawn from the lottery by neighborhood (home) middle school. Students must be Worthington Schools residents when school begins in the fall.
- Families do not need to be present at the lottery drawing to be eligible.
- Worthington Schools will contact Families to confirm admission.
7th Grade Waitlist Practices
- Students not selected are placed on a waitlist by home middle school. If a selected student declines, offers are made from that waitlist until seats are filled.
- Calls are made based on home school order; if a student declines, the next student is contacted. If a home-school waitlist is exhausted, enrollment numbers from the other middle schools determine the next waitlist.
- Students may remain on the waitlist through 8th grade.
8th Grade Waitlist Practices
- Phoenix may begin contacting the 8th-grade waitlist if enrollment drops below 80.
- The first waitlist contacted is the home middle school of the student leaving; if filled, the process stops.
- If that waitlist is exhausted, enrollment numbers from the other middle schools determine the next waitlist.
Enrollment Exceptions
- Due to our unique schedule, we allow current Phoenix families with a student who is currently enrolled at Phoenix as a 7th grader (moving to 8th grade) to have automatic admittance for an incoming 7th-grade sibling.
Please Note: Even if a 6th grader has a sibling who is currently enrolled as a Phoenix 7th grader, they MUST complete and submit an application. Students without applications WILL NOT be entered in the lottery regardless of whether their sibling is in the current Phoenix 7th grade class. - Families with multiple students in the same grade and in the same household (ex. twins, steps) can submit a separate application for each student. In the case that a student from that household is selected, offers will be extended to each additional student for the upcoming school year but each additional student will not take any seats away from other students in the lottery.
- All seventh-graders attending Phoenix in the 7th grade will automatically matriculate into the eighth-grade class.
- The children of Phoenix staff can be added to the new class after an application is submitted. The Phoenix staff’s students do not take any seats away from other students in the lottery.
Final Notes
- After the lottery has been completed and we have our new 7th-grade class, we will host our new students at Phoenix MS for an Orientation/Open House. Parents will need to provide transportation to and from Phoenix that morning. More information will be provided to students who are selected.
- We will also hold New Parent Orientation/Acceptance. More information will be provided in the future.
- If you have questions about the Phoenix Middle School program, please email Sean Flynn (sflynn@wscloud.org) or Chrissy Cavaluchy (ccavaluchy@wscloud.org)
- If you have any questions about the Phoenix Middle School lottery, please email Susan Withers (swithers@wscloud.org).
We look forward to meeting you and your 6th-grade students during our recruitment process this spring!
The Phoenix Middle School Staff