Online applications for New Residents will open April 13, 2026.
For NEW Baltimore County Residents ONLY (residence newly established in Baltimore County October 22, 2025 - August 30, 2026)
Residency must be established prior to submitting the New Resident application.
Who is eligible?
1. For the purpose of magnet admissions, a New Resident is child who establishes a bona fide domicile in Baltimore County after October 21, 2025 (the magnet application deadline) but before August 31, 2026 (the first day of the 2026-2027 school year).
2. New residents must also meet the
age and
residency requirements for enrollment in the Baltimore County Public Schools. New residents who are homeless are entitled to submit a New Resident Application, just as any other student.
What is the process?
1. Beginning April 13, 2026, parents interested in applying for BCPS Magnet Programs
as a New Resident for the 2026-2027 school year can create an account and submit the application through the
Online Magnet Application System. The application must be submitted by the posted deadline.
2. Parents should carefully select programs based on their child’s specific interests, talents and abilities.
Program descriptions are available for each program.
3. Parents may apply to up to three (3) programs.
Please Note: Magnet programs may be restricted, based on a student’s grade level, and admission to a magnet program does not guarantee that
transportation will be provided by BCPS.
4. Parents of students interested in high school programs should carefully read all information about the magnet assessments for each program of interest. Contact
BCPS Magnet Programs for a copy of the High School Assessment Guidelines for each program selection.
5. Parents of students indicating interest in high school magnet programs must upload copies of report cards with the New Resident Application. The report cards must be the final report card for the previous year (2024-2025) and the most recent report card for the current year (2025-2026). The report cards should show the grades earned for each quarter/trimester.
How are New Resident students selected for placement in Magnet Programs?
1. New residents who meet the eligibility criteria for the program(s) in which they indicate interest will be considered for placement only after any existing wait list is exhausted and if space exists.
2. In accordance with the procedures set forth in
Superintendent’s Rule 6400, once the New Resident Application is submitted, the student will be added to the end of any existing wait list for the program(s) selected. Should a seat become available in a selected program and the student's name is next on the wait list, the student's parent will be contacted with a seat offer (elementary and middle school applicants) or a date to schedule an assessment (high school applicants).
PLEASE BE AWARE!
The New Resident Application is for the
2026-2027 school year only. The wait list for acceptance for the 2026-2027 school year expires on October 30, 2026 (the last day of the first quarter of the 2026-2027 school year).
If a student is interested in applying to magnet programs for the 2027-2028 school year and meets the grade level requirement, the parent must submit an application via the
Online Magnet Application System, available in the fall of 2026.
Questions regarding the New Resident process should be directed to BCPS Magnet Programs at
[email protected] or (443) 809-4127.