Masterman High School admissions in Philadelphia ask for the 80th percentile on both PSSA tests, As and Bs, 95 percent attendance and Algebra I. Meeting every line enters a lottery, not a seat. I've seen strong students assume the 80th percentile was a ceiling to reach once, when it is the entry fee for a draw.
Masterman Admissions at a Glance
- Criteria: As and Bs, 95 percent attendance, and the 80th percentile in both ELA and math.
- Additional requirement: Algebra I.
- Entry grades with ZIP preference: 5th and 9th.
- 2027-2028 application: opened October 5, 2026 and closes November 24, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
- Offers: February and March. Waitlist offers: March and April.
- Up to five schools may be ranked.
Masterman's Criteria: Where the 80th Percentile Sits
The School District of Philadelphia lists Masterman and Central High School together in its top criteria tier. Both require As and Bs, an attendance rate of 95 percent and the 80th percentile for both ELA and math. Masterman also lists Algebra I as an additional requirement.
The gap from the next tier is real. Palumbo, Carver and several other schools set the line at the 65th percentile. Masterman's 80th percentile is 15 percentile points higher in each subject, and both subjects must clear it.
Attendance of 95 percent means 9 or fewer unexcused absences. The district uses final grades in English Language Arts or Reading, Math and Science only, and takes the best grades and attendance from the previous two school years. The page does not say how Algebra I is verified or whether it must be complete, so ask the school.
Where Masterman Sits Among Philadelphia's Criteria Tiers
The district groups its criteria-based high schools by shared requirements. Masterman and Central are in the top group. Palumbo, Carver, Parkway Center City and the Northeast High School magnet and IB programs follow, with the same grades and attendance but the 65th percentile.
The next group relaxes every line. CAPA, GAMP, Science Leadership Academy, Bodine and the Washington IB program accept As, Bs and one C, 90 percent attendance and the 50th percentile in both subjects. A fourth group accepts As, Bs and two Cs with the 50th percentile in either subject.
That ladder matters for ranking. A student who clears the 80th percentile qualifies for every tier below it, so a family can build a ranking that starts with Masterman and falls back to schools it would genuinely attend.
PSSA Percentiles and Alternatives for Masterman
The district uses PSSA English Language Arts and PSSA Math. For grades 6 through 10 it accepts the best percentile from the previous two years. For a 5th grade applicant it uses only the previous year, and for 11th and 12th grade it does not review test percentiles.
Applicants this fall submit 2025 and 2026 PSSA results. Official 2026 scores were delayed, so some applications cannot be finalized until November.
A percentile compares your child with other students on the same test. The 80th percentile means as well as or better than 80 percent of them. The district posts conversion charts for turning a PSSA score into a percentile.
In my experience, students who sit at the 78th or 79th percentile in one subject are the most frustrated, because the other score is excellent and the application still reads as ineligible.
Judging whether you are above or just under the 80th percentile in both subjects is hard from untimed practice, because a few questions decide it. Start the STEM Critical Thinking plan for timed test simulations with progress tracking.
Masterman's Lottery, Continuation Preference and Ranking
Eligible applicants enter a ranked lottery with up to five choices. Each applicant gets one offer or none in the initial round. ZIP code preference applies to Masterman for 5th and 9th grade, for families in 19132, 19133, 19135, 19138, 19140 or 19141.
Current Masterman 8th graders have a continuation preference. A student whose current school is also the first choice is guaranteed a spot only if three things are true: the application is submitted, the school's criteria are met and Masterman is ranked first.
The ranking rules cut both ways. If Masterman is ranked second and the student accepts an offer from the first-ranked school, there is no Masterman offer. If no higher-ranked offer arrives, the student receives the Masterman offer and stays on the waitlist for higher choices.
Sibling preference does not apply to criteria-based schools. Rankings can be changed until the window closes on November 24 at 11:59 p.m.
Masterman Timeline, Documents and Review
Preliminary eligibility is released in December and January, and the appeal window opens then. Individualized reviews and auditions follow in January and February. Final eligibility, the lottery and offers arrive in February and March, and waitlist offers in March and April.
Every criteria-based applicant submits report cards or transcripts and the Common Transcript Form. Non-District families gather transcripts and assessments and upload them with the application.
Students with an IEP, a 504 plan or English Learner status who meet two of the three criteria can ask to waive the third and receive an Individualized Review.
I've worked with students who were eligible on every line and still went unmatched because Masterman was their only choice. Rank every school you would actually attend.
Masterman High School Admissions FAQ
Q: What does Masterman require beyond the test score?
A: Algebra I, which the district lists as an additional requirement for Masterman. The page does not say whether Algebra I must be finished or only in progress, so ask the school before you apply.
Q: Which grades can enter Masterman through the lottery?
A: The district's ZIP code preference names 5th and 9th grade as Masterman's entry grades. Fifth grade applicants use only the previous year's assessment percentiles.
Q: What happens if Masterman is not my first-ranked school?
A: A current Masterman student who ranks another school first and accepts that offer receives no offer from Masterman. If no higher-ranked offer arrives, the student receives the Masterman offer and stays on the waitlist for higher choices.
Q: Do Masterman and Central have the same requirements?
A: On the district list, yes. Both require As and Bs, 95 percent attendance and the 80th percentile in ELA and math. Masterman adds Algebra I.
Q: How do students from outside the District apply?
A: Non-District families gather transcripts and assessments and upload them with the application. Anyone applying to a criteria-based school who is not enrolled in a District school uses the Common Transcript Form.
Q: Does a sibling at Masterman get preference?
A: No. The district says sibling preference does not apply to criteria-based schools. The preferences that do apply to Masterman are ZIP code and, for current students, continuation.
Q: Can we change the ranking after submitting?
A: Yes, as many times as you like until the window closes on November 24 at 11:59 p.m. After that the rankings are locked and cannot be changed.
Scored Practice for Masterman Applicants
Masterman's line is the 80th percentile in both subjects, so a clear read on timed accuracy helps before the scores are final. Use STEM Critical Thinking Practice Tests for timed test simulations with progress tracking, or compare all plans and pricing first.
