Key Dates
Work backward from the published dates
Use the dates as checkpoints and leave time for preparation and review.
Checked against Poolesville's published admissions pages on November 5, 2026.
Timeline
Key dates for this admissions cycle.
Work backward from these dates and leave time for the essays and a final read.
November 6, 2026
Round 1 application deadline
This date has passed for the current cycle. New dates appear here once Poolesville publishes them.
October 9, 2026
Application opens
The 2026-27 Center application opened on Friday evening, October 9, 2026, in ParentVUE (Online Registration, "2026-2027 Grade 8 High School Common App").
October 14, 2026
MCPS PSAT for Grade 8
MCPS gives the PSAT to Grade 8 students on October 14, 2026. For 2026-27 the criteria-based process uses the higher of a student's MAP or PSAT percentile, and MAP growth may be considered from Grades 5 to 8.
November 6, 2026
Round 1 application deadline
The Round 1 High School Possibility form and Center application are due November 6, 2026. MCPS says changes can be made until midnight that day.
February 12, 2027
Accept or decline an invitation
The deadline to accept or decline an invitation is February 12, 2027. A student may accept only one program, and not responding counts as declining.
- Round 1 results
- Round 1 results arrive by email and in ParentVUE in January 2027. MCPS pages differ on the week: one says the last week of January and another says mid January. If you have no results by January 30, 2027, email DCCAPS@mcpsmd.org or call 240-740-7800.
- Round 2 deadline
- The Round 2 High School Possibility form and Center application are due February 12, 2027.
- Round 2 results
- Round 2 results are released to families in ParentVUE in late March 2027.
- Appeals
- A student who was not identified as qualified for a criteria-based program can appeal for compelling circumstances. The appeal link activates in January 2027 and requests are due February 12, 2027. Appeals committees do not review teacher recommendations, outside test results, student work samples or outside clubs.