What Families Are Saying About Propel Schools

Families may apply for the 2024-2025 school year’s open lottery on SchoolMint from October 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Families who apply after December 31, 2023 will be placed on the waiting list and will be contacted via email when a space is available.

Families may apply to one or multiple schools. In January, a lottery will be conducted using SchoolMint’s automated software. Families will be notified via email if space has been confirmed or they may log in to their SchoolMint account and view their place on the waiting list.

The deadline to apply for the lottery is December 31, 2023. However space may still be available at some schools so waitlist applications are accepted after this date.

Applicants accepted in the lottery will receive an email or text message via the SchoolMint system during the second half of January with details about how to complete registration as well as a list of required documents. Applicants accepted after the January lottery will receive an email or text message via SchoolMint whenever a seat comes available.

Potential kindergarten scholars must be 5 years of age by August 31 of the year they propose to begin school.

There is no application fee or cost to attend. Propel schools are free, public schools.

Yes. For specific information, please contact Melissa Garvin at 412-325-7305 EXT 1010 or Thomas Kuchno at 412-325-7305 EXT 1130.

Generally, school hours are 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. but may vary at the high school level. Propel Andrew Street High School Propel Braddock Hills High School Propel Montour High School

Yes, our schools offer a FREE afterschool program. Programs vary by school but all include snacks and/or dinner as well as academic enrichment opportunities. For specific information, please call 412-325-7305 ext 1310.

Bus transportation, in most cases, is provided by the resident school district in which you live. You must live within a 10-mile radius of the school, and within a bussing school district to receive transportation from your resident school district. If you reside in a district that is not a bussing school district the family is responsible for providing transportation.

The number of scholars in each classroom will vary depending on the grade. Kindergarten classes generally have 20 scholars and increase with grade level to about 25.

Generally, the school year begins in mid-August.

No, all Propel scholars receive free breakfast and lunch. Scholars may also bring a lunch to school.  

Yes, Propel scholars wear uniforms. Yes, parents/guardians are expected to support their scholars by purchasing uniform items and ensuring they are properly dressed when they leave for school each morning.

All applications for siblings will be prioritized in the lottery.

If your child is in grade 8, they will need to apply during the open enrollment period to select which Propel Schools High School they would like to attend. Propel Montour Middle School scholars also must apply for an 8th-grade seat at the Propel School of their choice. 

Families with children in other grades only need to complete an intent to return form annually.

If your contact information changes or you move to a new address, you will need to log into SchoolMint and update the information. If your contact information changes after you have secured a spot but before the school year begins, please contact the enrollment team. If your information changes once the school year has begun, please contact the administrative assistant at the school to complete a change of address form.

We provide more time for instruction through a longer school day and a longer school year, which results in 25% more instructional time than the state requires. The school day lasts 7 hours and students attend school for 190 days.

Propel Schools offers free breakfast and lunch meals. 

As scholars step off of the bus, out of their car walk into the building upon arrival, they are greeted by a staff member. Principals are outside to talk to scholars and parents and to help scholars get their day started on the right foot.

Propel Schools will prepare our scholars to have the confidence, skills, and strategies to confront any English Language Arts and math task they are faced with, inside or outside of the classroom. Our scholars experience a 3-hour literacy block that has a humanities focus (reading, writing, social studies) and a 90-minute instructional block for math.

Propel Schools Fine and Creative Arts Programs provide scholars with a wide array of in-depth arts instruction as an essential, required part of the core curriculum. Through learning in visual arts, music, dance, theater, and performing arts, scholars discover talents and skills that help them to become innovative and creative thinkers, while building motivation and self-confidence. In Fine Arts classes, scholars are taught by full-time, certified instructors in content that includes visual and media arts, general and instrumental music, and show choir. In Creative Arts, scholars work with teaching artists from a variety of local professional organizations, expanding traditional curriculum to also include content such as puppetry, karate, and spoken word poetry. Scholars receive 50 minutes of instruction in the arts every day.

Propel schools provide a science learning experience that encourages a natural curiosity, increases scientific literacy, and applies science to everyday life through comprehensive community partnerships and inquiry-based instruction. Our scholars experience 45-60 minutes of daily interactive science instruction.

Propel High Schools offer scholars the same relevance and rigor found in our K – 8 schools. Our scholars in grades 9 – 12 are challenged with coursework that will lead them to college, career, and beyond! Opportunities to earn college credits, take on real-world internships, and be involved in community projects are an integral part of each scholars' experience.

To best serve our high school scholars:

• Classes are 48 minutes in length
• Scholars take ownership of their education via elective courses
• Student leadership opportunities are encouraged
• We offer an Afterschool Program that stresses academics as well as social and enrichment activities.