Applications Closed

Free private school for Philly kids.

For families impacted by school closures.

Your child can go to a private school for FREE in the 2026-2027 school year.

Opportunity Knocks connected Philadelphia families impacted by school closures with free private school options for the 2026–2027 school year. The program provides scholarships of up to $8,000 per year toward tuition at participating private schools.

Applications Are Now Closed

The Opportunity Knocks scholarship application period ended November 1, 2026. No new applications are being accepted.

Who Can Qualify

Scholarships are available for students entering 1st through 12th grade this September who currently attend—and can provide proof of enrollment at—one of the 17 Philadelphia public schools identified by the City for closure.*

The application period closed November 1, 2026.

*Official school closures defined by Philadelphia School Board vote on April 30, 2026.

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How The Opportunity Knocks Scholarship Works

  1. 1
    Who Is This For?
    Eligibility is limited to students entering 1st through 12th grade who have been impacted by the recent closure of the following 17 Philadelphia schools:

    Pre-K-8 schools
    • Robert Morris Elementary
    • Samuel Pennypacker School
    • John Welsh Elementary School
    • Laura W. Waring School
    • Overbrook Elementary School
    • Rudolph Blankenburg School
    • Fitler Academics Plus

    Middle schools
    • General Louis Wagner Middle School
    • Stetson Middle School
    • Warren G. Harding Middle School
    • William T. Tilden Middle School
    • Academy for the Middle Years, or AMY, at Northwest

    High schools
    • Lankenau High School
    • Paul Robeson High School
    • Parkway Northwest High School
    • Parkway West High School
    • Penn Treaty High School
  2. 2
    The Scholarship
    The scholarship provides up to $8,000 per year, available through high school graduation, toward tuition at a participating private school in Philadelphia. Applications are now closed and no new applications are being accepted.
  3. 3
    How Scholarships Were Awarded
    Scholarships were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to the first 500 eligible students who completed all required steps, including eligibility review and school enrollment. The application period has now closed.
  4. 4
    What Are the Approved School Options?
    The participating private schools are:
    1. Father Judge High School
    2. Holy Cross Catholic School
    3. Liguori Academy
    4. SS. Cyril & Philomena
    5. St. Barnabas Catholic School
    6. St. Frances Cabrini
    7. St. Francis de Sales School
    8. St. Helena Incarnation
    9. St. Malachy Catholic School
    10. St. Martin de Porres
    11. St. Martin of Tours
    12. St. Raymond of Penafort
    13. St. Rose of Lima
    14. St. Thomas Aquinas
    15. St. Veronica
    16. The DePaul Catholic School

Applications Are Closed

The Opportunity Knocks scholarship application period ended November 1, 2026. No new applications are being accepted.

The Opportunity Knocks program is designed to help families navigate school closures and ensure students can continue learning in stable, supportive environments.