CMS Magnet Lottery Key Dates

1. Future registration opens

   Estimated

   Mid-October

   If your child is not already enrolled in CMS, this is where you start. You need a student ID number before you can apply to any school through the lottery.

   CMS has not announced this date yet. Last year, registration opened October 13, 2025.

2. Choice fairs

   Estimated

   Late October and early November

   CMS has historically offered fairs where programs present themselves in one place. It's a fast way to see several options without booking separate tours.

   CMS has not announced this date yet. Last year, the fairs ran from late October through early November 2025.

3. Future registration deadline

   Estimated

   Late November

   To enter the CMS magnet lottery, you must first register your child with CMS and receive the required student ID. Registration closes before the lottery application deadline, so be sure to register your child on time.

   CMS has not announced this date yet. Last year, registration closed November 21, 2025.

4. Lottery application deadline

   Estimated

   Early December

   CMS has not announced this date yet. Last year, the application closed December 5, 2025.

5. CMS Magnet Lottery Results Released

   Estimated

   January

   Results of the lottery are shared in your portal showing where you have been offered a seat and where you have been waitlisted.

   CMS has not announced this date yet. Last year, CMS's email notification window ran from January 6 through January 16, 2026.

6. Transfer and reassignment period

   Estimated

   Mid-March to mid-April

   CMS has not announced this date yet. Last year, the transfer and reassignment period ran from March 16 through April 15, 2026.

Check CMS directly for the most recent information. (opens in a new tab)