​Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program (OSTCP)

Low Achieving Schools

PDE posts the list of low-achieving schools annually so that eligible students can apply for scholarships for the upcoming school year. Students who reside in an attendance zone of a school previously identified as low achieving for the OSTC Program but is not included on the current year’s list, may apply to a scholarship organization to continue receiving a scholarship.

• 2026-27 List of Low Achieving Schools (Excel)
• 2025-26 List of Low Achieving Schools (Excel)

For archived lists of low-achieving schools, please contact the OSTCP team at ra-ostcp@pa.gov.

Schools that Enroll OSTCP Students

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) does not endorse nor recommend any of the schools on this list. PDE simply provides the information given to us by the schools as a resource for parents that are seeking schools that may enroll students from the OSTC program. 

• Schools to Receive Students with Opportunity Scholarships in the 2025-26 School Year (Excel)
• Schools to Receive Students with Opportunity Scholarships in the 2024-25 School Year (Excel)

Become a School that accepts OSTCP Students

A school district or nonpublic school that elects to participate must notify PDE of the district's or nonpublic school's intent to participate as well as provide the amount of tuition and school-related fees by submitting the information in the Future Ready Comprehensive Planning Portal (FRCPP.)

The school district Superintendent or nonpublic school Principal must update the required information annually by February 15. PDE publicly posts a list of the participating schools on or before June 6 of each year.

For new schools wishing to participate in OSTCP or current schools that need support, please contact the OSTCP team at RA-OSTCP@pa.gov.

Please note: PDE's role in this program is to identify low-achieving schools and, as a courtesy, provide a list of schools that accept students from this program. PDE does not accept applications, approve the scholarship organizations or make any decisions on the amount of funds granted to a student. These decisions are handled through scholarship organizations under the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED.)

Overview of the Program

Establishment: The Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program provides scholarships to eligible students who wish to attend a participating public or nonpublic school of their choice.

Eligibility: Students (including students entering kindergarten) who reside within the boundaries of a low-achieving school as of the first day of classes will be eligible to apply for an opportunity scholarship. Eligible students may include children residing within the boundaries of a low-achieving school who:

• Currently attend a low-achieving school;
• Are currently enrolled in a non-public school;
• Were previously homeschooled; or
• Were previously attending a charter or cyber charter.

The income information and information on additional allowances for people with disabilities can be found on the DCED website at: Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program (OSTC) - PA Department of Community & Economic Development

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will annually publish a list of the bottom 15 percent of elementary schools and the bottom 15 percent of secondary schools.

Continuation of Scholarship: A scholarship organization may award a scholarship to an applicant who resides within the attendance boundary of a low-achieving school to attend a participating public school or a participating nonpublic school selected by the parent of the applicant. If an applicant who received an opportunity scholarship for the prior school year resides within the attendance boundary of a school that was removed from the list of low-achieving schools provided by the department, the applicant may receive an educational opportunity scholarship. The scholarship may be for each year of enrollment in a participating public school or participating nonpublic school for up to the lesser of five years or until completion of grade 12 provided the applicant remains eligible.

Funding: Opportunity scholarships are funded by businesses making contributions to scholarship organizations in exchange for tax credit. The amount of scholarships cannot exceed the amount of business contributions made to scholarship organizations. Even if a student is eligible for a scholarship, that scholarship is contingent upon funds being available.

Requirements: The scholarship can only be used for tuition costs and school-related fees at the participating nonpublic school or nonresident public school district. A scholarship shall not be awarded for enrollment in a home education program. The combined amount of scholarship and additional financial aid may not exceed the tuition rate and school-related fees associated with the participating school. Scholarship funds received by a parent are not considered taxable income. A participating public or nonpublic school may not charge a higher tuition rate than its normal rates for non- participating students.

Transportation: A resident school district that provides transportation to its own students must provide transportation for a resident student attending a participating nonpublic school that is located within 10 miles of the resident school district’s boundaries. A resident school district that provides transportation to its own students may provide transportation for a resident student attending a nonresident public school that is located within 10 miles of the resident school district’s boundaries.

How to Apply for an Opportunity Scholarship: Opportunity scholarships will be awarded by approved opportunity scholarship organizations, not the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) nor PDE. The list of opportunity scholarship organizations is available on DCED’s website at: Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program (OSTC) - PA Department of Community & Economic Development.

DCED’s website provides specific instructions for contacting approved opportunity scholarship organizations, which administer the program and establish their own application process. Parents should work directly with an approved opportunity scholarship organization to apply for and participate in the program, rather than contacting DCED.

Awarding of Scholarships: In awarding an opportunity scholarship, a scholarship organization shall give preference to eligible applicants who:

• Received a scholarship for the prior school year;
• Meet certain income limits; or
• Meet certain income limits and who reside in a first class school district, a district with an average daily membership greater than 7,500 that has received an advance of its basic education subsidy, or a district that has received an advance of its basic education subsidy and is either subject to a declaration of financial distress under section 691 of the Public School Code or is engaged in litigation against the commonwealth in which the school district seeks financial assistance from the commonwealth to allow the school district to continue to operate.

Parental Responsibilities: Under the program, parents are responsible for contacting and enrolling their students in participating public or nonpublic schools.