Enrollment at Gardner Pilot Academy

Gardner Pilot Academy is a full-service community school that serves over 400 students in pre-kindergarten (K0) through grade 8 in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

Discover Gardner Pilot Academy for your child’s education. Parents are our most important partners, and we look forward to working with you to provide your child with a first-rate, well-rounded public education.

GPA has completed its expansion to a K-8 school with the addition of Grade 8 in September 2014. Current GPA students are guaranteed middle school seats, but a limited number of additional seats are available to families from Allston-Brighton and other nearby neighborhoods.

To apply for enrollment at GPA, families must register through the Boston Public Schools. The following information will guide you through the school choice process.

IMPORTANT NOTE: On March 13, 2013, the Boston School Committee approved a new Home-Based School Choice Plan that changes the way students are assigned to schools, beginning with assignments for the 2014-2015 school year. No current student will have to change schools as a result of this policy. In addition, BPS will continue to provide sibling priority for the brothers and sisters of current GPA students.

Is my child eligible to attend GPA?

Families considering GPA for their child’s education should visit DiscoverBPS.org and enter your home address to determine if GPA is one of your eligible choices.

More than 70% of current GPA students live in the Allston/Brighton community.

When Do We Apply?

Registration for kindergarten seats (including both “K1” for students who will be 4 years old by September 1, and “K2” for students who will be 5 years old by September 1) and Grade 6 begins in early January for the school year that begins the following September. For the best chance of being assigned to your school of choice, be sure to submit your application anytime during the first registration period, which typically ends during the first week of February.

Registration for all other grades begins in early February. For the best chance of assignment to one of your schools of choice, be sure to register for grades 1-5 or grades 7-8 during the second registration period, which typically ends in mid-March.

For the complete schedule of BPS registration periods, visit the BPS website.

Can prospective families visit Gardner Pilot Academy?

Absolutely. We encourage parents and students who are considering Gardner Pilot Academy to visit the school, meet other families, and discover all that our school community has to offer.

In the fall, we schedule several open house sessions during School Preview Time. Families can also call the school (617-635-8365) to schedule an appointment.