Tacoma families considering a different kind of high school experience can now apply to SAMI, SOTA or iDEA for the 2027–28 school year. The choice application opened Oct. 26 in ParentVUE and closes Jan. 15, 2027. Students who aren’t already enrolled in Tacoma Public Schools need to create a ParentVUE account before applying.
Each school has a distinct focus: SAMI centers science and math, SOTA is built around the arts, and iDEA focuses on industrial design, engineering and art. The application is for students entering ninth grade; current high school students aren’t eligible to apply.
Students from outside the Tacoma Public Schools district may apply, though district residents receive priority. Admission is determined through a regional lottery based on middle-school zones; grades, attendance and test scores aren’t considered. Families can apply without attending an information night.
Upcoming information nights are scheduled for Nov. 9 at SOTA, Nov. 10 at SAMI and Nov. 12 at iDEA, with another round Dec. 8–10. Each begins at 6 p.m. and lasts about an hour. For families weighing these three very different paths, the school visits may help answer the question the application alone can’t: which environment feels right for their student?
Application hubs can be found at the following links:
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