• Any 8th grader who attends a PTHS D209 foundation middle school 

• Any 8th grader who attends a private school or is homeschooled and whose permanent residence is within the PTHS D209 boundaries 

• Any 8th grader who attends an out-of-district middle school but whose permanent residence will be within the PTHS D209 boundaries by the start of the upcoming school year 

• Current Proviso students in 9th, 10th, or a first semester 11th grader. 

Yes. All students, including those with IEPs or 504 plans, are encouraged to apply. 

Yes. All students, including English Learners, are encouraged to apply. 

Students that are 9th, 10th, or first semester 11th graders can apply, but they must meet admission criteria and there are limitations on when students can apply for transfer: 

• Transfers into a Math & Science Academy will only occur at the start of a semester. Mid-semester transfers are not permitted. The transfer application deadline is at least 1 month prior to the start of a new semester but may be earlier. 

• Transfers into a Math & Science Academy are not approved during the senior year.  

• Transfers into 11th grade may occur only prior to the start of the school year due to program sequencing and dual degree considerations. 

No. All applicants must submit the digital MSA admissions application through pths209il.scriborder.com. 

You will create an account at pths209il.scriborder.com to submit the digital application. After you submit, you'll receive a confirmation email. You can also use the same account to log back in and review your submission. 

https://www.pths209.org/academics/math-science-academies 

Yes. Information about the Math and Science Academy Program is provided in both English and Spanish. You can also access this FAQs in Spanish at https://www.pths209.org/academics/math-science-academies 

Contact MSAadmissions@pths209.org 

Contact MSAadmissions@pths209.org 

Two: the PreACT 8/9 and the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3). 

Yes, students will submit a short writing sample as part of the application. The prompt and instructions are available in the online application, and the writing sample can be uploaded using the same platform.  

• PreACT 8/9 - The PreACT 8/9 assesses 8th and 9th-grade students in four core academic subjects—English, math, reading, and science—to measure early college and career readiness. 

• Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, 3rd Edition (NNAT3) — a nonverbal measure of reasoning and problem-solving ability. It uses geometric shapes and designs and requires no words or reading. It's given to students from pre-K through 12th grade and is commonly used to determine eligibility for gifted schools and programs. 

• PreACT 8/9: approximately 3 hours 

• NNAT3: approximately 1 hour 

Foundation middle schools administer both assessments in November/December. Students in private school, homeschool, or transferring in from out of district must pre-register for a testing day using the sign-up included in the digital application. These testing dates are also scheduled throughout November/December. 

• 8th graders who currently attend a PTHS D209 foundation school: nothing further, PMSA will contact your middle school directly for test scores and your official 7th grade transcript. 
• 8th graders who attend a private school, are homeschooled, or attend an out-of-district middle school: upload your official 7th grade transcript with your application, and sign up to take the PreACT 8/9 and the NNAT3 at PMSA (the testing sign-up is included in the digital application). 

PTHS D209 does not provide sample questions or study materials; however, many resources are available online to help familiarize students and families with each test. 

No. Students may take each assessment one time only. 

• PreACT — 35% 

• 7th Grade Transcript — 35% 

• Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3) — 20% 

• Writing Sample – 10% 

No. Students must meet the admissions criteria for acceptance, both for PMSA and for the MSA programs housed at PWHS and PEHS. 

All applicants will be notified of their admissions status by January 13, 2027. 

Families will be notified by email, sent to the address used to create the application account. 

After the initial round of invitations is sent, all students who did not receive one are automatically added to a waitlist. Depending on enrollment and staffing, we may be able to extend additional invitations; families will be notified by email if any additional invitations go out. No action is needed from families to be considered. 

Your child will attend their home school and take the standard (non-academy) 9th grade course load listed in the D209 course catalog.  

Yes, but they must meet admission criteria and there are limitations on when students  can apply for transfer: 

• Transfers into a Math & Science Academy will only occur at the start of a semester. Mid-semester transfers are not permitted. The transfer application deadline is at least 1 month prior to the start of a new semester but may be earlier. 

• Transfers into a Math & Science Academy are not approved during the senior year.  

• Transfers into 11th grade may occur only prior to the start of the school year due to program sequencing and dual degree considerations. 

No. There is no sibling preference. Some siblings end up on the same campus and others on different campuses; families can make arrangements once acceptance letters are received. 

All three academies offer challenging MSA coursework, advanced learning opportunities, and a strong foundation for college and career success. MSA coursework is weighted, giving students a chance to earn a GPA boost that can strengthen college and scholarship applications. 

PMSA offers a distinct experience: it's designed as an even more rigorous and accelerated program, with a faster academic pace, greater depth of study, and an intensive college-preparatory environment for students seeking an especially challenging experience. 

Yes. All MSA students must take two years of either Spanish or French. Placement information is provided to students upon admission to the program. 

Yes. All students who attend the Forest Park campus are eligible for free bus transportation provided by the district. 

Yes. Bus transportation is provided after school so PMSA students can travel to their home school for sports, and bus transportation home is also provided.