What Happens After March? Understanding School Lists and Placement

One of the most confusing things for new families isn’t just how to apply to schools, it’s what happens after you apply.

If you’re coming from systems where enrollment is straightforward and immediate, the local process for public and concertado schools can feel opaque. The key is understanding that submitting your application in March is just the beginning. The real action happens in the weeks (and sometimes months) that follow.

What Happens After You Submit Your Application (March–May)

For public and concertado schools, the March 1-31 application period is when you submit your ranked list of school preferences. From there, everything moves into a structured, but not always intuitive, placement process.

1. Provisional Lists (April 21)
After applications close, schools publish provisional rankings. These lists show:

How many points each applicant received (based on factors like proximity, siblings, etc.)

This is your first real insight into your chances. If there were fewer applicants than slots, this information is irrelevant, as all children who listed the school as their first choice will be admitted.

2. Alegaciones (Appeals Period)
If something looks off, missing points, incorrect information, you’ll have a 10-day window to submit an appeal. This step matters more than many families realize, especially for competitive schools where many children have the same number of points and even a half point difference can determine placement.

3. Final Lists (May 14)
Once appeals are processed, final lists are published. At this point:

Rankings are locked
School placements are determined based on available seats and your preference order

This is when you find out whether you got your first choice or not. After this, the school you were admitted you will take you through next steps to formalize enrollment and prepare for the next school year.

If You Don’t Get Your Top Choice

Getting your first-choice school is common, but not guaranteed, especially in high-demand areas. If your top option is full, the system assigns the next available school from your list that still has openings.

You won’t be left without a school, placement is guaranteed in the public system
But you may not love the initial assignment
You can also explore what other schools you didn’t list still have openings

Some families accept their placement and revisit options later. Others begin exploring alternatives immediately.

After May: Late Applications (“Escolarización Extraordinaria”)

If you miss the March–May window, you’ll enter a different process entirely. This is called “escolarización extraordinaria.” Instead of competing through the points system, placement is now based primarily on where there is space available.

What this means in practice:

You’ll apply through the local education office or directly with schools
If multiple schools have space, preferences may be considered, but availability comes first

One thing to remember, August is effectively shut down. If you’re waiting on anything school-related, expect it to pause until the first Monday in September.

If you go in expecting a process, not an instant result, you’ll be better prepared to navigate it calmly. And it’s worth remembering that most schools are more alike than different, you will find a good fit for your child.