A lottery number is a set of randomly selected numbers that are assigned to students who wish to apply for admission to a particular school. Several parents had launched a campaign to obtain the numbers under the Freedom of Information Law, which allows for the release of information used in the decision making process.

The lottery number is a series of 32-digit codes, which can be confusing at first. However, the Department of Education (DOE) released the code in response to parental demands for more transparency.

The code is designed to make sure that there are enough seats available to every student, and also to ensure that students who choose a school with a lottery number have a better chance of getting into their preferred choice. However, the lottery number is only one part of the admission process. It is also determined by the number of applicants, as well as the number of open seats.

Lottery numbers are used by the DOE to determine the order of priority for applicants. Preliminary applications are given the highest priority, based on the date of application. Highest lottery numbers are called during each table year. If a number is called, the odds are a close to even chance that the applicant will receive an offer.

When a student’s name is submitted, the Department of Education will post the lottery number on the Housing Portal. In addition, the applicant will be able to view his or her admission number in their My Schools profile. This number will tell them where the child fits in the admissions process.