8th Grade Applicants – How to Apply

Getting Started 

PEP will open a special admissions cycle for current 8th-grade students at Lawton C. Johnson Middle School who want to join the program starting February 1, 2027, and meet the applicant’s eligibility requirements.

We will accept applications from October 15 through November 13, 2026.

Step 1 – Confirm Your Eligibility (see below)

To be considered for the PEP Program, the applicant must: 

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a green card
  • Reside in the city of Summit, NJ
  • Be enrolled as a 8th-grade student at Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School
  • Be from a family with demonstrated financial need
  • Be self-motivated, with a desire to go beyond a high school degree
  • Show intellectual curiosity and an open mind to new experiences and learning
  • Demonstrate a record of academic success
  • Display and maintain a positive attitude
  • Show a strong family commitment to the applicant’s success 
Step 2 – Submit Online Application

Create an account and begin the application process! You can save your progress on the application and log in to the system at any time until the deadline. Please note that once your application is submitted, you will no longer be able to make changes.

Students, click here to get started!

Step 3 – Complete Eligibility Verification Paperwork

The PEP Program serves children from families with demonstrated financial need. To complete the application process, the PEP Program will verify each family’s financial eligibility for PEP and each student’s citizenship/permanent residency status. Parents/guardians will be asked to submit proof of income, a financial disclosure statement, and proof of student’s citizenship/permanent residency. In addition, parents/guardians will be asked to complete a form allowing Summit Public Schools to release the student’s academic records to the PEP Program. If you have questions about the eligibility verification process, please email us at info@pepprogramnj.org or call (908) 277-1106.

Step 4 – Student and Family Interviews

Selected finalists will be contacted for an interview. All interviews are conducted online. Both the student and the parent(s) are required to participate. Students and parents who do not attend their interviews will not be eligible for program participation. 

PEP Program, Copyright © 2026 – All Rights Reserved