Public school eligibility for educational rates / Creator Studio

Apple has promoted their educational rates for Creator Studio. I am a public high school teacher and cannot get verified to receive the educational rate. The process isn't smooth and I'm not sure what to do next. It is managed through Sheer ID, but when I go through the steps of requesting verification I get a dialogue box that says This offer is unavailable. The academic institution you have selected is not eligible for this offer.


My question - are public high schools not eligible for this? If so, why not? Appreciate any guidance that can be provided.

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Jan 28, 2026 3:45 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 31, 2026 4:39 PM

Apple's 3rd party verification company, SheerID, sent me this reply regarding this:


RA (SheerID Verification Support) 

Jan 30, 2026, 07:17 PST 

 

Thank you for contacting SheerID regarding your verification request for Apple. Allow me to give you further clarifications regarding the guidelines given to us. 

 

I understand that your school is not on the eligible list. At this time, Apple has chosen for their offer to be available to degree granting colleges and universities only. Since your school is classified as a high school/ K-12, this means you would not be eligible. As a third-party verification company, SheerID must abide by the guidelines Apple has set for their offer.  

 

For further questions regarding eligibility, please contact Apple Support at, https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=sheerid&PGF=PGF51003&category_id=SC0321

 

Thanks for reaching out.

Kind regards,

RA

Sr. Verification Support


10 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 31, 2026 4:39 PM in response to LinkGov

Apple's 3rd party verification company, SheerID, sent me this reply regarding this:


RA (SheerID Verification Support) 

Jan 30, 2026, 07:17 PST 

 

Thank you for contacting SheerID regarding your verification request for Apple. Allow me to give you further clarifications regarding the guidelines given to us. 

 

I understand that your school is not on the eligible list. At this time, Apple has chosen for their offer to be available to degree granting colleges and universities only. Since your school is classified as a high school/ K-12, this means you would not be eligible. As a third-party verification company, SheerID must abide by the guidelines Apple has set for their offer.  

 

For further questions regarding eligibility, please contact Apple Support at, https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=sheerid&PGF=PGF51003&category_id=SC0321

 

Thanks for reaching out.

Kind regards,

RA

Sr. Verification Support


Jan 30, 2026 1:29 AM in response to TheLittles

Vocab: I'm English, have is representative of the plural, as in a collective of individuals within an entity or in this case, a corporation, works fine in my country but thanks for the attempted English lesson.


Also, I work in education and applied for the discount. On the application page there's a link out to why you are ineligible, higher education is listed as eligible, secondary and primary schools (UK) are ineligible.

Jan 29, 2026 4:48 PM in response to MrWeekender

"This is incorrect information. Apple have stated that only higher education is eligible, which is frankly ridiculous."

--------


Vocab:

Do you mean "Apple has stated"?


These are just User-to-User forums. Don't want to speak to your school board? Then give Apple a buzz, and see what they have to say. No one on these forums can speak for Apple. Go here to find your location info: Contact Apple Support - Apple Support


Jan 30, 2026 7:24 PM in response to MrWeekender

"Vocab: I'm English, have is representative of the plural, as in a collective of individuals within an entity or in this case, a corporation, works fine in my country but thanks for the attempted English lesson. Also, I work in education and applied for the discount. On the application page there's a link out to why you are ineligible, higher education is listed as eligible, secondary and primary schools (UK) are ineligible."

-------


These are just user-to-user forums. If you do not notice, there is no audio between and person. All of this is scripted characters. As for this education stuff --Apple seems the was to go about this.

Jan 28, 2026 4:26 PM in response to LinkGov

"Public school eligibility for educational rates / Creator Studio: [...]My question - are public high schools not eligible for this? If so, why not? Appreciate any guidance that can be provided."

-------


Speak to the School Board:

If your school is not listed, it is not eligible at this time --period. IF you think this is in error, then this complacency seems like something you should take up with your local school board. 🙂

Jan 29, 2026 4:41 PM in response to LinkGov

I am a State High School teacher in Australia who uses Logic as part of my teaching tools. There is nothing initially that says high schools are ineligible.

The issue I have is that there is no grounds for appealing the decision of the ‘Sheer ID’.

Looks like it’s time to stop using Apple products in the classroom, if we are being locked out.

Jan 30, 2026 2:46 AM in response to LinkGov

Slightly different but related issue to OP, being unable to verify as an educator through the Sheer ID process. First stage – logging in to college though 'OpenAthens' system OK (as Education establishment; UK further education college is listed) – then asks for further proof so most recent payslip sent off and seems to go through some sort of vetting process. Receive an email a few minutes later to say "One or more of your documents are not acceptable." with a big button asking you to upload again - but that button doesn't work.


So no way forward it would seem - email to Sheer support sent off but, based on previous experiences being sent around in circles with them, not holding out much hope.


Will stick with Adobe for the foreseeable until that's all fixed and made much more Apple friendly.



This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Public school eligibility for educational rates / Creator Studio

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.