Open Enrollment FAQ
How are students selected?
When the Open Enrollment period ends, we compare the number of applications we received to the number of available seats in each grade level.If more seats are available than applicants, we accept all eligible children who applied during Open Enrollment.
If we have fewer seats available than applicants, a lottery will take place to determine which students get a seat and which students are placed on the waiting list. Preferences vary by school and will be granted accordingly during the lottery process.
Weighted Lottery
Capstone Academy uses a weighted lottery system in accordance with all federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. A weighted lottery grants preference to students who qualify for the categories listed below. Qualifying students will be identified by answering an optional question on the student enrollment application. The qualifying categories, as defined in Capstone Academy's charter contract, include:
- Students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunch.
- Students who are members of a migrant family or who speak a language other than English.
- Students experiencing homelessness.
- Students who have been identified as having a disability with an IEP.
Students who apply after Open Enrollment closes are processed in the order their applications are received and are placed on the appropriate list - accepted or waiting list.
If your child is on the waiting list, don’t be discouraged! Often, seats become available throughout the summer. We will continue to send you school information if your child is on the waiting list.
When is Open Enrollment?
Open Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year begins on October 1, 2024 and ends at 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2025.What is the benefit of applying during Open Enrollment?
Your student has a great chance of receiving a seat when applying during Open Enrollment. All applications received during Open Enrollment are considered equal. During the lottery, these applications are randomly drawn for available seats. After Open Enrollment, applications are placed on the waiting list based on the date and time in which they are received.What if I have more than one child?
We want to accommodate families with more than one eligible child, so we give preference to siblings of children who are already enrolled in the school. The eligible sibling will be given the first available seat, or placed on the waiting list with sibling preference, over children who have no enrolled siblings. At our schools in all states, except Ohio, we also grant preference to children whose sibling has been offered a seat to the school (accepted).
Children who share at least one common parent or legal guardian and live in the same household at least 50% of the time are eligible for sibling preference.