
Frequently Asked Questions for Admission
Who can apply?
All students entering grades 6‐12, currently residing in the state of Idaho, will be given the opportunity to apply for enrollment regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, social or economic status, or special needs. The Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy does not discriminate in the admission policy, or in providing services.
How do I apply?
All new students wishing to attend the Academy must fill out an application and submit it to the registrar before the second Friday in March to be eligible for the lottery. All students who apply after the second Friday in March will have their names placed on the waiting list based on the date and time the application is received, regardless of the student's area of residence.
I have a “straight A” student, does he/she have a better chance of getting in than those with lower grades?
No. We are a public school, open to any students who reside in Idaho. We do not give priority to students based on grades.
How does the lottery work?
A lottery is conducted when the number of applicants exceeds the number of openings for a particular grade. Full-time enrollment to the Academy is granted in the following priority order:
1) First for students returning to the Academy
2) Second, children of Academy founders and children of full-time Academy employees (not to exceed 10% of the school's total enrollment)
3) Third, to siblings of pupils already enrolled at the Academy
4) Fourth, to applicants residing within the primary attendance area
5) Fifth, by random lottery
Those applicants in the lottery who are not immediately accepted will be placed on a waiting list in the order their names are drawn.
When will I know if my child has been accepted?
All full-time applicants will be notified by mail regarding acceptance within two weeks after the lottery deadline. Those applicants, who have been accepted, will be informed of the date and time of their registration. Those students who are not selected for an available opening at this time will be placed on a waiting list and will receive a letter stating their current position on the list.
All part-time applicants will be contacted by phone the week before school starts. Full-time students have priority over part-time applicants.
If one of my children is accepted, will you automatically accept their siblings?
Siblings of newly accepted full-time students who are seeking full-time enrollment will be accommodated provided applications were received by the second Friday in March. Applications for siblings received after the second Friday in March, will not be given sibling priority.
What happens after my child has been accepted?
In addition to submitting an application and as part of the application process, a parent is required to meet with the Academy’s principal or his designee to discuss the school’s mission and expectations. You will be informed of the date and time of this meeting in your acceptance letter. This meeting must take place before an accepted student can complete the registration process. Enrollment procedures and forms must be completed by the date specified in the acceptance letter or the applicant will lose his/her space, allowing an opening for the next person on the waiting list.
Will you let me know when my child moves up on the waiting list?
Because the waiting list can change on a daily basis, we do not notify parents of a change in their position on the list. We will, however, notify the parents by mail or phone as soon as their child has been accepted.
If my child is number 8 on the waiting list, how long will it take before he/she gets to the top?
The waiting list can change quickly or slowly depending on a number of variables. There is no way to tell how fast the list will change or when your student may make it to the top.
My family is not moving to Idaho until June; may I apply before then?
Yes, you may submit an application for your child, however, children who reside in the state of Idaho will have priority.
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Admission Policy for Full-Time Applicants
(Contact the Academy for information on Exchange Student Admission.)
- The board establishes total number of students per each grade level.
- The Enrollment Caps for 2023-24 are as follows:
- 6th Grade: 162 | 7th Grade: 150 | 8th Grade: 150
- 9th Grade: 135 | 10th Grade: 85 | 11th Grade: 75 | 12th Grade: 61
- If capacity is insufficient to enroll all pupils who submit a timely application for the subsequent term, then preference shall be given in the following order:
- First, for students returning to the Academy;
- Second, children of Academy founders and children of full-time Academy employees (not to exceed 10% of the school's total environment);
- Third, to siblings of pupils already enrolled at the Academy;
- Fourth, to applicants residing within the primary attendance area;
- Fifth, by random lottery.
- Lottery Process:
At the close of the enrollment period (the second Friday in March), all returning students who have submitted their applications will be readmitted. When the number of remaining applicants exceeds the number of openings for a particular grade level, all remaining applicants will be entered into a lottery, and enrolled according to rules established by the State Board of Education. Those applicants in the lottery who were not admitted will be placed on a waiting list in the order that their names were drawn from the lottery. Thereafter, all students who apply after the second Friday in March will be placed on the waiting list based on the date and time the application is received, regardless of the student’s area of residence.
- Enrollment:
All applicants will be notified by email regarding acceptance. Those admitted must accept their spot by the date specified in the acceptance letter or the applicant will lose his/her space, allowing an opening for the next person on the waiting list. If a new student is unable to attend school within five days from the start of a year/semester for which he/she was accepted, admission will be denied and the student will need to reapply for a future opening.
The Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy does not discriminate on the basis of disability in our admission policy, or in providing access to programs or activities. Students receiving special education services through IDEA or section 504 accommodations will be held to the same academic and discipline standards as other students within the scope of the applicable federal and state laws.
The Academy provides a free and appropriate public education to all students. The District has a "Child Find" policy process that is designed to locate, identify and evaluate attending children with disabilities in grades 6 through grade 12. The "Child Find" process extends to students with physical or mental impairments that substantially limit a major life activity. Such students may be eligible for services or accommodations pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 504 is a Federal civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities and programs receiving Federal financial assistance.
For more information, contact the Registrar, Michelle Bredeson, at (208) 676-1667.
Tours of the Academy
We encourage all prospective incoming students to tour our school.
To schedule a tour, please contact the Registrar, Michelle Bredeson, at 676-1667.