Admission Frequently Asked Questions

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 on the basis of disability in the admission policy, or in providing access to programs or activities to students who, with or without special education or related aids and services, are able to meet the essential standards of the Academy. 

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) Returning students
2) Siblings of enrolled students
3) Students residing within School District #271
4) Students residing outside School District #271 but within Kootenai County
5) All other residents of the state of Idaho

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?
Because we are an Idaho public school, we can accept only students who currently reside within the state of Idaho. If you are currently living outside the state, we can accept your application at any time; however, your child will not be considered for acceptance into the Academy until he or she resides with you in Idaho.