How can my student be admitted to Alamance Community School?

The only way to gain admission to Alamance Community School is through the lottery process.  The only way to be included in the lottery is to apply during the open enrollment period from January 1, 2024 and continues through February 29, 2024 at 11:59 pm.  After this time, you can still apply, but the application will be placed at the bottom of the waitlist for whatever grade you are applying for your child.

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Does it matter when I apply during the open enrollment period?

No.  As long as you apply during the open enrollment period your chances are the same as all others applying during that time.  For example, your chances for admission are no better for those that apply on January 1st as opposed to those that apply on February 29th.

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I’m not sure if I want to apply for admission right now.  Can I do it later?

Yes, but if you do not apply during the open enrollment period, your student will not be included in the admission lottery.  We strongly encourage all who are interested in Alamance Community School to apply during the open enrollment period, otherwise, your application will be placed at the bottom of the waitlist for your child’s grade level.

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What happens if there aren’t enough applications to fill all open seats in a grade level?

If there are fewer applicants than slots available, all applicants will be admitted for that grade level.

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What if we live in a county other than Alamance?  Can I still apply for admission for my child?

Students attending Alamance Community School may live in any county in North Carolina.

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What if we are living out of state but are planning to move to North Carolina in the near future.  Can I still apply for my child?

State law mandates that all applicants must reside in North Carolina at the time of application.  

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How can I increase my student’s chances for admission?

ACS will follow all rules and regulations regarding enrollment priority as specified required by applicable North Carolina law.

The following groups will have enrollment priority at ACS for subsequent school years in the order that follows as space permits in each grade:

1. Children and grandchildren of full-time staff

2. Children of current Board members and founding Board members who have served their term (Priorities 1 & 2 together may not exceed 15% of total school population, unless a waiver is sought from the State Board of Education).

3. Siblings of current students (as determined by Charter School law G.S. 115C-218.45(f)(1)

4. Siblings who apply to the charter school for admission beginning in the same school year, such as when a sibling was not initially admitted due to grade level capacity

If the number of applications exceeds the number of available spaces, a lottery will be held to fill vacant seats for the next school year. After seats are filled, the drawing will continue to determine the order of a waiting list. Current year waiting lists dissolve when the next enrollment period begins.

Alamance Community School Weighted Lottery Policy :
Alamance Community School (ACS) will use a weighted lottery for economically disadvantaged students by weighting a student’s individual chances in the general lottery. ACS will use a weighted lottery and the 25% EDS target for students admitted through the lottery until 25% of the students enrolled at the school are identified as economically disadvantaged.

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How do I know what grade to apply for, for my student?

You should apply for the next, natural grade level for your child.

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My spouse and I are divorced.  Can we submit separate applications for our child?

No.  If you do, one will be canceled.  Please consult with other family members and only submit ONE application per child.  Each applicant can only have 1 application in the system. Duplicates will be deleted.

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My children are twins.  Do I apply for both of them during open enrollment?

Students who are twins, triplets, etc. must each complete an application. However, only one application will be entered in the lottery for those students. If that application is accepted, the sibling’s twin or triplet, etc. will also be admitted.

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What about applying for more than one student that are not twins?

Some of you may have one child that will be admitted through the lottery and another child on the waitlist. Unfortunately, the sibling preference is not applicable until one sibling has attended the school for a year. Therefore, for the 2023-2024 school year, siblings of currently enrolled ACS students will be given admission preference, if they meet state guidelines. There is typically some movement on our waitlist, though we cannot predict how much from year to year. You may want to accept the position for the child who was offered admittance and see if your other child moves up the waitlist. Another option to consider is having your children in two different schools for one year. Then for the 2024-2025 school year, you also would benefit from sibling preference for admission. 

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What happens when the lottery is performed?

Each applicant will receive an email or text from SchoolMint at the conclusion of the lottery that will notify you of admission offer or wait list position for the grade you have applied.  You must abide by all acceptance and registration stated deadlines or the offered seat will be forfeited.

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Do we have to re-apply every year to be included in the lottery?

If a student does not get a space through the lottery/wait list process, that student must re-apply to be considered the following year. However, current enrolled ACS students do not have to re-apply year-to-year.

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My child has an IEP or a 504 Plan.  Can they be admitted?

Yes.

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What is required if I accept the seat offered for my student?

Accepted families who enroll in Alamance Community School, parents and students, must read and agree to follow the Alamance Community School policies and procedures, in addition to accepting the set Alamance Community School mission and curriculum.

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Once the lottery concludes and you have received notice by text or email of whether your student was offered a seat, you MUST log in to SchoolMint to accept or decline the offer. Once you have accepted the seat, you will have access to the registration packet. You will then have until the published deadline to complete and submit the registration packet and documents electronically. You must abide by all stated deadlines or your child’s seat will be forfeited.

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What if my student is offered a seat from the waitlist?

If a seat becomes available and your student is called from the waitlist, you will have the opportunity to either accept or decline the offer.

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My student was waitlisted?  How will I know if they are offered a seat in the future?

Students not admitted through the lottery will be placed on a waitlist for the grade level indicated on their application. Students will be kept on the waitlist throughout the school year.  If a spot becomes available, we will contact the guardian in order of their wait list number. The information used to contact the guardian is taken from the admission application. Wait list status can be checked 24 hours a day/7 days a week through your SchoolMint account where you made the initial application for admission.  You must abide by all acceptance and registration stated deadlines or the offered seat will be forfeited. All lottery and waitlist communications will be sent through SchoolMint.

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Does Alamance Community School allow “hardship” transfers from other charter/private/public schools?

No.

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Is the admission lottery really random?  I’ve heard people say that only certain kids are selected?

In accordance with all guidelines from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the Office of Charter Schools, the lottery process at Alamance Community School is indeed random.  The application, lottery, and admission process is managed and operated by a 3rd party provider, Charter Success Partners (CSP), and is executed using an on-line lottery management system called SchoolMint. 

 

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My child(ren) receive free or reduced lunch at their current school.  Does Alamance Community School provide that?

Yes, to families that complete necessary paperwork and qualify for free or reduced lunches..

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Will Alamance Community School have any after school care options?  

Yes.  We currently partner with a third-party vendor, Genesis Athletics, to provide various fee-based, extended care options.

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What about Wednesday early release?

Wednesdays are early release days at Alamance Community School for all students. Our After-Care provider will provide on-site, fee-based extended care for those who wish to use their services. After-care of early release days begins at the dismissal from our instructional day.

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What type of calendar does Alamance Community School use?  Are you year-round or traditional?

Actually, neither.  Alamance Community School is on it’s own calendar that is voted on by the Board of Directors.  Typically, Alamance Community School will start about 2- 3 weeks earlier than the traditional public schools in the area and will get out of school prior to Memorial Day each year.