KINDERGARTEN LOTTERY

The Birches Academy strives to keep families together. Siblings of current students or alumni (defined as a graduate from our 8th grade) are at the top of the list in the Kindergarten lottery. For other grades, siblings can be placed on the Sibling Wait List. We first pull from the Sibling Wait List when a spot opens in a grade.  

KINDERGARTEN LOTTERY FOR 2025-2026 IS NOW OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 27TH, 2025

Lottery Rules

  1. CHILDREN OF EMPLOYEES: All children of founding members and employees of The Birches Academy who have completed applications by the deadline will be placed before holding the lottery. (If there are more such students than there are places, a “staff lottery” will be held. These students’ names will be drawn and placed on the waiting list in the order they are drawn. If a space becomes available, but the student does not meet the 10% rule, their name will remain on the waitlist, and the next eligible student will be accepted.)

  2. SIBLINGS OF CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS OR ALUMNI: In the second and subsequent years, siblings of currently enrolled students who have completed applications during enrollment will be placed before the lottery. If there are more such students than there are places, a “sibling lottery” will be held. These students’ names will be drawn and placed on the waiting list in the order they are drawn.

  3. APPLICANTS: All names of remaining students who have submitted completed applications will be placed into a lottery.

  4. DRAWING: As each name is drawn, the student will be admitted or placed on the waiting list, according to the abovementioned criteria.

  5. ADMITTED STUDENTS: If a student meets the criteria outlined above, he or she is conditionally admitted to The Birches Academy. An acceptance package will be mailed.

  6. SIBLINGS OF ADMITTED STUDENTS: When students are admitted, their siblings’ names are automatically drawn. If there is space, the siblings are admitted as well. If more sibling applies, space is available; we will hold a “Sibling Lottery” to determine who will be enrolled for the school year.

  7. WAITLISTED STUDENTS: If no ample space is available, the student will be placed on the waitlist in the order that his or her name was drawn. If an opening occurs in a given grade, students on the wait list will be contacted according to their order on the waitlist. Students on the wait list who opt out of enrolling automatically surrender their spot on the list when space is available.

  8. APPLICATION RECEIVED AFTER LOTTERY DEADLINE: If a student’s application is received after the lottery, they will be placed on the waitlist and admitted when a space is available.

  9. STUDENTS WITH INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLANS: Parents of students on IEPs selected in the lottery will be conditionally accepted pending a meeting with the sending school district, The Birches Academy, and themselves to determine if The Birches Academy is the proper placement for the child.

  10. ENTRANCE AGE POLICY A pupil may enter Kindergarten if his or her chronological age is five on or before September 30th of the year of entering school. A birth certificate must be presented with the Application Packet.