How do I apply to Da Vinci Schools? What is the timeline for the application process?

All prospective students in grades K-12 are required to fill out an Enrollment Application. Enrollment applications may be downloaded from our school website beginning on November 1, 2012. They are also available at our school offices and at our Information Meetings.

Three actions are necessary to apply to Da Vinci Schools:

1. Attend an Information Meeting held in the Da Vinci Forum (13500 Aviation Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250) unless otherwise noted. Parents or legal guardians must attend an Information Meeting as a required part of the application process for the Da Vinci Innovation Academy (K-8). Information Meetings are not mandatory to apply to Da Vinci Design or Da Vinci Science, but we strongly urge you to attend to learn about our programs, curriculum and enrollment process. You will also have an opportunity to meet some of our faculty and staff, current students and families.

At the meetings, you will learn about our programs in depth. The programs we offer are unique, and enrollment will require a commitment from students and their families. We want to be sure you are aware of who we are, what we do, and what your responsibilities will be should your child attend one of our charter schools.

2. Fill out an Enrollment Application. If you wish help in filling out the form, please let us know.

>> Download the 2013-14 Application

3. Submit the K-12 Enrollment Application on or before the Priority Application Deadline. Earlier submissions are appreciated. If the number of applications received does not exceed the number of spaces available in either school, all students who submitted complete forms will be enrolled. If the number of forms does exceed the number of spaces available in either school, there will be an admissions lottery.

What is an enrollment lottery?
As prescribed by state law, charter schools conduct an enrollment lottery—a public random drawing— for available enrollment spaces as a way to ensure equal opportunity of access for all students. (At most charter schools, there are more applications than enrollment spaces available.) During the lottery, all K-12 students are assigned enrollment spaces according to the order in which their lottery tickets are drawn. For example, the first ticket drawn places that student first on the enrollment list. Once all enrollment spaces have been filled, subsequent students are placed on a waiting list to fill any vacancies that may arise.

Do some students receive a preference in admission?
As described in our charters, a lottery for all Da Vinci Schools will be conducted with enrollment preferences as follows:

1. Students currently attending Da Vinci Schools;
2. Students residing within the territorial jurisdiction of Wiseburn;
3. Children of founders and teachers—this preference will be applied to no more than 10% of student spaces. A founder is defined as any parent involved in the founding of the school that volunteered at least 75 hours toward the creation of the school;
4. Siblings of students currently attending or admitted to the school;
5. All others.

Who can attend Da Vinci Schools?
While all California students are eligible to attend charter schools pursuant to state and federal law, students who live within the Wiseburn School District boundaries are guaranteed enrollment at Da Vinci high schools.

Do Da Vinci Innovation Academy 8th grade students need to fill out an enrollment application to attend the high schools?
No. Da Vinci Innovation Academy 8th grade students are currently enrolled Da Vinci students and are guaranteed enrollment in our high schools provided they remain in good standing and abide by all Da Vinci Schools' policies and procedures. Da Vinci Innovation Academy students will be asked to complete a Continuing Enrollment Form.

Does Da Vinci have a separate enrollment process or lottery for students with Individual Education
Plans (IEPs)?

Students with IEPs and students with identified learning disabilities are enrolled using the same lottery process.

When will we know whether our child has been accepted or placed on the waiting list?
A notification letter of your child’s place on the enrollment list or waiting list will be mailed to you within 10 days after our lottery is held. Students who are offered enrollment must complete the Registration Packet and bring in all required documentation on our Registration Day. If you are offered enrollment, but do not register on the designated Registration Day, your space will be given to another student. Applicants not admitted through the lottery have their names placed on a waiting list in the order drawn during the lottery. Da Vinci notifies wait-listed applicants immediately as space becomes available. Families do not need to be present at the lottery.

If one child gets into the school, how about his/her siblings?

Siblings of currently attending students receive an enrollment preference. Sibling applicants who have just been admitted through the ongoing admissions process are given priority consideration, but are not guaranteed enrollment.

What happens to late applications?
Complete applications received after the priority application deadline are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The names of late applicants are put at the bottom of the waiting list in the order applications are received.

Is there an application fee or tuition?
No. Da Vinci Schools are public charter schools and are supported by educational tax dollars, as well as from other public and private sources.

When will the 2013-2014 school year begin?
Instruction begins on August 13, 2013 for the high schools and August 19-20, 2013 for the Da Vinci Innovation Academy.

Do I need a permit or a release from my home district to attend a charter school?
No. All California students are eligible to attend charter schools. They do not need permits or releases to attend a charter school. However, there may be some paperwork required by your district to complete the enrollment process and obtain student records.

Can I apply to Da Vinci Schools through the Wiseburn School District?
No. The Da Vinci Schools enrollment process is completely separate from the enrollment process for the K‐8 public schools in the Wiseburn School District.

Can I enter my child into the lottery for more than one high school site?
Yes, but only one application is needed. When you complete an application, you will be asked for your first choice and second choice school.

Do the Da Vinci Schools admit students during the school year?
When there are spaces available, students may be periodically enrolled during the fall semester and through the beginning of the second semester in late January. In order to be considered for mid‐year enrollment, you must have an Enrollment Application on file with us.

If my waiting list number does not come up for the school year I applied for, will I be automatically placed on the waiting list again the following school year?
No. You will be on our mailing list regarding next year’s enrollment process. But for each new school year, you must reapply. There is no priority list for former waiting list families.

If students are already enrolled at the school, will they have to be reenrolled every year?
Once your K-12 student is accepted and remains in good standing, he or she will have a space with us for the duration of their time at Da Vinci Schools. A re‐enrollment form will be sent home at the end of the school year to all currently attending students where families can confirm their wish to have their student continue at Da Vinci.

Can my child switch between the Da Vinci High Schools?
Transfers between high school sites will be possible only during the summer. However, students who wish to transfer must have parent consent and make the request in writing before the start of the school year.

QUESTIONS?

High School Enrollment
enrollment@davincischools.org

Da Vinci Innovation Academy Enrollment  
ia@davincischools.org

 

Updated: March 15, 2013