Admissions

Inspiring children to discover the joy of learning in a loving, child-centered community.

Imagine a community whose main purpose is for each and every child to possess the courage, confidence and creativity to thrive. Each day we are re-imagining education to grow a joy for learning in each child. The heart of all of our work is our students’ wonder and imagination. At Central Park School for Children we don’t create learners, we empower children to discover the power of learning that is their birthright. We create a nurturing environment that sparks creativity where children discover how they learn best and how to advocate for themselves as learners.

We work together to light the fire that is every child’s promise and potential. We emphasize fairness, love, kindness and respect as we work to create an environment where all voices are included and heard, and where each person’s strengths, differences, ideas and sense of wonder are valued.

We look forward to meeting you, your children and introducing you to our innovative and unique child centered school community.

Lottery Priorities

Siblings: It is the intent of the Central Park School for Children to support whole families and create school community. Siblings of enrolled students or graduates will receive priority for admission if their applications are received by the designated deadline.
Staff and Board: CPSC will give priority enrollment to children permitted to have priority enrollment in 115C-238.29F(g).
Economic Diversity (within a designated Walkzone): The Central Park School for Children is committed to being an economically diverse community. Families that qualify for FRL are eligible. Up to 40% of grade level total headcount. (If you live within one mile and qualify for National Lunch Program.)
Economic Diversity: CPSC is committed to being an economically diverse community. Families that qualify for FRL are eligible. Up to 40% of grade level total headcount.
Opportunity Priority: CPSC will grant priority to a former student who enrolled at CPSC within the last two academic years but left due to an academic study abroad program, competitive admission residential program, or vocational opportunities of the parents.

The order of priority shall be:

Priority One: Siblings of currently enrolled students, that is, students whose sibling is enrolled during the year that the lottery is held
Priority Two: Children and grandchildren of CPSC staff and board members
Priority Three: Economic Diversity (within designated walkzone) – Students whose families qualify for FRL that live within one mile of the school and qualify for the National Lunch Program.
Priority Four: Economic Diversity – Students whose families qualify based on current income level for the National School Lunch Program.
Priority Five: Opportunity – Former students whose family had enrolled at CPSC within the last two academic years but left due to an academic study abroad program, competitive admission residential program, or vocational opportunities of the parents.
Priority Six: General Enrollment

Lottery Procedure

All students who apply by the designated deadline are eligible for the lottery. Student information is entered into a database administered by Powerschool by grade level. All students are assigned a random number, then sorted by number. Priorities are then considered according to the enrollment policies. Openings are filled in order of priorities and numbers assigned. Waitlists are created according to the number pulled after openings are filled. The lottery is a blind lottery conducted by a CPSC administrator, monitored by a CPSC board member, and administered by PowerSchool. Twins shall enter one surname into the lottery to represent all of the multiple birth siblings. If that surname of the multiple birth siblings is selected, then all of the multiple birth siblings shall be admitted. Prospective families are invited to attend the lottery and asked to sign a statement verifying that they witnessed our lottery.

Families selected for an opening from the lottery are notified of lottery results via email or U.S. mail within one week and given one week to accept the space offered.

Waitlist

This process starts over each school year. Waitlists are not carried over from year to year and close on the 20th day of the school year. You must reapply each year.

Families on the waiting list are offered spaces by email and given one week to respond if offered a spot prior to June 30. All spots offered July 1-the first day of school are given 2 days to make a decision. Once school starts through the 19th day, families are given 1 day to make a decision.

Any applications received after the lottery will be placed on the waiting list in the order received by the Director of School Operations. If we have not yet achieved the optimal percentage of children eligible for the National Lunch Program, either through insufficient applicants in the initial lottery or through attrition, then late applicants that strengthen our economic diversity will be given priority on the waitlist.

CPSC middle school students greeting Vice President Kamala Harris as she visits the Senior Center next door.