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.

Applications & Tour Dates

To really grasp and understand who we are as Central Park School for Children, we offer tours for potential families to see our school day in action.

Every year before and during the admission window, we set aside tours of both our Elementary School (K-4) campus located at 724 Foster Street and our Middle School (5-8) campus located at 121 Hunt Street. Tours are a great way to see our space, meet staff, and hear directly from students about their experience at CPSC.

Join us to learn more about our programming, calendar, events, daily schedules, and future K-8 campus. Tour dates and times can be found below. You can sign up for times here.

Tours at the Elementary School begin at 9:00am, Middle School at 10:30am, on the following dates:

  • November 14
  • November 21
  • December 5
  • December 12
  • January 16
  • January 18 (Saturday)
  • January 23
  • February 6
  • February 13
  • February 20
  • February 27

Applications open in November.

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:

  1. Priority One:  Siblings of currently enrolled students, that is, students whose sibling is enrolled during the year that the lottery is held
  2. Priority Two:  Children and grandchildren of CPSC staff and board members
  3. 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.
  4. Priority Four: Economic Diversity – Students whose families qualify based on current income level for the National School Lunch Program.
  5. 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.
  6. Priority Six: General Enrollment