Lottery & Registration Rules and Procedures

Philip’s Academy Charter School of Paterson
2025-2026 Enrollment Lottery

March 5, 2025
124 Madison Ave, Paterson, NJ 07524

Parents must complete a separate application form for each child seeking enrollment in the school.

If there are more students than there are available spaces in a grade group, there will be a lottery for that grade.

The lottery will be conducted by the school's administration. All procedures will be witnessed and verified by an independent certified public accountant.

Separate lotteries will be conducted for siblings or current students, resident and non-resident applicants. Siblings of current students will be chosen first and receive preference for enrollment. Afterwards, resident applicants will be selected. Separate waiting lists will be established and maintained for each grade level.

Parents who are unable to attend the lottery will be notified as soon as possible of their admission or position on the waiting list.

If a child is admitted to the school, any siblings also applying will immediately be given the subsequent spot in the grade for which the sibling has applied. If there are no more open spaces, the sibling will move up on the waiting list for their grade to the highest position. Siblings of currently enrolled students will be given priority placement as per Rule 4 above.

Only persons who provide the necessary proof of guardianship, proof of residency, immunization records, and proof of registration in a local school district will be eligible to register their child(ren) in Philip’s Academy Charter School.

Within three weeks of admittance into Philip’s Academy Charter School, parents must produce additional documentation as requested and required by law. This will include, but is not limited to, proof of registration in local district (if not already provided), completed transportation form, various health forms and school district transfer card. Our staff will be available to assist as needed. Failure to present requested documentation by its due date may lead to your child’s slot being forfeit.

Parents who receive notification that a space has become available for their child from the waiting list have 24 hours to inform Philip’s Academy Charter School of their decision to enroll their child in the school. Failure to do so will result in the slot being made available to the next child on the waiting list.

Spaces that become available in the middle of the school year will be offered to the applicants on the waiting list. Parents who are offered and decline mid-year will lose their position on the waiting list. The opening will then be offered to the next child on the waiting list.

Children may remain on the waiting list for up to 1 (one) academic year. If the child is not admitted within 1 (one) academic year they must re-apply.

New Jersey law provides that charter schools must provide open enrollment to any student in the state.