Admissions
Chaparral Star Academy is currently accepting transfer applications for the 2012-13 school year. We are also accepting applications from homeschooled students as well as currently enrolled students from private schools.
At this time, current K – 8th grade sessions (morning and afternoon) are full with a waiting list, with one open spot at 7th grade PM. However, if a position becomes available, applications are selected by random lottery from the waiting list (with current students and siblings of current students getting priority). Applications received now have the same chance of being selected as those currently on the waiting list, so we HIGHLY recommend that you drop off your Pre Enrollment Form (Transfer Student) TODAY!
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THE LOTTERY FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR 2013-14 WAS CONDUCTED ON APRIL 5, 2013.
Applications for 2013-14 are still being accepted, but placement will be behind all applications from the open enrollment lottery in order of receipt.
Interested in Becoming a Chaparral Star Academy Student?
Before you begin filling out any forms, we suggest that you read the Frequently Asked Questions so that you may find out more about our unique school. The FAQ answers numerous questions such as what a charter school is and how Chaparral Star Academy fits the high expectations of its students.
Do you think Chaparral Star Academy might be the right school? Please read the flyer “Will My Child Be Successful at Chaparral Star Academy?” to determine if it’s the right fit.
You may also want to read the history of the school, to appreciate our humble beginnings.
Other information that might be of interest is the school report card, our current high school profile, and our homework commitment statement.
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The Application Process
Admission to Chaparral Star Academy can take place either as a new student at the beginning of the school year or as a transfer student during the school year. Enrollments for both types of students begin with the receipt of the Pre-Enrollment Form. If you are applying for the current year (2012-13), you would need to submit a completed Pre Enrollment Form (Transfer Student). If you are applying for next year (2013-14), you would need to submit a completed Pre Enrollment Form (Open Enrollment), but realize that these applications can only be accepted during the Open Enrollment period (March 18 – April 4, 2013).
If the applicant is a sibling of a current student and is applying for the current school year (2012-13), please use the Pre Enrollment Form for Siblings (Transfer Student).
If the applicant is a sibling of an applicant for next year (2013-14), please fill out a separate Pre Enrollment Form (Open Enrollment) and indicate siblings on each application. Please be aware that these applications can only be accepted during the Open Enrollment period (March 18 – April 4, 2013).
The Open Enrollment Period (which typically starts around March of the current year) is when the school begins to accept applications for the subsequent school year. Applications for the next school year will NOT be accepted before this period. The official start of the Open Enrollment Period will be posted in the local newspaper and on the school’s website. We are currently not accepting applications for next school year (e.g. 2013-14).
Admission to Chaparral Star Academy and all programs, including Special Education, will not be based on gender, national origin, ethnicity, religion, and disability, academic or athletic ability. Chaparral Star Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Chaparral Star Academy reserves the right to cancel individual courses or grades or to combine grade levels with insufficient enrollment.
If you are interested in your child attending Chaparral Star Academy, there are a few simple steps to take to ensure a smooth transition.
STEP 1: Submit a Pre-Enrollment Form to the school for each child that you would like to attend Chaparral Star Academy. The form can either be filled out electronically or by hand. This form can be submitted to Chaparral Star Academy by any of the following means:
· fax to: (512) 251.9799 with attention to Allyson Fox· emailed to: Allyson Fox at allysonfox@chaparralstaracademy.com
mailed to:
Chaparral Star Academy
14046 Summit Dr.
Austin, TX 78728
· or brought in person to the school
STEP 2: Wait to hear from us. The rest of the process depends on information regarding your child (current grade, transfer school, graduation credits, possible previous homeschool experience, etc.)
And yes, THAT’S IT! You do NOT need to fill out the Enrollment Application at this point. All we need is the Pre-Enrollment Form to start the application process. Once you have been awarded a spot, then you will need to fill out the Required Enrollment Information.
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More About The Application Process
A re-enrollment period (typically lasting one week where current students declare intentions of attendance for the subsequent year) will take place the week prior to the beginning of open enrollment. Current students who wish to continue attending for the subsequent year will submit a completed re-enrollment form before a given deadline. Applications for siblings of current students for the subsequent year will be accepted during the re-enrollment period. Available spots for the subsequent year are filled with continuing students first, while sibling applications are processed second. If a waiting list arises, sibling applications are placed in order of receipt of re-enrollment form.
All other applications for the subsequent school year are accepted during the open enrollment period, which will end the school day before the lottery date. On the lottery date, applications are randomly selected one-at-a-time and granted a spot in the requested grade, if one exists. If the application drawn corresponds with a sibling application, the sibling application is pulled out of the pile and granted a spot in the requested grade, if one exists. Once a grade level (K-8th) becomes full, applications are then placed on the waiting list in order of random selection. All high school applications are automatically admitted.
After the open enrollment period, any applications received will be awarded a spot at the requested grade level, if one exists. Otherwise, the application is placed at the end of the waiting list. All applications for siblings of current students automatically get priority and are moved to the top of the waiting list. Sibling applications on the waiting list are placed in order of receipt.
Receipt of the Pre-Enrollment Form begins the enrollment process. If you are trying to transfer your student during the school year, please submit a Pre-Enrollment Form as well. If a slot is available, the application will be processed. If no slot is available, then you will be placed on the waiting list for the current school year. However, the application will not fold into the Open Enrollment Process for the next school year. Applications for the next school year can only be accepted during the Open Enrollment Period. with the exception of siblings of current students.
For new students, once the position has been offered to a student, he/she is required to continue the application process by filling out the enrollment application. Both new AND continuing students will need to pick up beginning-of-the-year documents in July and/or August. Brief presence at school during this “Round-Up[1]” period (to verify enrollment and receive important documents) is mandatory. Those in attendance at the annual “Round-Up” are ASSURED a spot for the upcoming school year. If a student (new or continuing) must be absent for the “Round-Up”, then a document explaining the reason for the absence should be submitted to the administration prior. Following the “Round-Up”, at grade levels where all spots are not filled and absences at orientation occurred, those on the waiting list will be contacted for possible placement.[2]
All students must attend the first day of school. Any student not in attendance on the first day of school will be automatically and immediately dropped from enrollment.
Here are a few things to consider when applying to Chaparral Star Academy:
Students from unaccredited private schools or home school settings are scheduled for evaluation of academic skills for the purpose of best placement for success.
Current school discipline history will be verified prior to acceptance. Chaparral Star Academy will not accept a student if he/she has a history of discipline resulting in suspension, expulsion, or juvenile court adjudication.
If there is no opening available, the student will be placed on the waiting list.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I filled out a Pre-Enrollment Form for application for the current year and dropped it off. Now What?
The application is treated as a transfer student application. If a spot becomes available for your child, we will contact you. However, there will be no contact if a spot is not available. Assuming all forms are correct and complete and your child has no disciplinary history as stated in the charter, your child will be placed on the waiting list. You only need to turn in a Pre-Enrollment form at the beginning of the process. Once we offer you a slot, you will then to complete the Required Enrollment Information.
I filled out a Pre-Enrollment Form for application for next school year (during the Open Enrollment period) and dropped it off. Now What?
At the end of the open enrollment period, a lottery will be conducted to determine placement. Applicants will be contacted and informed of the results.
Where is my child on the waiting list?
Once a grade becomes filled (15 per session or 15 per class in high school), all students are placed on the waiting list. The priority on the waiting list is determined by lottery selection, with sibling priority. If a spot becomes available after the grade has been filled, then the application at the top of the waiting list will fill the vacant spot. It is at this point that you will be contacted and asked to fill out the Required Enrollment Information.
Students remain on the waiting list until the next Open Enrollment Period. Students desiring to enter the school for the next school year (even though they are on the waiting list for the current school year) MUST RE-APPLY for the next school year during the Open Enrollment Period.
Do students on the waiting list typically get into the school?
This is a difficult question to answer. There really isn’t a way to determine whether or not your child’s chances are “good.” For instance, if your child is on the waiting list and a spot becomes available, selection must be determined by random lottery. Typically speaking, our waiting list is 3-5 students per session.
Before the Open Enrollment Period, we conduct a re-enrollment process where current students indicate whether or not they would like to return for the following school year. Those students, combined with the students from our Open Enrollment Period (once discipline has been verified) typically fills up our 1st – 8th grade openings. However, at the beginning of the school year, some students do not show on the first week of school and are ultimately withdrawn from the school. This creates vacancy. Also, new students may not think that Chaparral Star Academy is the best choice for them and transfer to another school after the school year has already begun. This also creates vacancy, but not at the beginning of the year.
Do I need to fill out both the Pre-Enrollment Form and the Enrollment Application?
No, not at the beginning. The Pre-Enrollment form begins the enrollment process. Once the spot is filled, the school will contact the family and request that they finish the process by filling out the Required Enrollment Information.
When will I find out if my child has a spot?
The lottery will take directly after the open enrollment period. Soon afterward, all applicants will be contacted and informed of the results of the lottery.
If your elementary-level child (1st – 7th grade) attended an unaccredited school, testing to determine strengths and weaknesses must be scheduled.
If your child is a high school student who attended an unaccredited school, then testing for strengths & weaknesses must be scheduled. However, given that all credits toward high school graduation must be accredited, regardless of age, the student will begin as a freshman (9th grade) with 0 credits.
We have been at Star for years. Do I really need to attend the “Round Up”?
Yes. All students (new and continuing) must attend the annual “Round Up.”