What Parents Need to Know About Charter School Enrollment

Are you considering a charter school for your child?

The enrollment process for charter schools can be a bit more complicated than traditional public schools. Unlike traditional public schools, students are not automatically assigned to charter schools based on their zip code or region. Instead, parents must actively apply to their charter school of choice. 

Oftentimes, the demand for enrollment will outnumber the actual number of seats available. To keep things fair for everyone who applies, charter schools like BASIS Baton Rouge Charter Schools use a lottery and waitlist system to fill open seats.

Here’s a few things Baton Rouge parents should keep in mind before applying to local charter schools!

Charter schools are open to all students

Charter schools are a type of tuition-free public school. They are publicly funded but privately managed, which gives them more flexibility in terms of curriculum and teaching methods. 

As public schools, charter schools are open to everyone! By law, charter schools cannot restrict admission on the basis of academic achievement or any protected class. 

The Open Enrollment period is the best time to apply

An Open Enrollment period is a designated timeframe during which families can apply for the upcoming school year. Every charter school has different Open Enrollment policies, so be sure to reach out to the schools you’re interested in for more information. 

The Open Enrollment period often takes place in the fall for the following school year. For example, BASIS Baton Rouge Charter Schools’ Open Enrollment period for the 2025–26 school year starts October 23, 2024 and ends December 2024.

Charter schools use lotteries to make enrollment offers

Most charter schools use a lottery system for enrollment. Charter schools often receive more applications than they have available seats, and lotteries ensure that all families have a fair chance of admission. Specific lottery processes will vary from school to school.

Waitlists are formed after the Open Enrollment period

Charter schools typically have a waitlist for families who did not receive enrollment offers during the lottery. If you’re placed on a waitlist, don’t worry! Schools will continue to make offers to waitlisted families as seats become available during the spring, summer, and even into the beginning of the school year.

Learn more about BASIS Baton Rouge Charter Schools

Are you ready to join the top-performing school network in East Baton Rouge? 

BASIS Baton Rouge Charter Schools provide tuition-free K–12 education in a supportive and welcoming environment. Earlier this year, BASIS earned top scores on the annual LEAP test. 

BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Mid City (grades K–5) earned the highest academic gains across the entire state of Louisiana, and BASIS Baton Rouge Materra (grades K–10, expanding to K–12) was the highest-performing open-enrollment school in all of Baton Rouge. 

Open Enrollment applications for the 2025–26 school year will open on Oct 23, 2024. All applications are submitted online, and you can apply to both Baton Rouge locations with a single application. Apply during the Open Enrollment period to be included in the network’s annual enrollment lottery. Once you’re enrolled, you do not need to go through the application process the following year; you simply need to submit a re-enrollment form directly to the school. For more information, visit BASIS Charter Schools’ Enrollment Guide.