Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I have to reapply every year?
    • Yes, until a child is enrolled with Alturas, an application must be completed each year to be included in the lottery. The waitlist does NOT carry over to the next year.
  • Does applying for my child on the first day of the lottery window give them an advantage to being accepted?
    • No.
    • As directed by state statute we accept lottery applications for a specified period of time prior to the lottery. The date/time the lottery application is submitted has NO bearing on its standing in the lottery or the waitlist. This is something that we don't have any say over, again, we are adhering to the state statutes regarding Charter Schools. Any enrollment application submitted AFTER the lottery period is added to waitlists in the order they are received BELOW those submitted during the initial lottery enrollment period.
  • If one of my children is accepted does that mean all of my children will be accepted?
    • No. The only exception would be twins in the same grade.
  • My first grader got a seat but my fourth grader is number 20 on the waitlist. I'd prefer not to have my kids at different schools.
    • The short answer: HANG TIGHT!
    • The longer answer: The initial waitlist sent following the lottery is strictly DRAW ORDER, the order that each student was randomized in the lottery. If you choose to register your first grader you will then have an "enrolled student". When our waitlists are shuffled (approximately every 2 weeks beginning mid-April) your fourth grader will be moved up on the waitlist. It is the goal of Alturas, and the goal of the state, to keep families together in schools. Eventually, we hope to see siblings enrolled together. In the worst-case scenario, you have children at different schools for a time. Our enrollment will fluctuate some throughout the school year. If your other child(ren) still didn't get in, they would enter next year's lottery as a "sibling" and be almost guaranteed a spot.
  • I am lower than I would like to be on the waitlist, is there anything I can do?
    • The answer is simple: no. Again, we'd encourage you to hang tight and hope for the best! We certainly wish we could enroll every interested family. We're told by the state Charter Commission that waitlists are healthy, and a sign that we're a great educational choice. We sincerely hope to see your student enrolled!
  • When can I place my kindergartener on the waitlist/lottery?
    • Alturas International Academy starts accepting applications the January before a child would start Kindergarten.
  • What is the age requirement for kindergarten?
    • A child must turn 5 by September 1st of the year they will start kindergarten
  • Is kindergarten all day?
    • Yes. All-day Kindergarten hours are 8:15am-3:20pm, and there is no charge. 
  • Do you require school uniforms?
    • No.
  • Are tours available?
    • School tours are offered from mid-January through March.
  • What is the tuition at Alturas?
    • There is no tuition at Alturas. We are a public charter school.
  • Will my child be bused to Alturas?
    • Yes, if the student resides at least 1.5 miles from Alturas, then bussing will be provided to a bus stop.