Enrollment/Lottery Policy

ENROLLMENT/LOTTERY POLICY

Miles Ahead Charter School is a tuition-free, public charter school focused on scholar growth and academic achievement through a whole child approach to education. We provide all scholars with the social and academic achievements necessary to help them realize their potential for local impact and global change.

Miles Ahead Charter School applies the open enrollment requirements required by Georgia Law. Any scholar that is age-eligible, residing in the state of Georgia, is invited to apply for admission. MACS does not exercise an attendance zone, therefore we canvas, recruit, and accept applications for enrollment from scholars in various attendance zones. 

If the number of applications received during our open enrollment window exceeds the number of allotted seats, applicants are then placed in a computer generated, random-selection lottery.

Lottery Procedures

Miles Ahead Charter School will facilitate a lottery for any grade that receives more new applications than allotted seats. Seat allotment is in accordance with our contract with the SCSC. Returning/currently enrolled scholars that are not in a withdrawn status do not have to re-enroll or participate in the upcoming year’s enrollment lottery. MACS utilizes a computer generated lottery system via SchoolMint. The lottery will be held live via zoom and attendance isn’t required for admission. 

• To participate in the lottery, a scholar’s enrollment application must be received prior to the enrollment application deadline. The open enrollment date will be announced at-least one month prior to opening.
• Per MACS’ contractual agreement with the State Charter School Commission, the following priority enrollment guidelines are permissible during the open enrollment period:
  • A sibling of a currently enrolled scholar & are age-eligible
  • A child of a current Board Member & are age-eligible
  • A child of a current Staff Member & are age-eligible

• Defining Sibling:
  • Biological siblings that share parents; 
  • 2. “Half” siblings that share a single parent; 
  • 3. “Step” siblings that share a parent or parents through marriage; and 4. Children who share a parent or parents through adoption or guardianship.

Children who live in the same household but do not share a biological or legal parent or guardian are excluded from the definition of sibling. Any scholar who previously attended MACS whether no longer attending and/or graduated with a sibling applying for the following year does not qualify as a sibling for entrance preference. 

Enrollment Offer

MACS offers of enrollment to families who were selected in the enrollment lottery will be notified via their SchoolMint portal and via email within 24 hours of the publicly run lottery. Families must accept/decline the offer via SchoolMint and/or email. Any offer not accepted within the 5 day window will be considered a decline of acceptance. 

Waitlist

The waitlist allows families to continue to apply, even after the open enrollment period, and/or after the conclusion of the lottery. The waitlist is also computer generated and managed by our SchoolMint platform. Families are able to view their waitlist status via their SchoolMint portal. As seats become available, scholars that have been waitlisted are automatically rolled up to an “offer” status. At this point, these scholars will receive a formal offer via SchoolMint and email. This offer must be accepted within the 5 day period. 

APPLICATION STEPS

Our enrollment application and registration documents are accessible on SchoolMint, school website, prospective family resource portal, and  social media channels. Families that are not yet ready to apply, but wish to express interest in receiving additional information may complete our online Interest Form  via our school website.

The 3 main steps to enroll a scholar with Miles Ahead Charter School are:

1. Submit an online application  via our SchoolMint Platform or complete a hard copy of the Enrollment Application. Applications that are received during our Open Enrollment period will be entered into the lottery. Seats will be offered upon availability. 
2. Families must accept their seat within 5 business days of the offer. 
3. Upon seat acceptance, MACS will request the following documents:
   1. Parent/Guardian ID
   2. Scholar Birth Certificate
   3. Scholar Social Security # 
      1. NO CHILD WILL BE DENIED ENROLLMENT OR ATTENDANCE TO MILES AHEAD CHARTER SCHOOL FOR DECLINING TO PROVIDE A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. FAMILIES MAY WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD BY COMPLETING & SUBMITTING A SOCIAL SECURITY WAIVER FORM located on the Prospective Family Resource Portal. This form can also be requested by emailing: ENROLL@MILESAHEADCHARTER.ORG.
   4. Proof of Residence
      1. The following are acceptable forms of Proof of Residence; a utility bill (gas, electric, water, and/or sewage), a mortgage/lease statement, a deed, vehicle registration, renter’s insurance, or tax document. The proof of residence must include the address used on the application. 
   5. Form 3231 (Immunization) or Form 2208 (Religious Waiver)
   6. Form 3300 (Ear, Eye,Dental, Nutrition)