County school officials gave more details on two upcoming magnet school lotteries that this year will be handled by an outside firm instead of school staff.
The first lottery is just for kindergarten, and it is Nov. 1. This lottery is for parents interested in their child’s admission into CSAS and/or CSLA. The parent must list which school is first and which one is second choice in the application.
The second lottery is the first week in February and is for all other magnet schools (magnets listed here https://www.hcde.org/schools/magnet_schools. No specific date has been set at this time.
Applications are due by Jan. 31. The process will open Nov. 5.
Children who have siblings in a school or have parents that teach at a school, etc. will still be given priority.
Officials said the new lottery will be random.
There are 60 kindergarten openings for CSAS, and 40 openings at CSLA. Openings for the second lottery have yet to be determined at the other schools and grade levels.
At one time, parents lined up overnight, but since you can now complete the application online instead of coming to submit it in person, people don’t line up anymore.
Every family who attended the information meetings at CSAS and CSLA received an email providing information on how to access the school choice lottery application and supply the necessary information needed for the lottery. You must have attended the meetings to apply.
For the second lottery, parents will not need to attend a meeting. There are additional requirements for the STEM and CCA. (example CCA has an audition).