Admission & Lottery Standards

Admission & Lottery Standards

Horizon Science Academy Belmont (HSAB) is a public charter school open to all students residing in the City of Chicago. The school adheres to an equal educational opportunity policy, charging no tuition and prohibiting discrimination based on intellectual or athletic ability, measures of achievement, or disability status.

While admission is non-competitive, the school may use diagnostic tests after enrollment to ensure students are placed in the correct academic levels. Students who were enrolled in the school during the previous year are guaranteed a seat for the following year, provided they submit a re-enrollment application by the established deadline

Admission Priority Groups

The admission process is organized into five priority groups to manage applications during the designated open enrollment period . The order of priority for filling available spaces is as follows:

• Priority Group 1: Currently enrolled students who submit a re-enrollment form by the deadline
• Priority Group 2: Siblings of students currently enrolled in the school
• Priority Group 3: Siblings of newly enrolled students, as the school strives to keep families together
• Priority Group 4: New applicants who apply before the close of the open enrollment period
• Priority Group 5: Any applicant who applies after the established application deadline

Lottery Process and Waitlist Management

If applications exceed the number of available spaces in any grade, HSAB conducts a random selection process (lottery) to determine admission. This lottery is performed starting from the highest grade level down to the lowest. Once a student is accepted via the lottery, their siblings are moved to the top of the priority list for their respective grades. Students not selected during the lottery are placed on a waitlist, which is divided into a Sibling Waitlist and a General Waitlist, with siblings always receiving priority when seats become available.

Conditional Admission and Conduct Requirements

Final admission to the school is conditional upon the submission of required documentation. Parents must provide proof of residency, proof of age, and records of required health examinations and immunizations. Failure to provide accurate or legally required information can result in the denial of admission or dismissal from the school. Additionally, all prospective students must agree to abide by the HSAB Discipline Policy and Code of Conduct, and they are subject to disciplinary action for any violations even before the school year begins.